FPC Any Soldier Ministry  | letters from soldiers | www.anysoldier.com |

1Lt. Robert M. Forrester, Jr. will be leaving for Iraq in early September.  Dan, our “Any Soldier” representative will be heading back to the U.S.A. a few weeks after his older brother arrives.  Tammy, a resident of Brookside Terrace, crafted a flag wall hanging and requested it be taken by a soldier to Iraq.  Please attend either worship service on August 17th as this flag is presented to 1Lt Forrester and join us in prayers for his and all of our soldiers  safety.

Collection boxes are located in the Narthex (entranceway of the church) and the entranceway of Pehrson Hall.  Monetary donations are also welcome to help defray the mailing costs.  Make check payable to “FPC”, use the special offering envelope in the pew rack and write “Any Soldier” on the memo line and place in the collection plate.
Thank you in advance!
Leo McLaughlin
Check out the “Any Soldier” bulletin board outside the Church Library for the latest letters and pictures from Dan. 

School Supplies Needed, See Letter Below

New Letter From Dan Forrester, 8 July 08:

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Greetings all!

I figured independence day would be a perfect time to give another update of life in Iraq.  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your 4th of July.

I'm at about the 6 week mark, almost a quarter of the way done!  Time here flies, I feel like it was only yesterday that I first felt the human sized hairdryer that people now call a "cool breeze".  I've been working a lot of construction projects building parking pads, maintenance buildings, roads, security lights, and a lot more that I'm not allowed to talk about.  It's been an interesting trip so far.  And I'm comforted by the feeling that life in Iraq really is improving.  Here's a quick story worth telling:

Last week, I was driving around with some Iraqi contractors and their interpreter.  I asked him about his recent engagement to his fiancé, and it turned out to be quite an ordeal.  About a year ago, he came back from working as a 'terp' for a Marine unit to visit his sister at college, and he met this girl.  They hung out for six days (you heard me, SIX) and then asked to speak with her mother.  When she asked why, he said he wanted permission to marry her (her dad had passed away).  And then he asked "so is that okay?" and the girl said "okay, I think that is good" (not the most romantic story, but good in the end!).  So when he talked to her mother, she said that now was not a good time to propose because it would be TOO DANGEROUS to have a party.  So they went six months without being engaged until about 4 months ago when they agreed the area was SAFE enough to have a party.  So they had a large gathering and everything went well.  He's getting married in 3 weeks!  I had to turn down the invitation, though.  But anyway, it's good to see that recently the people feel safer in the area, when they didn't feel like that just a few months ago.  We're making progress!

I also recently took a trip to FOB Loyalty, where I got a first hand look at how our soldiers are living when they're forward deployed at the smaller bases.  These bases are where all our troops went during Bush's 'troop surge'.  They are fairly well taken care of, and this base was very well fortified with everyone living in pre-existing hardstand buildings.  But every day convoys would line up and roll out to where there are still bad guys.  It was definitely an eye-opening experience.  But by far, the best part was the helicopter ride around Baghdad.  I finally got outside the walls and saw green grass, fairly clean streets, and an "urban sprawl" that looked more like East L.A. than Iraq.  I've got some pictures from the trip attached here.

My favorite night of my deployment so far was last Monday when I was invited to an Italian police camp where they are training the Iraqi police force.  I was one of five Americans hanging out with about 40 Italians and ate FRESH pasta and pesto!  And sausage!  And something else made of baby fish that tasted terrible!  This food had just come off of an Italian cargo plane which they've dubbed the "Baghdad Airlift" (get it?... Think Berlin Airlift).  Anyway, it was great to get out of the chow hall for a night and eat real food with good people.

I'm attaching a few pictures because so many people have been asking me about what the pool is like (Amy--there's no 'deep end') and how the area looks.  Here's a description of the pics:

1- Article from FOB Loyalty... Good read
2- Our parking lot in a sandstorm... No trick photography, this is the real deal
3- Combat ready on the way to FOB Loyalty
4&5- Pics from the chopper
6- A picture of the pool!... Notice the ladder in the back


Thanks so much for everyone's emails and support.  I really appreciate it. I've also been slowly but surely disseminating some gifts for the "anysoldier" campaign from Sparta Pres. to some of the troops out here.  I'm doing my best to the troops who need it most.  Not these guys around here who work in a nice air conditioned pool!

Take care, everyone, and have a happy 4th.  What I wouldn't give to be sitting in the boat on Lake Mohawk watching the fireworks!  Never take these privileges for granted!

