OVERVIEW:

Last Year our Elementary School held a Care Package drive. At that time I personally had 4 contacts serving over seas., and we where able to located 5 other contacts through the school.

 The school  raised enough stuff to send 75 carepackages..We started looking for Names and addresses to send Care Packages to.. Thats how we found  A.S.

One of the first boxes we sent in November 2006 was to SGT Thomas E Vandling. We did not know at the time this Care package would be our VERY first response back from the Soldiers we where trying to help.  

 STORY:

We ( The School ) received a very nice Form letter thanking us for our Support and an a Award of appreciation in Mid January 2007..   We where talking to one of the teachers at school about adopting Sgt Vandling as a Class project sending him letters or a care Package every month for the remaining school year.

 It saddened our hearts to hear that SGT Vandling was KIA  on January 1st 2007 in Baghdad. 

 It was a hard thing especially for the VOLUNTEERS who where trying so hard to get a bunch of Elementary school kids Excited about sending Support to OUR TROOPS. 

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/7345/303tpomh1.jpg?s=1

I'm so sad for you... But just imagine, before he died, you got to show him that you care about what he's doing and everything.

I'll say a pray for his soul, and for his family and friends.

It's a toughie to reconcile:  all that build-up of excitement, then the tremendous awareness of loss...  but since I've experienced this myself and have a little hindsight, I try to remember that "balancing" this isn't necessarily my task on Earth.  What I do know is that SGT Vandling was loved - and because of the children, because of the volunteers, because of YOU he got to know.  That's a pretty special thing, to know you are loved. 

He did a right thing, in wanting to keep you safe.  You you did a right thing in letting him know he was appreciated.  This is right and good.  He and you, and the volunteers and the children are right and good.  Breathe in and out. Blessings.   

I have to second all the responses to your message. It's a sad, sad thing...but it's important for us all the remember that war IS a sad thing. Unfortunately it is also sometimes a necessary thing.

I am so thankful, however, that SGT Vandling was able to know that complete strangers loved and supported him. I think about that often...what if I requested a name then didn't send something AND then read one of those sad messages about that contact?? Please know that ya'll put a smile on his face at a time when there might not have been much to smile about...and you loved him!! That is a wonderful thing!

Thank you for your support of our military!! Oh, and please do whatever you can to encourage those kids in writing letters. My sons both say those letters from children are the absolute best!!!

Reta

I am SSG B., SGT Tom Vandling's Detachment NCOIC. I often Google his name to see what people write about him, and what stories I can find on him. It never ceases to amaze me how many people were touched by Tommy V.

Tom was a Warrior and a Scholar. He held two B.A.'s from Pitt, was a dedicated soldier, and loved his family and friends. he took care of all those around him, every chance he could. He was a recipient of two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, an Army Commendation for Valor, a Navy Achievement medal (awarded by the 1st Marine Division to him for his service to the Corps during the invasion of Iraq), and the Meritoroius Service Medal. He was on his second tour in Iraq, which he volunteered for. Nobody forced him, nobody asked him (he had pins in his ankle from an injury and could have gotten out of the deployment anytime he wanted), he LOVED soldiering.

Thank you for all you do. And thank you for remembering Tommy V. 

Thanks for stopping here, SSG B. Thank you for your service. You are appreciated.

Thank You SSG B  for stopping by and giving us some more back ground info on " Tommy V "

We chose not to tell the kids, we did show them the certificate and read them the short letter that accompanied  it.

Thank you for bringing Tommy V's  memory back to the forefront I am sure he was One heck of a guy and a person we would have loved to met. 

 May the All mighty look over his Family and protect his soul.

Rob from Southwick Cares

 What an extraordinary man and what a loss to us all.   Thank you,  SSG B,  for stopping by and letting us know a little more about him. And thank you to the tiny heroes who spoke for all of us and let him know how much we appreciated his service.

 
Sgt Vandling won't be forgotten.  I know that right now he's smiling down on us and still taking care of his soldiers.

I think what you did is absolutely amazing. Sgt. Vandling was a family member of mine so thank you for supporting him during his tour.

Hi Nika87,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope it helps to know that there are many people who mourn with you, and value the service and sacrifice of your Hero and your family.

Very sincerely,

Jenifer