Thank you all for the outpouring of support! Today is Saturday and the first day of the week for us. Afghans take half of Thursday off and all day Friday - and start back up on Saturday. I'll be busy getting the soldiers I mentor back on track - after a day off, they seem to have selective amnesia and completely forgotten everything we learned the week prior! As a Naval sailor, if I can learn and teach Army maps and symbology, and how to operate as an effective Tactical Operations Center, then they should be able to learn too! My interpreter keeps me laughing because not everything translates perfectly - but the majority of the soldiers want to learn and become a more professional army.

I mentioned Mary Jo Burleigh - she's the anesthiest (spelling?) and has her hands full. One of the hardest workers, she works at the Afghan hospital and called at all hours of the night when she's "off" duty. IED, shooting, car bombers victims...you name it, she deals with it. If you can imagine a hopsital poorly staffed and getting their supplies from the US Military - that's what her environment looks like....very sterile and plain. The doctors are eager to grow - so if anyone has medical scrubs, or old tshirts - please send them. The patients get their clothes cut off when they enter the trauma center - I'm sure they'd appreciate any help.

 Our Afghan childrens health fair is happening in less than 3 weeks. They are children from the Soldiers here in Kandahar and everyone is talking about it (Afghan soldiers). We are also preparing for a Village Medical Outreach and humanitarian assistance mission to one of the remote villages. We've got a bunch of volunteers - and I'll update my page with pictures.

 Thanks again and it truly is an honor to be in your company.

John Pethel

Hello, LCDR Pethel, and welcome!

Thanks so much for all of your hard work, and for letting us know about things "over there".

I have been in communication with Major Burleigh, and posted about it in the thread we have started for you. (You have your own thread - you're practically famous!)

Thanks so much to all of you for your service!

Jenifer
 

John,

I have 3 boxes good to go for you and yours, they will be numbered 1,2,and 3, Box 1 has stuff  specifically for Major Burleigh and her team of caregivers and also some stuff for the health fair, box 2 is also for the health fair and box 3 is for you and yours! They will be shipped saturday 5/3. A small part  of my "economic stimulus rebate"!  Glad to help!

diane aka iwojima seabee  (not to be confused with Brooklyn diane!!)

Sir

Selective amnesia, very nice way of putting it.  My name is Joe Messier and I am Iraq anthing, by the sound of it facing a lot of the same issues, I have named our deployment OIF 07-09(Lost In Translation), My impression of training the Iraqi Army is they are going to do it their way and that is that.  It is neither good or bad, just different.  The officers do everything, they do not understand how to empower their NCO's, I had one of their majors tell me "they are NCO's because they are old, they are not expected to do anything!"  The Iraqi soldiers are pretty good at what they do, I didn't expect much but I was kind of suprised, they are proficient but very underfunded. 

During one of the Combined Medical Exercises we did in a small town called Abu Atham north of Baghdad, we treated about 500 patients in a day.  One Iraqi nurse treated about 200 female patients herself, it was pretty impressive.  

Things continue to improve, slow but steady, Rome wasn't built in a day.

The terps are a another story all together, they keep it interesting.. 

 Soccer balls are worth their weight in gold, so are school supplies and personal hygiene products.

Joe Messier

Hi Joe!

  Life there sounds like a new adventure every day! Do you by any chance know SSG JB Jaso?  I believe he is also at Camp Taji and is in a Stryker brigade from Hawaii.  Just wondering if the war zone is also a small world!  Take good care, be safe, and welcome to the forum!

 Hello, Joe!  Glad to see you found the forums.  Hope all is going well, and  that you've received the care packages from me.  God bless you all for the good work that you do!

Welcome to all the new people! A special thank you and "support junkie hugs"  for Joe and John and all in your units! We are so proud of you and so appreciate all that you do in service to our country. Keep your helmets on and your eyes on your battle buddies....y'all rock!!!......

Hi

I would truely like to apologize if I did not reply and thank you for the package, things here are about as hectic as I've ever experienced.  Please accept my apologies and know that it is greatly appreciated.  My soldiers and I are extremely grateful. 

V/R

Joe Messier

alohajoe2000:

Sir

Selective amnesia, very nice way of putting it.  My name is Joe Messier and I am Iraq anthing, by the sound of it facing a lot of the same issues, I have named our deployment OIF 07-09(Lost In Translation), My impression of training the Iraqi Army is they are going to do it their way and that is that.  It is neither good or bad, just different.  The officers do everything, they do not understand how to empower their NCO's, I had one of their majors tell me "they are NCO's because they are old, they are not expected to do anything!"  The Iraqi soldiers are pretty good at what they do, I didn't expect much but I was kind of suprised, they are proficient but very underfunded. 

