-- FROM THE CURRENT COMMANDER OF NICK'S BATTALION

[...] I also wish to pass on to you that I delivered 8 of Nick's soccer balls to a community about four hours north of Basra in an utterly underdeveloped and very poor area inhabited by "Marsh Arabs" - part of the population that was so horribly oppressed by Saddam in his day. 

You should know that the children's faces just lit up when I pulled those bright colorful soccer balls out of the vehicle - there was some pushing and shoving and I hope that they learn to share but I know that you brought some tremendous joy to at least 50 very poor Iraqi children today - they live in mud and marsh-reed huts with no heat, electricity or running water - with their cattle mixed in and nothing but a single brick and mortar structure for a school.  Suffice it to say they were overjoyed to see us and Nick's soccer balls.  I explained what these soccer balls meant to Sheikh Ali and he expressed his deep gratitude for the sacrifices made like your son and so many Americans like him.
 
Thanks again for allowing me to be part of this tremendous program to keep the memory of Nick alive.  Know that it means a lot to me and I did not even serve with him but would have been privileged to have been able to.  In many ways, I feel as if he continues to serve this mighty battalion and our country through this program you have kept going.

Very respectfully,
LTC Scott Taylor
Lion 6
 

US soldier delivering KFN soccer balls to local Iraqi youth.