| Wednesday, September 14, 2005 Hi, I just wanted to thank you for your kind generosity. I received a package from you yesterday. I was very shocked but pleased to see that people care. I think that it is a great thing that you are doing for our SSAM's that are over here in the fighting. Some of us such as myself don't see combat, but it is still stressful and it is defiantly nice to get mail from home, especially from people that we don't know. Again I just want to thank you for your package and I hope that you continue to do well in your service. PFC Misty Reynold |
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| September 15, 2005 Mary Ann & Team Packages of Gratitude, Thank you so much for the thoughtful package It was nice to receive the everyday things that are sometimes hard to find out here. It really made my day knowing someone went out of their way for my welfare I know that some of the other soldiers in my company have received "Packages of Gratitude" also. It is nice to see the smiles on their faces. Thank you again for your support. Cpt JosephZabaldano |
| September 17, 2005 Mrs. Cordova, I just wanted to send you a note and say thank you for supporting our company while we are over here so far away from friends and family. Just a quick note about me. I am a Staff Sergeant with almost 15 years in the Army. I am from Birmingham, Alabama originally and have two great kids, Christian, my son is 14 and Morgan my daughter is almost 12. I miss them both very much and can't wait to get home to see them. Once again, please accept my gratitude and that of al the members of D co, 3rd Bat, 69th Armor Regiment. You and those like you back home make our jobs easier. Sincerely SSG John D. Sullivan |
| Friday, September 16, 2005 Dear Mrs. Cordova, I just wanted to say thank you very much for your packages. Myself and my soldier's really appreciate what you are doing for us. It does make our day when people back home think about us over here. My prayer's and bes wishes go out to you, your family, and friends. God Bless you, Sgt. Gabriel Castelo |
| September 18, 2005 Mrs. Cordova, Thank you for the care package. My name is David Stott. I am from Nebraska originally. I understand what you mean by the meaning and realization of freedom one get from being here. Once again - thank you very much for your support and efforts in getting al this stuff together for all of us ! David |
| Saturday, September 17, 2005 Hey, thanks for the care package. I really appreciate it and so did the rest of the people here. All of us are doing fine here. We use to see rain but the monsoon season has gone (thats what I call it). We haven't had any rainy weather in about 3 1/2 months now we douse each other with water guns. Those are our rain clouds here now. Tell the folks who help thank you also. PFC JOSHUA M. COKE |
| September 18, 2005 Mary Ann, Thank you very much for your packages and your support. I speak on behalf of all my soldiers from 2n Plt , A Co, 2/503 PIR. A lot of my guys don't receive regular packages from family so it is really nice when these packages arrive for them to go through. There are not any specific items I would request for them, the main thing is that a gift is a gift, and any sign of home helps bring a smile to their face. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, 2nd Lt. Matt Heimerle |
| October 2005 Hello, I wanted to write to you a quick letter and let you know our Plt really appreciates the boxes you sent. They help out over here, we have no PX on the FOB. So thank you for the care packages. I got to finish this letter to get in the mail now! Cpl Tyler Sparks |
| Sunday, September 25, 2005 Mary Ann, Thank you very much for your wonderful package. You and your family, along with the rest of your support team are doing an absolutely tremendous duty for our country. I was very touched when I received this package this morning. It made me realize that this cause meant more to a lot of people, than the public eye sees on a every day basis. I wish you and your family the bes and will add you to my prayers. Again Thank you very much, SPC Robert Martin. |
| October 8, 2005 Dear Mrs. Cordova, On behalf of the 12th Aviation Brigade, thank you for your thoughtful support ! We received your package and found it filled with all sorts of wonderful and useful items. You reached us here in Afghanistan. We are a U.S. Army Aviation unit out of Germany who currently provides helicopter support along the Pakistani Border. It is very rewarding and we find much support and appreciation when we fly out. Locals always stop to wave and say hello. It's encouraging and keeps us going. You see what these poor, poor people have gong through in the last 30 years. It is appalling. There are still nearly 1 million unaccounted for land mines in this nation, left behind., That is the rumor anyway. We have clearing teams busy every single day, slowly getting rid of them one by one. I admire those guys and all of our collation partners for their help in it all. It has been a good experience working so closely with soldiers for all over the world. Our helicopters perform missions such as troop transport, humanitarian aid delivery to locals, and medical evacuations. Every day we seem to catch a few more the "bad guys" and give these folks a little more in the way of life and living condition improvements. It is nice and rewarding to receive words of appreciation from locals. Their message has seem clear to me......even if it is in broken English ! Thank you again, 1st Lt. Jennifer Johnston Blackhawk Pilot |
