THANKS! to YOU! from the 972 MP Company

The 972 Military Police Company is leaving Iraq this month. Many of you adopted soldiers in this unit, and, a number of families and Girl Scout troops went the extra mile to collect, pack, and ship items for the parents and children in Baghdad.

Steve B., my "nephew", sent me a most wonderful THANK YOU to pass along to all of you. I'll quote it below. Though we were perfect strangers just a few months ago, he and I have become quite close via email as his Memorial Day note will show.

To all of you, this note is in tribute:

AUNTIE!!!
So good to hear from you. Thanks for the good wishes. I do ask
that everyone at some point in the day stop and reflect on the lives
that have been so bravely and courageously lost ensuring that our
freedom remains in tact. As it says "Let Freedom Ring"!!
AN, I am thankful for all that you have done for not only my
unit but the Armed Forces in general with your support. I am truly
blessed that I had this opportunity to meet you, someday in person I
hope, and wish you the best.
My unit will be out of theater on July 4th so no need for any good will here.
Our replacements are due in in the next couple of weeks and then it will be
time to say goodbye to many of our Iraqi friends that we assisted here.
I cannot discuss our mission here, it was however very successful. That will
be truly overshadowed by the humanitarian assistance that we supplied,
on your supporters behalf, daily. I saw first hand the elation and happiness
that many people experienced when we provided them the items that you
sent to us. Beanie babies, clothes, children vitamins, soaps, pens pencils,
the list goes on and on. A difference was made here, make no mistake about
that and YOU played a large role in that success.
So Auntie, GOD BLESS You on this Memorial Day as you will forever be part of my memory....

God Bless America

Love your nephew with the dreamy blue eyes,

Steve

------------------

Steve also arranged for a beautiful Certificate of Thanks to be sent to me. I treasure it on all your behalf. (You may "click" on any photo to enlarge it.)

________________

Departing Troops

As a quick reference here I am posting a summary of the troops who are no longer "in theater" and are back in home base. Be sure to check often if you are not sure about your soldier or sailor. Remember also to review the status of the "back-up name" given to you for your Customs Forms. In the left column, under "Grouped Topics", you may find several postings for your soldier or sailors' unit with more specific information.

For those of you with soldiers still in Iraq: It's time to send out those 4th of July packages! A card at least, although some fun "party" decorations would add to their cheer!

Leaving in May and June 2008:

• 1LT Fukuzawa & unit
• 720 MP
  
• USS CARNEY returned to home port in Florida on June 4th
• 972MP, FOB Freedom
  

Left Iraq April 2008:

• D COMPANY, 1-181 INF BN

Back home in February and March 2008:

• CAMP LIBERTY soldiers of A CO, 1-64 AR, UNIT #43435
• MNC-I PAO, CAMP VICTORY
• K-9 Unit: SGT James Hazelton & SGT Stone. I did receive some replacement names.
• Tom Reed, CPT

January 2008 departures:

• 293 Military Police
• Sean Burke & unit

December 2007 departures:

• 97th MPs
• FOB Freedom (Note: a 2nd group stationed here -- the 972MP -- came in to me in early 2008, and are leaving in June 2008)

--------------------------------

Troop Updates - many changes

The Troops we are supporting in "D COMPANY, 1-181 INF BN", are leaving Iraq this month. No further mail should be sent.

1LT Fukuzawa and his unit will be leaving Iraq in June.

The sailors on the USS CARNEY will be cruising back into their home port in Florida in June. I think they may be heading back out to sea a month later.

My notes say the CAMP LIBERTY soldiers of A CO, 1-64 AR, UNIT #43435, are going home.

Also: MNC-I PAO, CAMP VICTORY, troops are back at home base now, I believe.

In mid-June, our troops at FOB FREEDOM, the 972 MILITARY POLICE COMPANY, will also be going home. Cheerful notes from their sponsors would be nice as they endure their last 2 months.

Since the 720 MILITARY POLICE are returning to home base next month, their mail should stop soon AND if you were given a 720 APO address as the "back-up" name for your Customs Declaration form, you should no longer use it. I can assign another.

If you have different re-deployment dates for the soldier unit you are corresponding with, please send me a correction.

----------------------------

Helping Iraqi families

I have a new request for baby supplies, and Beanie Babies, via the 972nd Military Police, a Boston, Mass. National Guard unit.

To the one we call Aunt Nancy,

I request that if someone is sending items that they send me items that I can give to the Iraqi community to improve their quality of life. We do humanitarian distro here for infants, and young children with items such as Desitin, children's vitamins, children cough syrup, hats, mittens, ETC. I also have been working with a priest here in the IZ that delivers goods to a local orphanage to assist them with their everyday life. So I do more for the community than for me, like I said I have more than I need. I however hold those looking to donate is such high regards for their contributions to the war effort.

Beanie Babies:

Send me what you can. We have no shortage of soldiers here showing good will to our "hosts". We put beanie babies in small zip bags with some candy and throw then to the kids as we pass. When possible we will hand them personally to them. Hearts and minds! These kids are the hope for their future, lets get this done right and go home!

Be well.
1SG Steven B.

A collection of clean, "gently used" Beanie Babies and candy in sealed plastic bags could be a great school, scout, or other group project, as would a collection of vitamins and other items mentioned above.

_______________________

FOB Freedom - out of Iraq

November 24, 2007: Our FOB Freedom group is currently on its way back to the USA.

Note February 2008: we have a new unit at Forward Operating Base Freedom -- 972 MP

----------------------------