Seeing Through A Soldier's Eyes
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Thank You From A Soldier


I am always so encouraged to learn about people with a special heart for the troops deployed overseas. My unit is the 1-327th infantry, 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division out of FT Campbell, KY. We have been deployed for six months of a fifteen month rotation. For many of my men, this is their second deployment in three years and for some the third in five. They have been given more than I can say. This deployment is really stretching them beyond what I even thought possible. It gets harder with each deployment. They are all True American Heroes! As their Chaplain, I am Honored and Humbled to be able to serve them and minister to them. I am a prior Infantry Platoon Sergeant who has seen my fair share of combat and I know what they are going through. There is no running water right now and the sand storms are covering us in dust, but we are marching on! Thanks again Mama Cindy for thinking about us. Anything you send will be a Blessing.










LETTERS FROM TROOPS:

Hello Cindy~My Mission in Afghanistan draws to an end. I wish to Thank you for your care, prayers and all you did for me. You are a Splendid Person
and every Soldier that receives packages from you has an Angel Caretaker. You helped to make the time here pass quickly. Your True Friend~Greg


Hello Mama Cindy~I hope you know how much I appreciate what you do for the troops over here. Every little thing helps out when we are out here and feeling
home sick because we are away from our families. Take Care~Dalila


Good Early Morning Here~I have received your last two packages and I have opened them up to the Soldier's for taking. Thank you again and again to all
yours and your supporters' hard work! Soldiers continue to be enlightened when they see Mama Cindy's gifts from home sitting in our break room! Thank you~Jonathan


Mama Cindy~Thank you for the package you sent. It is great hearing from people back home. Keep up the Good Work. Thanks Again~John


Mama Cindy~Just wanted you to know that I received the care packages you sent me and I wanted to tell you thanks. Things like this truly lift our spirits.
No good deed goes un noticed. So on behalf of the guys and myself thank you very much. You know, we are just doing what we think is right for something
that is way bigger than ourselves. That is to spread the spirit of humanity and humility around the world. And to ensure someone else's freedom from
tyranny and anarchy. Very Sincerely~Marty
Life Over Here
Everyone wants to know more about what it is like over here. I always hesitate to try explaining because words just don't do it justice and I don't think you really want to know anyway. But here is another attempt. Try this:

In Your Bedroom: Start up a chainsaw and leave it running in the room 24 hrs/day Set your alarm clock to go off at several random times when sleeping Invite your neighbors over to sleep in the same room Remove your bed and replace it with a 1" thick piece of foam Radically change what time you go to sleep every few weeks If you get caught having sex you are going to jail Turn the heat up to 100 degrees

At Home: Put everything you own in a duffle bag Always put stuff back in when you are done or it will magically disappear Spread large, sharp gravel all over your yard Spread 1/8th of fine, dry dirt all over your floors Clean up the dirt Immediately spread it all over the floor again Turn hot water off some days. Turn cold water off some days. Turn both off other days Put enough dirt in your running water that you can see it when it comes out of spicket Let dogs/cats deficate/urinate in your bathroom. No training required. Kitty litter already on floor Turn off all electricity/lights in your bathroom and count your blessings Have your neighbors randomly shoot at you Turn the heat up to 100 degrees

For Meals: Stand in line for 15-60 minutes Put ALL food (including lettuce, milk, bread, fruit, ect.) in oven at 120 degrees for 4 hours before serving You can cool some of the food with ice afterward Sprinkle dirt on everything Spices include: salt, pepper, more dirt Help yourself to all the bottled water you can carry from one location Turn the radio to a sports event and adjust the volume to maximum Begin eating. You have 15 minutes to get back to work Neighbors randomly shoot at you while eating

In your Vehicle: Slide the seat as far forward as possible (Regardless of how big you are) Cover all the windows except the windshield Sandbag all the floors Put on a 30 pound vest and a 3 pound hat Remove the suspension completely (that's what the 1"foam padded seat is for) No padded back. Put a dinner plate between your back and the seat Practice what you will do if vehicle rolls over before leaving driveway Have passengers randomly smack you in head or poke you in side with something hard Tune the radio to static and adjust the volume to maximum Turn the heat up to 130 degrees. No rolling down the windows or you die Have your neighbors randomly shoot at you

