 |
 |
|
|
||
|
February 19, 2004, 9:30 a.m.
O Captain, Our Captain!
A Girl Scout view of Iraq.
NRO readers may remember our local Girl Scout troop here in northern Westchester were collecting recreational items to send to the soldiers in Iraq around the holidays. They rounded up playing cards, games, DVDs, powdered drinks, and snacks for a unit of the 4th Infantry Division at the request of a local man who was serving as a 2nd lieutenant in Iraq.
Our collection went very well and 40 boxes weighing over 750 pounds were packed and ready to be shipped when we ran into a security snag. Rules about sending packages to the troops were tightened and we were afraid the stuff wouldn't make it through the regular mail.
NRO readers, both here and abroad, wrote in with all sorts of wonderful offers of help:
"Call my brother working in Baghdad."
I recently returned from deployment in the Middle East and I have a suggestion...."
I'm an active duty soldier and here's how I get packages...."
I'm a mobilized reservist due to return home but can I help?"
Everyone wanted to help us accomplish our mission.
Finally, we realized that a member of our own Girl Scout troop has a dad in the shipping business and that he has a government contract. He was able to ship the gifts at a reduced price.
The goods made it just in time for Christmas and we heard from our second lieutenant, now a captain:
Greetings from Iraq. How are the best Girl Scouts in New York doing? On behalf of all the soldiers of the 64th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, I would like to personally thank you all for your cards and gifts. I know you worked hard to get donations and spent a lot of time sending them over to us in Iraq. You opened up your hearts to my soldiers and me, and we will be eternally grateful. By getting these snacks, body wash, movies, and other gifts, the soldiers' spirits and morale have never been higher.... The quantity you sent was more than enough, as we have been able to share our gifts with other units here. The future of America is in good hands with you, our young leaders of tomorrow taking the initiative to make a difference and stand up for what you believe in. We are away from our families and friends during the holidays but we have become a family of our own out here and have developed a special bond. I have listened to soldiers tell stories with their different accents about their hometowns and got to hear their future plans and dreams. It has been a very motivating and positive experience. We can decorate our tents...many soldiers are putting up Christmas lights and Christmas trees. I have hung the picture you sent me. Every day I wake up to your smiling faces and I know it is going to be a great day. How cool was it that the President came to Iraq on Thanksgiving. He snuck right in without anybody knowing. It is just awesome that he risked his life to come out here knowing how dangerous and hostile it is. He boosted the morale of troops everywhere. We're showing these terrorists we're in it for the long haul and we will prevail. Capturing Saddam has made the Iraqi people thankful and grateful they have a new way of life...As American soldiers we are very proud and honored to be fighting on behalf of the greatest citizens in the world. We chose our occupation and understand the hardships that come with it. It is a great feeling for us to know that America is a safe place and our friends and families are living without fear. The rights and freedoms we have in our country are very precious and we would do anything to make sure they stay that way. We have appreciated all the prayers and support you have given us. I cannot thank you enough in words how much the soldiers appreciate you thinking of them and supporting them. I would like to visit you when I get back and meet you. I would like to share my pictures and stories with you over some famous New York pizza. Enjoy your winter break. Go outside and have fun. You are all great new friends and I am thankful I have gotten to know you. May all your holiday wishes and dreams come true. I salute you. Captain Jason out of Iraq God Bless America!Last week, guess who showed up at a Girl Scout meeting in northern Westchester with six boxes of pizza? Captain Jason, his mom, his sisters and a friend. He is home on a two-week leave having served nine months in Iraq and wanted to take one afternoon to spend with the girls. There were pictures, stories, questions, smiles, giggles, and a not few teary moms. This guy is so young. I could at least have been his babysitter. But he's a tank, as wide as he is tall. A really strong soldier. Talk about an Army of one. He presented each of the girls with the patch of the 4th Infantry Division, the ones who got Saddam. When the party was over, he smiled and headed for the door with his family. Next week he will return to his base south of Tikrit for three more months of duty. He had one word for his experience with the girls of troop 2228: "Awesome." Right back at you, Jason.
— Susan Konig, a journalist, has just written a book, Why Animals Sleep So Close to the Road (And Other Lies I Tell My Children), which will be published in 2004.
