To any soldier...

To: ANY SOLDIER

On two occasions since I have been here, someone has delivered care packages to our squadron addressed to "Any Soldier" we normally open these and share them amongst the squadron. The first incident was the day after our arrival, I went in to the squadron and there were two boxes of toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, dental floss and some hard candy all neatly packaged in individual baggies that could be quickly distributed to each person in the squadron. These came from a 4th grade class in New Mexico. I didn't have an email address or I would have written them a note but I did find a return address on the customs label so I had a flag flown in one of the A-10's and I printed a certificate and mailed them to the teacher, hopefully she recieved it and can share it with her students before the school year is out.
Yesterday we recieved a couple of care packages in the squadron addressed to "Any soldier". So, we opened up the packages and inside was all kinds of toiletries, shaving cream, razors, shampoo and body wash. This came at a perfect time because we have been here just long enough that people are starting to run out of stuff they brought with them. The people at the Frederick County Bank in Maryland hooked us up with some great stuff that we can use. There was an email address in one of the cards so I decided to write them a thank you note for their time and generosity. I recieved an email back from a couple of the bank employees, which I thought was very cool since I occasionally have some downtime at work and I enjoyed reading their emails. As I was leaving work this morning, I noticed that another box had arrived from them, this one contained all kinds of snack food. My hat's off to the employees at Frederick County Bank for taking time to collect all the stuff and send it. I had a flag flown for them as well and as soon as the pilot signs the accompanying certificate, I will get it in the mail to them.

Last night I worked with Charlie "Cougar" Holden at the desk. We launched the airplanes for their missions and after discussing that it was probably "OK" for a couple dudes to be making bracelets, we decided to have "Craft Night". Several people have been making bracelets out of parachute cord. I've heard them called "Friendship bracelets" and "Battle bracelets"....anyway, we decided to figure out how to make them. We had both made them before but had help, so we had to figure this out on our own this time. We finally got it and I made one for Connor. I made one for myself right after I got here but it has gone missing. Cougar made some for his family and some jerk at the post office stole them. He mailed them home to his family but when they recieved the envelope, there was only the note he had put in with it...no bracelets. Think I'll just carry mine home in my backpack.

NEWS FROM HOME: I recieved a couple emails from Andria this week, and it looks like we are going to take the kids to Disney World in September. The school staff and teachers were awesome about letting us take the kids out of school for a week. I can't wait to see their faces when we get there. Lily has never been in an airplane so I am anxious to see her reaction. In other news from home, Lily has been learning to email me...she's almost 6, so she doesn't type well, but Andria will type verbatim what she says, they are pretty funny. The last one was so funny, I was crying from laughing. It was very demanding with such statements as "You shall come home right now" and "I shall see you again becuase I just love you!" She's such a mess...I'm sure she has been giving her mother a run for her money since I have been gone.

Well, that's about all I can tell you from sunny Afghanistan today.

Hope this finds everyone doing well!

~Mike~