| Monday, October 3, 2005 Mary Ann, John, Michael, Ryan, & Friends, I want to personally thank you for the package that was sent to our little world. Everything, including the candy went to all the soldiers that work in the Troop CP. It is people like yourselves that make being here a little easier. The weather here has broken with temps in the 90's now, which beats 120. The soldiers stay pretty busy most of the time. Down time is a few hours and Sundays, of course. We did have a volleyball contest, the office finished 3rd. Thank you again, your time and generosity are greatly appreciated. SSG Joseph L. Byerly |
| October 19, 2005 Mary Ann I just received the package today. I would like to thank you and your family for sending all the stuff. My office mates and I will enjoy everything you sent God Bless Maj Erick Larkin. |
| October 22, 2005 Dear Mary Ann, Hello! Thank you so much for the box of goodies. It got here just in time as a lot of the guys are getting ready to go back out into the mountains. I also enjoyed the note you put in with the pictures of your helpers. I will pass your website on to some Marines that are at outlaying posts. I don't get to see them very often, but I know they would like to get mail. The weather is starting to get cold here so any hot chocolate, coffee or oatmeal would be great. You can see the snow on the mountains from here. It is really pretty in the morning when the sun is coming up. Tell your husband "Thank you" to for helping. And "Thank you" for time to put these packages together. It really means a lot to know that there are people who support us! ! The papers don't paint a pretty picture. Thank you again. God Bless, Semper Fi Gail Saylor |
| October 20, 2005 Dear Mary Ann, Thank you so much for the care package. I shared all of its contents with the other Marines in our shop. Thank you also for the letter introducing me to your family and friends. I put your letter up on my "Wall of Supporters" memorial wall. I hope we can keep in touch. Your letters and support mean so much to me. SSGT Elizabeth Zakar |
| October 22, 2005 Ma'am, I just read about your work with Packages of Gratitude and your ultimate goal to "Make a SSAM smile, one SSAM at a time". I can do no less than to pass on a heartfelt "Thank you" and wish the best to you, your family and those you work with. Please continue the great work because those out there receiving your packages are more appreciative than you can imagine. (hopefully this e-mail is one way we can return the smile) Semper Fi GySgt Michael L. Myers |
| Monday, October 24th 2005 Mary Ann, I recently received an unexpected package from you and would like to tell you how much it means. I have heard my friends and family tell me how great the troops are and how proud everyone back home is of their sacrifices. I would like just to tell you that the support that we receive from home almost puts me in tears and certainly humbles me. Without the kind, caring, and unselfish people such as yourself, this country would be in ruins. It is the support from back home that lifts the spirits of the troops and keeps them fighting proud for the hard days to come; it is that support that makes this country great and worth making the sacrifice to secure worldly problems. It's not easy putting your life on the line daily, but it's comforting to know that it's in the name of groups like Packages of Gratitude supporting us from the home front. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers and would like to thank you for your service to our nation. God Bless William Freund |
| Sent October 27, 2005 Hello Mrs Cordova, I am SFC Reginald Cook, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado. I am sending this email just to say I relly appreciate your sincerity and generosity showed towards the SSAMs currently deployed in support of the war on terrorism. Being deployed is never easy, especially during the holiday season, but it is people like you that makes a typical day in Iraq a little brighter. On behalf of Soldiers here and throughout all of Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, I want to say THANK YOU and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ! SFC Reginald T. Cook |
| Monday, October 31, 2005 Mrs. Cordova On behalf of all the Marines and Sailors of Lima Company, I would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication inputting the love into all the care packages. We cannot thank you enough. I can assure you that the Marines and Sailors here appreciate your efforts. You have certainly boosted our morale here in Iraq. Thank you very much. Please pass a thank you to everyone that contributed and to the children of Corona, tell them that the "Kids Flag" is HIGHLY MOTIVATING. Again, thank you and everyone that supports all the men and women serving this great country. 1st Sgt. Mike Lampolsean |
| October 31, 2005 Dear Mary Ann Cordova, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you on behalf of the entire office. It is so pleasant to know that we have people truly supporting us back home. You appear to have a wonderful community and a beautiful family, and it is our great please to be over here defending you and yours. We managed to gobble up the sweets in a day, and we are currently relaxing and enjoying the hip CD you sent to us. From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate your support, and we applaud your cause. Sincerely, Lt. Nestor, Maj Sartorius, Maj Langenfeld and CDR Scott |
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LETTERS
| SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2005 |