At Work: Rig the electricity to shut off at random times for unknown duration's 12 hour shifts...Shift times change at random times with no notice No weekends off...ever Your Evaluations? You Suck. Get back to work The only people who appreciate your work don't know what you do Don't forget your 30 pound vest and 3 pound hat Two thermostat settings: 100 degrees or 50 degrees (you guessed it..random) Have your neighbor randomly shoot at you You may get 2 weeks vacation (This "ray of hope" keeps you from killing yourself and not getting back to work)

Your Social Life Outside Work: That Ends

Your Spousal Relationship: Start by turning the heat down to freezing Never actually see or touch them Stand in a line for 30-60 minutes before talking, e-mailing or messaging them Randomly cut out words in every sentence when you talk on the phone Casually chat about daily life at home in America right after watching your buddy get killed Have your spouse divorce or bankrupt you..or both

How do you feel now? This place is worse.

Tony--Stationed in Iraq

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen"




"Dance With Me Charlie"

This song was re-dedicated to Major Wendy Parsel's unit and our troops in 2005,
by the "Two Of Hearts", a mother/daughter singing duo
The duo had no idea that Major Parsel's husband's name, is Charlie.


Dance with me Charlie before you go out the door
Dance with me Charlie before you go off to war.
The baby is sleeping and the hour is drawing nigh
Hold me in your arms dear, hold me tight.

Dance with me Charlie all night long.
Dance with me Charlie until dawn.
The wind is in the willows and the sounds of the night,
drift all around us in the fading twilight.

When you get lonely and if by chance you get scared,
hold me in your heart dear, and remember what we've shared.
Remember the music and the sweet smells in the air,
as we danced on the back porch.
Remember and you'll be there to....

Dance with me Charlie all night long.
Dance with me Charlie until dawn.
The wind is in the willows and the sounds of the night,
drift all around us in the fading twilight.

I'll be looking for your return across the top of the hill.
May God bless you and keep you safe,
and the fear in my heart still.
May he bring you back to me.
May he bring you back to....

Dance with me Charlie all night long.
Dance with me Charlie until dawn.
The wind is in the willows and the sounds of the night,
drift all around us in the fading twilight.

Lyrics composed by Laura L. Smith
Copyright 1996

 


A Soldier wrote me this:
I had to find a way to get through my days here
in Iraq. So, I began to take it one quote a day.
Here is one: You see who I am today, but you don't
know what I had to go through to become the person
I am today!

A Marine wrote me this:
When the packages started coming,
we were excited. When they kept coming
every week, we were overwhelmed. And Maybe
we shouldn't have, but we began looking for
those packages every week. It gave us something
to look forward to.



An Army National Guard wrote me this:
A lot of us have access to the internet and e-mails,
but not all the time. It is nice to receive e-mail, but
a letter you can put in your pocket and read it over and over again.



A USAF Airman wrote me this: When we get a package or letter from home,
other than from family, it makes us feel as though
others really do care about what we are doing!

Hand To Hand, Heart To Heart
The sun beats down upon his back
as they move through the desert in Iraq.
The days are long and the nights are short.
This job was not his last resort.
He made the choice to defend,
to serve God and country to the end.
He prays for peace and longs for home.
How much longer in the desert will they roam.
He holds on to a letter from Mama,
that he reads again to escape the war and trauma.

We're hand to hand, heart to heart.
Son, the miles can't keep us apart.
We lift you up in our prayer's,
to ease the burdens you must bare.
May warm thoughts and hugs fill your mind,
and remember son, you did not leave us behind.
We are with you.
Yes my love, we are with you.

She believes in being strong
and letting right prevail over wrong.
She sends supplies up to the line,
and makes sure her troops are doing fine.
She knows that freedom comes for a price.
She could be called to make the greatest sacrifice.
Her thoughts go home to the place
where love waits to tenderly kiss her face.
She holds on to a letter from Mama,
that she reads again to escape the war and trauma.

We're hand to hand, heart to heart.
Girl, the miles can't keep us apart.
We lift you up in our prayers
to ease the burdens you must bare.
May warm thoughts and hugs fill your mind,
and remember girl, you did not leave us behind.
We are with you.
Yes my love, we are with you.


Lyrics written by Laura L. Smith
In honor and love
for our troops.
All rights reserved to Mama Cindy
and Laura Smith 2005