We have met some of our contacts also. What an honor that has been. It has been through doing the Patriot Guard homecomings mostly. Keep up your good work.  Happy Birthday         Kay in Nebr

I almost never get free mail anymore.   And very few e-mails either.   I used to receive a response for about 2/3rds of the packages sent.....but not anymore.....maybe 10% acknowledge nowadays.  

 Kudos and congrats to those who are receiving communication!!

cj/

I don't get as much free mail as I used to either, nor as many e-mails. I did just receive a PRT Khowst shirt and hat from one of my Warriors in Afghanistan; got here on my birthday. And I got a letter from one of my female Soldiers who med-evaced out of Kosovo in February and is now in Texas receiving medical treatment - not "free mail" but communication from one of our heroes none-the-less. Of course I wrote right back to her, and included my phone number in case she would like to call some time. I was pleased to hear from her, since I've been wondering how she's been since the "severe head trauma" incident that sent her back to the States.

 Well the not-getting-happy-mail means I need to step up getting more blank cards out there, huh? *grin*

 Yeah....*giggles!*...what are ya waitin' for??

I was very pleased to get my 2nd e-mail from a contact tonight who is from the base in my town.  He was thrilled to hear from home and get a photo that I sent.  In fact, he sent me along a photo of one of the aircraft out there that my boys are going to go NUTS over when they see it tomorrow.  It made my night to get that e-mail after a long day working (volunteering taking photos at a Squadron Awards ceremony on base).  It makes it all worth it when we do get to hear back.  I'm keeping a binder with letters/e-mails from the soldiers that I do hear back from so that if I feel the need to hear from someone I'll just whip out my binder and read from those I have heard from, that will be enough to last me even if I don't get anymore throughout the whole time I support.

Hi Colourful,

I participated in card swap #8 (Easter/Spring) and I have a contact at FOB Brassfield - Mora.  I have only gotten one response from a soldier that received a letter that I sent so if it is from "my guys" it's nice to know you got a response.  Although, no response directly to me doesn't stop me !  As long as they keep their AS page updated, I keep sending.

Hi Christi! Here's the note I got, name removed since he's not a contact and didn't publish his name:

My name is SGT [B.M.] I wanted to take the time to write you back and say thank you for your support. I received your card in a package. It means a lot to us tthe support that yall give.

No, winter is pretty much over. It looks like it going to be another sunny summer.

Once again thank you ma'am for everything.

With much appreciation,
B

So you can consider that your thankyou from Brassfield-Mora :) :) :)  (In my letter I had asked if spring had sprung over there or not.)

 Hi Christi and Sandy,

   I also received a letter from Sgt. B.M. ,   so Christi, consider this one as your thank you also :

       Hello, my name is SGT. B.M.  I am a soldier in the US Army.  I received your card in a package.  I just wanted to take the time to tell you thank you for your support.  It really means a lot to us.  A little bit about me. I am 21 years old.  I am married and have two daughters, 3 and 2 years old.  I am on my second tour of Iraq.  Well thank you again sir and ma'am for yalls support.

With much appreciation, 

B

WOW!  Thanks for sharing! ! ! ! !  This just made my day and is just as good as getting free mail!    

Funny how sometimes you can send a care package full of stuff and get no response, and then you send just a letter with a bunch of cards and you get several responses.  As it has been said many times before, the letters / cards of support often mean more than anything you can buy! 

I don't know who this guy is, since that's not the contact, but I am glad that he received the cards and enjoyed them! !  I am even more happier that you all received a response and shared it with me

Thanks to each of you for the wonderful cards you allowed me to share with "my guys." 

just wanted to share my "free mail e-mail" with all you junkies.....

ga-junkie - Thank you for the link:).

Ann

your're welcome Ann !

Another thing I wanted to point out for the newbies.  I just heard today from a contact that I sent my first letter to almost 6 weeks ago.  I've been sending letters at least every 2 weeks if not more often and I heard from him for the first time today.  The mail takes quite a long time, it took 10 days for his letter just to get to me.  And, remember too that their mail isn't like ours and doesn't run every day.  There are times when things are "hot" so there are no mail runs (I believe I've heard this anyway) and when the weather is bad it doesn't run either.  So, even if it takes 10 days to get from him to me it might take 20 days to get from here to there.  it all depends on their mail, where they are in country, etc.  So, keep supporting because they are supporting us every day out there.  And, chances are that sooner or later you will here from some of the contacts if and when they have the time to write.  Keep your chins up and don't stop sending even if you don't hear anything back.  I've heard at least once that someone didn't hear from a contact until they got back stateside too.