During one of the Combined Medical Exercises we did in a small town called Abu Atham north of Baghdad, we treated about 500 patients in a day.  One Iraqi nurse treated about 200 female patients herself, it was pretty impressive.  

Things continue to improve, slow but steady, Rome wasn't built in a day.

The terps are a another story all together, they keep it interesting.. 

 Soccer balls are worth their weight in gold, so are school supplies and personal hygiene products.

 

Joe Messier

Welcome to the forum, Sergeant!!  And Thank You from the bottom of my heart for your service!  I just wanted to thank you for your post, we're always interested in learning more about how things are going from those of you who are changing the world and building a nation with your own hands-thanks for sharing your insight with us!  (Love the boxing photo in your contact page! )

Please don't apologize.   My concern, Joe, is whether the packages are getting to you.  It has been mentioned on this forum, about a change of  postal personnel to non-military (once they're out of the US), and the packages not getting to their intended receivers.  This has been answered by one contact who did find packages undelivered.   I hope this matter has been taken care of , and the transition smoothed out. 

Hi.  I just joined your forum this morning and would like to try to help some others have a better day, is how I would say it.  If someone here could point me in a good direction, that is.  I'd like to send some things to others who maybe aren't getting as many answers as others.  Please give me your tips on finding those.  As for where they are from doesnt much matter to me, just the best way to go about it.  Thanks,  Nanette

Nanette:  you are not alone in that mission.  Getting to know the website is helpful - that is - reading the how-to pages that Marty (webmaster, prez, & more) has developed over time.  I say this because there are gems there about expectations, about conditions, about contact that give excellent direction.  Using the SEARCH function on the where-to-send page entering words such as "remote" or "austere" or "removed" will sometimes bring back groups that are far from amenities. Certain FOB's (forward operating bases) are far removed; some groups spend more time off site "outside the wire" than others or are "embedded" and there are contacts that receive just so they can "send forward" to their brothers beyond the pale.  You could search or be alert for any of those terms.

For me, I smile at so many, but there's something I'm seeking.  I learned this (about myself) by reading the postings, many, many postings (over time).  I write or send, receive email and free-mail back - but often do not.  That is, I write into the void, then support myself by watching for the group to update their Anysoldier page, and even more so by continuing to read the listings. It's helped me to understand some (more) and feel a closeness.  In doing so, have learned even those on a bigger base appreciate contact, and those with very little often (also) ask for very little, if at all.  For myself, I've learned my best search-function is to listen with heart.  There are certain ones, men and women - and they've turned out to be a whole variety of ranks, ages, services, functions (though I confess, I started with remote snipers and dirt-camping Marines) - anyway, there are indeed certain postings waving, or those for whom I wake again to write because something written simply has touched me and I hear them in my dreams.

 You can just start at today's updates or sort by number of times a group's address has been requested, which will show you newest just on board (although number of times requested is no guarantee they receive contact consistently), or by service, or by alpha, or whatever. My point is, that reading beyond one's first selection can be educational. There's a rhythm out there: some describe much, some little... but I bet there's some entries that have a tone of voice that might just speak specifically to you.  Welcome and happy hunting.   

Hello all! I'm Amy and i'm from Tampa, FL. I've been visiting this site for about a month now and have already sent out about 6 letters of support to the troops. I accidentally stumbled onto this site, I really dont remember how haha! But i'm happy I did. My bestfriend, who is like a sister to me, joined the Marines about 3 years ago. Lucky her, she hasn't gone over seas. They placed her in Hawaii where she lives with her husband who is also a Marine. They're actually expecting their first child this year.

I feel like i'm already addicted to this site. Although this is my first post, i've been lurking around these forums for a while now. I'm a very emotional person and reading some things on here make me cry. But it also makes me proud of those who serve our country.

Hopefully you'll see me on here more often!

Amy and other newbees Welcome!

Your efforts will make a difference in the lives of those who serve. Keep the home fires burning with support.

Amy

What a honorable last name you have. Any relation to the Famous Eddie Rickenbacker The WWI flying Ace?

It reminds me of his story about when he was lost at sea for over 3 weeks in the Pacific during WWII.. I love the part of the story of how a Sea Gull saved their lives by landing on his head. After eating most of the bird they were able to fish using parts of the bird as bait to get more food. The amazing part of his rescue by a sea plane with no room in the cockpit so they strapped him and another to the wings to taxi across the ocean.

If anyone wants a good story read Rickenbacker's here:

http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/8_newwar.html

Amy whether you are related or not, Thank you for bringing back great memories, you have a great last name. 

Blessings and Thanks for supporting our troops, door

Been a supporter most all my life and not just because of the current events at hand.  Come from a long line of servicemen and women.  And at the late age of 35 I am gonna follow their lead