Much love,

 Dan

          Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Any Soldier Mission

Below is a recent email we received from 1Lt Dan Forrester, son of Bob & Judy Forrester.  Dan is currently serving in Iraq and has agreed to be a contact person for us to distribute goodies to the soldiers.  So please keep those donations coming!  And if you would like to write to Dan to encourage him, his mailing address is below.  Thanks!  Leo McLaughlin

Hi Leo, I would love to be point-man for the program!  And like you probably read in the email, I’ll be traveling around to little hole-in-the-wall army camps and can bring some gifts to soldiers out there.  I’ll be traveling light, but I’m sure I can sneak in some goodies. Anything that reminds us of home and that there are people thinking and praying for us is always a good thing.  Thanks for bird-dogging the program there at the church.  My team is in a somewhat violence-free situation but there are PLENTY of soldiers out there who are traveling outside the wire every day.  Some come home to air-conditioned trailers but others to hot tents.  ALL of them are making a difference trying to get this country on its feet.  Thanks for your efforts and please let me know if I can be of more help.  My mailing address is as follows:  1Lt Daniel Forrrester
                                            2145th GSU/DPW (AF)
APO AE 09342

PLEASE NOTE:  Pictures and correspondence from Dan will be put on the bulletin board in the hallway to the Community Rooms.

Another item very much appreciated by our soldiers are telephone calling cards.  These are available in the grocery stores and many other stores and are very easy to send.  Just put them in an envelope and mark “Any Soldier”, drop in the “Any Soldier” boxes found in the Narthex and entry to Pehrson Hall, and Leo will include them in the nextshipment.

The following is a list of requested items (in case you need some ideas):
Snack items:  beef jerky, cookie, chips, candy that doesn’t melt, nuts, Trail Mix, Granola Bars, “Little Debbie” treats or anything that a soldier could put in his/her pocket and take on a mission.
Hygiene items:  Fabrezr, hand sanitizer (Purell, Germ-X., etc.) Baby Wipes, soap (both bar & shower gel for males & females), shampoo (both normal & travel size), good razors (for male & female), shaving cream & shaving gel, mouthwash (both normal & travel size), miscellaneous items: bed sheet sets, DVD movies, current magazines
Female Specialty items:  Any bath & body product, Venus razors & blades, Pantene Pro-V shampoo & conditioner, non-aerosol hair spray, Clearasil Face Wash/Scrub, Neutrogena Face Wash/Scrub

Monetary donations are especially welcomed as the postage is costly.  Please make check payable to “FPCS” and use the Special Offering Envelope found in the pew rack.  Indicate “Any Soldier” on the envelope.  Thank you for your support.

Letters From Soldiers

Greetings:  I am the First Sergeant for maintenance personnel working on various types of fighter and cargo aircraft.  We just started our tour during the coldest months in Afghanistan.  I have airmen here from North Carolina, Germany, Kansas, North Dakota and various other bases in the States.  These wonderful airmen work outside in the cold weather to keep planes loaded with weapons and ready for the fight.  We would really appreciate 110V electric blankets for the plywood huts they sleep in, healthy snacks (granola bars/nuts/energy bars) and powdered drink packets (energy drinks and hot chocolate), soup packages (add hot water and go type) and would appreciate thermos bottles to carry the hot beverages out to their spots.  They frequently stay out in the elements for long hours and a thermos will help keep their drinks/soup hot.  Also needed: travel size hand sanitizer, hand lotion and baby wipes, candy, chocolate, peanuts, popcorn, coffee, Crystal Lite, tea, beef jerky, books, magazines, games, toiletries, individual detergent packets, DVD movies, video games (PSP,DS, etc.) all are welcome.  Thank you for your support.  We are proud to be here and happy to serve.                                                                                                                    
                                                                    MSgt. Nicole Johnson

"Sumner, Randall T CSM MIL USA FORSCOM" <randall.sumner@us.army.mil> wrote:

From: "Sumner, Randall T CSM MIL USA FORSCOM" <randall.sumner@us.army.mil>
To: <Support@AnySoldier.com>
CC: "Eckman, Dan & Diane" <eckmand@hotmail.com>,
"Porter, Jack & Arlene" <jpj40@up-link.net>,
<leoelaine_nj@yahoo.com>,
<itsmeinnc@gmail.com>,
"Azar, Stephanie" <sacobeans@msn.com>,
"Holman, Tim" <3-69artv@comcast.net>
Subject: CSM Sumner Update (UNCLASSIFIED)
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:49:32 +0300

Hello All,

 

