| "Here are a few of the Christmas letters I have received. If you want to read more letters from 2005, please go to the Archive letters 2005.," Mary Ann |
| December 8, 2005 Dear Michael & Ryan, I would like to thank you guys so much for all the Christmas Stockings you packed and sent to us. My barracks is filled with red stockings hanging everywhere we can find a place in hopes Santa doesn't forget about us over here. I have a little boy myself....he is 15 months old, and I hope when he gets as big as you young men are he will be as giving and caring to others as you have been. Thank you so much, SSGT Jamie Jack, USMC |
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| December 9, 2005 Dear Mary Ann Cordova Thank you for your support. Your packages were most appreciated and heart warming. Keep up all of your hard work and we will keep us ours. It is great to see people still supporting the troops. Sincerely, Cpl Ben Forsman and Lcpl Josh Hendrix |
| December 9, 2005 Dear Mrs. Cordova Hi, how are you dong? My name is Tommy and I serve in the United States Marine Corp. I too am from California and there is nothing like it. I like to take this opportunity to thank you for the thoughtful care package, but most importantly your out pouring of support for each and everyone of us out here. Please let everyone in Packages of Gratitude know that I am very thankful for their love and support. It's because of you guys that we are able to shed some light on our darkest days. God Bless each and everyone of you. Sincerely, Cpl. Kit Tam |
| December 9, 2005 Dear Mrs. Cordova, I just want to say THANKS for all the packages and letters that everyone has sent myself and all the Marines in my unit. It really is nice to get random mail from people back in the states who support us. I know I appreciate it, and so do all of the other Marines. Happy Holidays to you all, and thanks again to everyone. SGT Garbriel Granado |
| December 9, 2005 Mary, Thank you very much for the package!There were lots of odds and ends in there that will get good use. You, Michael, and Benita really know what to pack. We appreciate all of the hard work you are doing for us. Thank you again and Happy Holidays! Sincerely, 1st. Lt. Ben Cichon |
| December 10, 2005 Dear Mary Ann, Although it wasn't me who received one of your packages, I wanted you to know that every box you send overseas is greatly appreciated and opened with great anticipation. To simply know that someone back home or in the states has your name and address and cares enough to send you the essentials you need to get along everyday is a big life. I can tell you right now that the children of the city I'm in are the ones in need. Now that school is in full swing , the soldiers are constantly bombarded with "Mister, Mister, give me pen, give me pencil." If you are able to get a hold of bouncy balls, and small toy cars, those are also great to hand out to the kids. As for the soldiers of this great country of ours, baby wipes, razors and coffee are great items to get as well as soap and shampoo. Everything that you have sent is right on the money. A little about me, I'm a 28 year old Staff Sergeant from Oregon. I've been married for 6 years and have two children. Well just wanted you to know that it's people like you that make our country so great. Keep up the effort, as the soldiers appreciate everything you do. Sincerely, Vaughn Stocker NOTE: 2 PACKAGES WHERE SENT TO THIS SOLDIER, ONE FOR HIM, AND ONE FOR THE CHILDREN |
| December 19, 2005 Mary Ann,, Please allow me to introduce myself as we have not met...Lt. Budaik, Platoon Leader, 3ACR. Our Soldiers greatly appreciate your generous gifts! Socks, food, cards, candy, and toiletries are all tremendous incentive to do a better job. We understand that everyone back home wants us safe & yet expects the mission to be carried through. We'll continue to work hard to make that happen! Thanks Again! Very Respectfully, Lt. C. Budnik, U.S. ARMY |
| December 2005 Dear Mary Ann, I can't express all the support felt in your heart filled packages. Everything that was sent will be used and consumed in no time at all. It's so wonderful to know that there are people like yourself, the students, and others, who support us regardless of what your feelings might be. I can tell you that we are winning everyday the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq. The schools are getting updated and commerce is booming compared to the amount there was the first time I was here in 2003. Please tell Adam Aivila that we will be ready to protect and defend our great country and constitution. It is great being able to serve people like you, who are doing so much for all of us. To all the students, who sent such wonderful things.....THANK YOU! With all the support from you guys and girl I don't think we are gonna need anything for a long time. It was an honor to read all your great letters and eat all the goodies that you mailed. To tell you a about the men you are supporting, we are the 172nd Stryker Brigade out of Ft. Wainwright and Ft. Richardson Alaska. We are an Infantry Unit that uses the army's new vehicle (the Stryker) to fight the War on Terror. It's very fast, quiet, and has a lot of armor. We patrol the city streets looking for the nasty insurgent's everyday. We are getting more and more of them off the streets every month, and its becoming safe for the kids to play again. You do not need to worry about these bad buys coming to your great country, if we the Tomahawks have any say in it. We will fight them here on their soil rather than outs. In the mean time you all need to study hard, stay in school and say NO to all drugs. Thank you for all your great support, Staff Sergeant John A. Smerbeck |
| December 28, 2005 Mrs. Cordova, Thank you so much for the care package and the letters you sent. The hygiene gear was appreciated by me and the rest of my fire team. I especially liked the CD you sent "The Downward Spiral",which was a great a great choice, music is a big deal out here because it lets us relax and think about things other than our job for a moment. The odd thing is I let a buddy borrow that same CD and a couple others about a month ago and the truck he was riding in was hit by an IED, all Marines escaped with weapons and gear, but all packs and personal gear went up in flames. So like I said, odd coincidence, but a cool one at that. Again thank you for the care package and I wish you and your family a Happy Holiday. Travis Loiselle p.s. Please thank your husband for serving in Vietnam for me |
| December 20, 2005 Mrs. Cordova Hello and Happy Holidays from Iraq. Thank you so very much for your care package. It was extremely thoughtful and generous of you to remember my fellow Marines and I with your numerous gifts. Knowing we have the support of wonderful people is very comforting and reassuring. My name is Nathan Dugan, I'm 23, and I was born and raised on a beautiful little island in the South Pacific, called Guam. I've been in the Marine Corps for about 4 years, and am a Air Traffic Controller. My unit is currently working in Western Iraq doing a good job of preventing planes from hitting each other. Thanks you once again for being so kind and Happy Holidays. Cpl Nathan Dugan p.s. The chili was splendid! |
| ARCHIVE LETTERS |
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| December 28, 2005 Dear Mary Ann Cordova, Merry Christmas ! ! I can't tell you what your support means to us here in Iraq. Steven Repp keeps sharing his packages with us. You are bringing joy to more people than you know and I just want to say "Thanks !" We are getting together to have Popeye's Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut pizza for the Holiday feast. Not the traditional meal but it's a change. I'm looking forward to it, since I do love pizza. We are past the halfway mark. On January 1st it will be exactly 90 days until we leave. The only excitement around here is the sporadic mortar and rocket attacks. A lot of the mortar shells are French-made (1996) anti-personnel type that shoot our 60 darts when they explode. Fortunately they tend not to explode. Thank you France! Tell your family "Merry Christmas) from me and the Customs Boys. We Thank you ! PO Davey |
| DECEMBER 2005 |