Hello everyone,

It has been suggested that a thread be started specifically for the 6-4 Cavalry Soldiers (B Troop).  They are in remote combat outposts in the Afghanistan mountains that border Pakistan. 

It will take a little while to coordinate this thread.  We do need to make sure that names of remote outposts are OK to be disclosed, along with the AS Contacts that are there...

Kaylynn

I just sent a huge box to the Chaplain at Bostick, and the addy said 6-4 (FOB Bostick, used to be called FOB Konar). Is that part of this group? It didn't say CAV so I don't know if it's the same thing. (I'm just a civilian...learning learning learning!) If it's not the same group I'll delete this post so Bostick doesn't confuse anyone.

Hi Colourful ~

FOB Bostick is one of the "places" that we know is supporting the 6-4 CAV!!!  Yeah!    I have another contact there, too.  Will let you know more when we are sure it's OK with him.  Hint: he is on The Gear Guys and Gals thread!

I remember a wife of the CO? or someone connected with the FRG for the 6-4 CAV saying that they were trying to push through support for the Soldiers through their Chaplain.  Is he listed as an AnySoldier contact?  I know there would be more that would want to send boxes to him...

I'm just a civilian and haven't really bothered to try to keep track of who is where.  Until now!  So, those of you that keep in touch with these brave men, let us know who they are when you can.  It is always helpful to try and coordinate some of our efforts to make sure we are reaching as many as possible. 

Wow, this is working!!

Kaylynn

 Kaylynn, the Chaplain I sent to is Major Ron Cooper....glad it sounds like my box went to a unit that needs some love! (It was full of greeting cards - so get busy on the 'needs', folks!)

Brewdog has an update posted 4-Nov.  Needs FOOD.  Nuts, tuna, dried fruit, drink mixes. 

Hello all.  TANKSalot asked me to connect with you all.  I've read much of the thread for Korengal Outpost July 2008 and y'all have done some amazing things.  It's always wonderful to hear about and read about great Americans who are supporting our beloved deployed military personnel and their families.  It's also so nice to read from the families of those who are deployed into harms way.

I had the privilege of meeting with the 6-4 Squadron Commander, XO, CSM and all of the 1SGs prior to their deployment.  We held the meeting specifically to discuss their support while deployed.  Thankfully more attention is being focused on Afghanistan both north and south these days and the troop support has really picked up.  Thank you all for focusing on these Soldiers.  A person very dear to me was killed by the Taliban at Firebase Vegas last year.  SFC Matthew Blaskowski 25 Sept 2007.  I made a vow to Matt that as long as we have Soldiers in northeastern Afghanistan I will do anything I can to help provide them with the support, appreciation and love they deserve.

Having said all of that I'll share a few things with you that might be helpful to you and to the Soldiers.  Chaplain Cooper is a great contact if you have his address.  He and his assistant have been designated the POC for shipments from those I am working with.  If you have an individual Soldier's name and address shipping to them is, as you all know, the way to go.  Many of these Soldiers, however, don't have internet access and probably will not have it.  That is why the Squadron Commander asked us to use the Chaplain and his assistant.  They know who has the most need and can get the items out to them.  And they have been doing a whale of a job.  The 6-4 Soldiers seem to be moving around a lot so many of their addresses are continually changing.  Another reason why we are using Chaplain Cooper and his assistant.

I have a blog (who doesn't these days) that I started to help get information out to people who were supporting the 173rd when they were in Afghanistan before the 3-1 replaced them.  I recently received an email from one of the 173rd, 2-503 men who was at Restrepo.  You can read his email here http://tankerbabelc985.vox.com/library/post/an-email-from-one-of-the-173rd-paratroopers-who-just-returned-from-afghanistan.html.  I also have a post about winter gear that is needed over there.  You can read it here http://tankerbabelc985.vox.com/library/post/help-us-send-support-to-the-6-4-cavalry-3rd-brigade-1st-id-deployed-to-northeastern-afghanistan.html.  We have three pretty substantial shipments in the air right now with socks and hand warmers thanks to a very generous donation from a man in Florida.  I've been remiss in updating the blog with what has been sent and what we still need but I will estimate that we still need about 3/4 of what is on the list in the link above.  I probably won't be able to update the numbers until next week as I will be in DC this weekend for services at Arlington and doing some volunteer work at WRAMC.

