Dear Operation Support Our Troops-America,

      I just wanted to send my profound thanks for the care packages I have received since I have been in Afghanistan.  I was one of the fortunate individuals to receive a box signed by Gary Sinise.  I feel priveleged to have received the box because I know that so many of you volunteer your time to making our lives a little easier.  I am a Gary Sinise fan not only for his acting ability but also because I know he dedicates so much of his time to supporting troops.  Please pass on my sincere thanks to everyone who packs boxes, donates items, and sends letters.  I have attached a picture of myself holding the box top that Gary Sinise signed which I have also laminated, so I can take it home.  In the background you will see the King's Tomb located in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Sincerely,

Chuck

Chief Warrant Officer 3

United States Army

Thank you so much for your continuing support here in Afghanistan!  We had three Soldiers from Illinois here at one point but our Air Force combat controller from Alton Illinois rotated out two months ago.  I am from Frankfort and one of my squad leaders is from Peoria.  We like to think we are representing the Land of Lincoln the best we can out here.

I cannot tell you how important your packages are for morale here.  As you probably hear from others who are deployed, it's the little things that count the most.  Your packages are always huge though and we can't ever say that any package is too big.  Because we are in such a remote location, our supplies almost exclusively come from air drops.  Because of terrain and weather, we have a hard enough time getting enough food, fuel, water and ammunition sometimes.  Your packages include things like soap, toothpaste and toilet paper that we would never even dream of if it weren't for your efforts.  Your continued support means so much to the Soldiers fighting here.

As for your request for pictures, I am afraid we cannot accomodate your request at this time.  We are working closely with non conventional units and any photographs automatically have a SECRET or TOP SECRET classification attached to them.  If you can gain access to a SECRET government network, let me know.  There is a senior leader from our unit facing charges right now for taking seemingly harmless pictures of his site and sending them to his wife. 

I would like to thank in particular Mr. and Mrs. Gerald and Donna Freitag of Crystal Lake.  One of the packages included their mailing address in it but because of our remote location, supplies only come in and we have no way to send mail out!  If they have an email address, I would like to thank them while we still have limited internet access.

Thankfully,

LT Joseph