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| June 6, 2005 Mary Ann I am serving in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I cannot tel you how good it feels to open a package of little treasures. I am fortunate to have a huge support chain of family and friends that send me goodies from home, but many soldiers do not. It is more than a few goodies in a box that is so touching to me. It is the Web Page and the obvious time and effort you put into saying thank you. I truly appreciate that. Being a mother of 4 small children, I know first hand how hard it is to be away from home, but the reminder that our job here is important helps keep everything in perspective. Thank you for your time, effort, support and tribute to our troops here. Sincerely, LT Terri Twombly |
| June 7, 2005 Dear Mary Ann, Thanks so much for your care as evidenced by the package. It did indeed make me smile. My name is Daniel and I'm a Sergeant Major assigned in Kabul. It is another source of pride in our nation for me that people like you, who through love of country, take time from their busy lives to support our troops. Afghanistan sometimes seems to be another world. This land is so steeped in history it simultaneously a barren, desolate wasteland and hauntingly beautiful. There is so much potential here among the peoples, and they do look at themselves as differing peoples, that it can be a little dizzying. Clans, tribes, religious sects, ethnicities all figure into the complex mix by which they identify themselves. We are slowly starting to see them identify themselves as Afghans. This summer we are pushing to complete the elections for the National Assembly (Parliament) while simultaneously routing out the insurgents who seek to roll back progress. I am optimistic that we will be successful, it may not be democracy in our tradition, but freedoms these people are earning are so far beyond what they have known that I can't see a reversal as part of the equations. Thanks again, and know that you are a very real part of the success story we are building here. Daniel T. Benson-McCarthy |
| JUNE 8, 2005 Dear Mrs. Cordova, I want to thank you and everyone involved for the package, I greatly appreciated it. I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I've lived there for pretty much my whole life. I graduated High School and went straight in the Marine Corps just before September 11, 2001. The troops here greatly appreciate the support from back home. We all look so forward to getting letters from people across the country, it gives us a lot of motivation to get what we need to get done finished. Again I want to thank you, your family and friends. God Bless all of you, Sean Lamb |
| June 8, 2005 Mary Ann, Hello! I am Cpl. Ryan Ackerman. I'm 22 years old with a beautiful wife Dusty. We are both from Evansville, Indiana. We have been married for two years now. This is my third time in Iraq. My four years has been long and hard but almost over. I get out in September 2005. I just want to say "Thank you". You are a very thoughtful lady and all the people that help you out. You guys are doing a great job. I shared the many things you sent with my Marines. They want me to "Thank You" too. Your Friend Ryan |
| March 28, 2005 Ma'am, I want to Thank You, your husband, your family, your friend's, and those that donate there time to your effort. You don't know how much it means to us to receive a package, the mail call is the best part of the day. I also want to thank those in Anaheim Hills and others that support your efforts and donate goods for the boxes. It is an honor to serve you and all Americans, it is fine Americans like you and your supporters that make it that much more easy to serve. Your efforts support morale of the troops and that is one of the most important things to help ensure success with any mission. Again I want to send many "THANKS" to everyone involved in PACKAGES OF GRATITUDE. Very Respectfully, MSgt Bryan Smith, USAF |
| May 14th, 2005 Sorry for not touching base with you for a while, we've been busy with everything that has been going on the past few weeks. I have some names for you, these folks are all stationed on the same complex. I thought we could lift up the spirits and morale of a few of the enlisted folks that have been doing and excellent job over here. Mary Ann, I know this is a lot of names (63), but what ever you can do will be great. I appreciate everything that you have done to support or efforts in Iraq. The summer is just beginning here in Iraq, it has started getting to the 100+ degree mark during the day now. Again, Thank You! Msgt Bryan Smith **Note: all 63 packages mailed out on June 9, 2005** |
| June 20th, 2005 Hi, my name is Cpl Donnely. Today I received your parcel, which did put a smile on my face. First allow me to introduce myself. All my friends call me Johno, and contrary to what you may believe, I'm a British Soldier currently serving alongside my American Allies in Iraq. Receiving your parcel was totally unexpected to say the least. The only time we receive parcels from people back home in Britain is Christmas and thats normally one of the national news papers supporting the troops. It really did make my day to get your parcel, along with my friends who are working with me. So a little about me. Well, I'm 21, have been in Her Majesty's Armed forces since January 2001when I joined as a boy soldier of only 16. I have been married to my wife Donna since September last year (Rushed wedding due to upcoming tour at the time) and we have one son called Connor. I hope to serve in the Army for the full length of time they allow me to, which is 22 years of service. Well now you know a little more about me. Thank you ever so much for your parcel and I thinks its amazing what you are doing for the troops in Iraq. The parcel was appreciated just as much as any American soldier, if not more. Here is a photo of me and my friends. Johno (The British Soldier) |
| 20 June 05 Ms. Cordova, Thank you very much for the care package that you sent me. It means so much to me and my fellow soldiers to receive gifts from home and to see that people still care about us back in the states. All the goodies will serve me well as midnight snacks when I'm hungry late at time, but the socks and the batteries are the real life savers. Not too much is going on here, I'm just working all the time an waiting to come home Well I have to get running back to work and then catch a few hours of sleep and start it all over again. Thank you very much for the package. Best Wishes, SPC Ryan M. Sullivan |
| June 24, 2005 Mrs. Cordova, I am Sergeant Major Thomas and I would like to thank you on behalf of all the troops you have sent packages to. Some of the packages were for the British Soldiers and they were really surprised. They thought it was great. Also, tell your husband that I have the utmost respect and gratitude for his service during the Vietnam War. I believe he had it a lot tougher than we do today Tell Michael & Ryan hi for us. SGM Thomas |
| June 22, 2005 Mrs. Cordova, Thanks so much for your care package. It really means a lot to me and the other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines that are here. I am from Oklahoma originally, and currently deployed to Baghdad with troops from all branches, and the UK and Australia. I was sure to share some of the gift items that you sent with them. It's always nice to know that the folks back home are thinking of us. Here is a picture of the team I work with. I'm the big kid on the far right. Once again thank you so much and God Bless You! SA Duane Griffith USAF |
| June 22, 2005 Ma'am, On behalf of the C2x, Multinational Force-Iraq, I would like to thank you and your staff for the kind and generous donations to all of us over here in Iraq. We have been very busy starting us the new force and treats from home always bring a smile to our faces. It has been very hot over here (usually around 110-120 degrees lately), and the dust storms happen often, some worse than others. If I had to pick some things we could use, I would say calendars, mosquito repellent, CD-R's, and of course anything that says Little Debbie on it !!! Most of all, we enjoy getting photos and letters from back home. Mails is the one thing many of us look forward to, beside coming back home. Thank you again for all your hard work and support of our troops. SFC Andrew F. Metcalf |
| June 25, 2005 Mary Ann, My name is SSG Toby Shirley, I am currently deployed to Iraq and some of my soldiers have received some of your Packages of Gratitude. From everyone here, Thank You, for what you and your friends do for us soldiers here in harms way. It means a great deal to us to know that great people like yourself support us, and care the way that you do. Thanks again. Sincerely, SSG Toby Shirley |
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June 25, 2005 Mary Ann I got your package! Thanks a lot. I really appreciate what you are doing. I can't believe how many supporters you have managed to pull together. That is quite an accomplishment in itself. The Items you have sent will go to good use here. Thanks again, Very Respectfully, SGT Randy White USMC |
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