Many of you may not want to join vox in order to get my email address so I will share it here in case you want to contact me for any reason.  tankerbabelc@gmail.com.  Most of all I am inspired by and thankful for all of you.

HELLO Tankerbabe!!!

A BIG WELCOME and THANK YOU!   We are so glad to have someone on this thread that really knows what's going on.  We will benefit greatly from all of the information that you have shared.

It is great to know that there are a lot of socks and handwarmers headed to our men.   This will help us direct our efforts to other cold weather gear. 

PLEASE, do keep checking in and letting us know what's happening.  Of course, anyone else that supports or has family members over there are more than welcome to jump right in!!

Hope to hear more from you,

Kaylynn

Hi, Kaylynn!

I am SO EXCITED that you have started this forum. I'll be sure to pass it along to the Families. Yes, many of the guys are not able to post needs, or keep up with regular updates. There are some places hooked up to the internet now, but the connections are not consistent. Then the guys in the unit away from the main OPs don't have access until they rotate in or travel to one of those locations.

I will pass this link along to Families, introducing "Any Soldier" if they already haven't heard about it.

It's okay to keep sending items to individuals who may have posted, but understand that there may be times they aren't able to update as they rotate to locations w/o computer access. It is a GREAT idea to use the Chaplain as an alternate to receive boxes, if they don't get to the original intendee. If items are sent to FOB Bostick, the folks there will break the boxes apart and send them out as needed. My husband said the items don't sit around long, but are place on choppers as they go out to the outer locations, getting needed items where most needed, as quickly as possible.

These guys are in the mountains. Most items are only getting around by chopper. Packages only make it on choppers when space is available, and the choppers only go out on a very limited schedule. So if someone were to send a package to a specific recipient who is away from a main COP/FOB, it could take some time getting there. Smaller, flat rate boxes are great, seem to ship the quickest. But the limitations are why they folks at Bostick are helping out with distributing supplies.

Again, thank you SO MUCH for starting this forum up. I'll keep checking in often! ;)

--KLM

6-4 CAV FRG "Advisor"

Dear all --

I just wanted to post here that Chaplain Cooper, who is mentioned in tankerbabe's post above, IS an AnySoldier contact!!  I just searched for him -- and there he was --

CH (MAJ) Ron Cooper, U.S. Army Afghanistan --

My thoughts, prayers and love to all the troops and their families --

--Marilyn

Hello ChaoticMom!!!

You're here! You're here!  I knew you were out there ~ I just didn't know your name,  You are the FRG Advisor for the loved ones of our 6-4 CAV Soldiers.  Family Readiness Group - is that right?  So many acronyms, so little brain power...LOL

It's awesome how we can all connect together to help our brave Soldiers.  In just a few posts, we have gained a ton of information.  Please, keep on sharing what you know...it helps us so much.  It's a GREAT idea to have the Chaplain as a point of contact that can distribute the things that we know they need.  I have hesitated to send things many times because I was not sure if the address was still good or if the group was already swamped with the same item.

We do have a fair number of contacts listed on AS, but we would love to have more.  I am glad that you have given the www.AnySoldier.com site name to the family members.  They can tell us firsthand what their Soldier and his comrades need.  We have been able to combine our resources in the past to get special requests fulfilled.  With everyone contributing, we get things done faster.  For example:

Marilyn is great at pointing out things we need to pay attention to and at making lists to get us all organized.  She is the AS Queen, complete with Golden Bracelets!  Thank you for posting the Chaplain's full name for us and letting us know he is already an AS contact!  (I had already requested him, but neglected to tell anyone else where he was...) 

joCee has kept us all informed on the critical tactical gear and keeps us updated on who needs what on the Gear Guys & Gals thread, http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/t/8090.aspx.  She is amazing at researching items and giving us links to the exact vendor.  I think she was in the military before, because she knows too much. lol  She just blew me away with an (I-don't-know-what) crimping, exploding, model # DE`16]42;13^299.17 super-duper gadget that the Soldiers need!  LOL

Thanks again for your intel, KLM,

Kaylynn

Hey Gang!  Well, count me in as a new 6/4 volunteer too.  I was helping an aquaintance acquire her very own AS soldier, when I stumbled upon Cpt Brewer & his merry band of 4 at Camp Keating.  They are all medics, something near & dear to my heart since I'm a medic as well.  I've been a member of our town's volunteer fire/rescue station for a long while.  The good Cpt just posted on Nov 4th & even had pictures!! woo hooo!  I've sent them 2 boxes today, plus I'm nearly finished with a letter to him.  I sure like the adopting stuff cuz I'd hate to think of all the stretch marks had I given birth to them all...LOL!!!

 Anyway, I'm of course doing a little arm twisting at my fire company & plan to do the same with neighboring stations.  Since they not only care for our soldiers, but the villagers as well, I figured they could use some extra medical supplies, besides their own creature comforts.

Now for a problem I'm having that maybe ya'll can give some advice on.  I've become rather dissappointed lately at the lack of assistance from my community.  I set up a donation jug with my poster (some of ya'll saw it on the Korengal thread) at my favorite restaurant in town.  Not one of those chain restaurants...that's a whole OTHER issue...but a popular place.  I put it there Sunday & I went in yesterday to have lunch & to check on donations.  I was appalled!!  There was 62 cents !!  As if that wasn't bad enough, I sat there & watched a BUNCH of fellow lunchers walk up to the register to pay their bill, read the poster, pay their bill & then walked right out the door. Not a single one offered up anything.  I DON'T GET IT!!  I was so angry & so dissappointed.

Nana Nita is my hero.  How she got her bank & a few others to pitch in is beyond me.  Mine won't do squat!!  So my question is do you have any suggestions on how to maintain my level of enthusiasm when all around me are stingy, selfish people doing their best ostrich act..."if I don't see it, it's not real & doesn't effect me."  I am so upset.  I'm still plugging along, still soliciting for help, but gosh, it's really hard to not be discouraged when I keep running up on roadblocks.  Makes me wanna write a letter to the editor of our local paper!  Probably NOT a good idea with my current state of mind...lol.

Phew!  I needed to vent.  Ok, back to work.  I got phone calls to make & boxes to send.

Hello:

The New York Times last week did a feature article on a COP( I am leaving out the name) along the border. These are 6-4 CAV Soldiers. The story is a great one and you can google it for more information.

There are two contacts that are AnySoldier listed: Metcalfe and McGrail.

I am sure they would be thrilled with anything, especially items to help fend off the cold. I sent off a box last week and it sounds as if it might take awhile to get there being much of the contact is by air.

Bruce Trattler

cwmom98:

I sure like the adopting stuff cuz I'd hate to think of all the stretch marks had I given birth to them all...LOL!!!

OMG!!! You cracked me up!  Oooooh...the thought of it sends shivers up my spine. 

We can all relate to the frustration of fundraising.  Aaaaargh!  I have to be honest, though, before I actually got onto the AS site I had no clue that they needed the very basics.  I really thought that the military was taking care of all of their needs.  It is even difficult to get some friends and family to give cash donations, let alone total strangers.

Vent when you need to...and then keep on keeping on!  I am glad you picked up Brewer and his guys.  They are truly doing life-saving work out there.  I know that straight from my sources...

Kaylynn

BTrattler:

The New York Times last week did a feature article on a COP( I am leaving out the name) along the border. These are 6-4 CAV Soldiers. The story is a great one and you can google it for more information.

There are two contacts that are AnySoldier listed: Metcalfe and McGrail.

Bruce,

Thank you very much for letting us know about the NY Times article.  I will try to put the link on here.

I did not know of Metcalfe and Mc Grail.  Huge contribution of info there!  I will put them on the list (which I keep intending to post)! 

Now that some of you have shown me your contacts, I will show you some of mine! LOL  Just cannot do it right now because my son is "starving" and we have to go get food. 

Keep it coming,  Kaylynn

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/world/asia/01afghan.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

This is the link to the NY Times article on A Troop 6-4 CAV