I owe an update of our status here in Iraq.  I’d like to start by saying thank all of you very much for making this one of, if not the most memorable Christmas’s I have ever had.  I saved all the care packages and cards everyone sent for two weeks and had quite a large stack in my office to the point where it was difficult to move around.  Starting on Christmas Eve, myself, the BN Commander, and the BN Chaplain did battlefield circulation and went to seven different locations where our Soldiers are located.  We delivered care packages and put on a very memorable church service.  I can’t tell you without thinking hard where I was or what I was doing 10 years ago, but I will never forget Christmas 2007.  The level of support for our Soldiers was unbelievable.  I must apologize for not returning a personalized thank you to many of you who donated care packages but I was a little overwhelmed.  I hope you can read this and accept this as a heartfelt thank-you from myself and all the Soldiers of 3-69 Armor.

 

Our BN will redeploy on April 8th and 11th back to Fort Stewart, GA.  We still have three full months left and we will stay vigilant up until the time where we get on the birds and start our way home.  I’d ask you all to continue to support the BN until around the of February; after that what is sent may not make it to us in time and may just be wasted.

 

One lady sent a Christmas card and it seemed like she was almost apologetic for only sending a card instead of a care package.  I can tell you that a card is just as much appreciated as a package.  I try and do my best to answer every person that sends a package to me but there is no way I can do so with the number of packages and letters we received.  I’d like to ask you to please include an email address with your letters.  I can easier type out a letter and keep you all updated then I can write a letter  to everyone.

 

 There are no changes or special requests for the Soldiers regarding care packages.  Everything is appreciated.

 

I hope you all have a Wonderful Holiday Season.

Respectfully,

CSM Sumner

 

 

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: NONE

An email just received from Afghanistan . . .

"Fortner, Patricia A LTC MIL USA FORSCOM" <pat.fortner@us.army.mil> wrote:

From: "Fortner, Patricia A LTC MIL USA FORSCOM" <pat.fortner@us.army.mil>
To: leoelaine_nj@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:21:23 GMT
Subject: 555th FST thanks

Dear Leo,
Today I received a big box of clothes from someone here at FOB JAF (or Fenty). I believe it was sent over from our headquarters unit. I found your note in the box and wanted to write and tell you how much we appreciate the clothing items you sent.
We are a small active duty Army surgical unit from Ft Hood, Texas. We treat American soldiers, sailors, airmen and. marines and soldiers of the 26 Coalition forces in our area of responsibility. We also treat local nationals when we can.
When we first got here, we had many American casualties. . Most survived and were evacuated to a higher level medical facility. The majority of our patients lately have been Coalition (26 nations) and local nationals, though that changed again this past week when we treated many US and Coalition troops.
We do not do sick call, but take care of trauma patients by providing life, limb, and eye preserving surgical procedures and then we transfer the patients to the next higher level of care (military hospital) or to the local national hospital. The patients we have seen so far have had gunshot wounds, wounds from rocket propelled grenades and mortars, and burns. About three months ago, we started a local national surgical clinic. We have been treating lots of bone infections, as well as burn patients. Our goal in treating the locals is to help them of course, and win the hearts and minds of the people. We can’t treat them all though and that is often heartbreaking. If you google Afghanistan, doctors, fortner you will see an article about our efforts in the clinic.
We have been up and operating six months and have many more months before we can return home (9) These six months have passed quickly because we have been busy most of the time. Most of my soldiers are young but have gotten over their initial loneliness and we’ve come together as a team. Taking care of injured soldiers and innocent children is very hard. But we are doing the job here that we are supposed to be doing.
On a personal note, I am an Operating Room nurse and the commander of the unit. I am proud to be surrounded by my soldiers who generally want to do the right thing, and that is just awesome to witness.
I am a native Texan, have 3 grown children, a son-in-law and two grandsons, 4 and 23 months and a four legged daughter (mutt) at home. I miss them all terribly, just as all my other soldiers miss their families and friends. My grandson will play T-ball next summer. I will miss most of the season, but hopefully will see a few of the last games. Both of my boys played Little League and soccer. I think I enjoyed it as much as they did!
Today it is only about 70 degrees. We think that is pretty good because several weeks this past summer it was 138. Most of the time though the temp was right at 125 during the day and 101-105 at night. Fall is fast approaching though because the weather at night has been cooler. It was a cool 40 this morning at 0500 when we were doing PT. That is a bit nippy to be standing around in shorts and a short sleeved shirt for this Texas girl! I do not like the cold! I am told that it only falls into the 20s here at the coldest. Again that sounds awfully cold to me! You are probably laughing about now and thinking what a wimp I am, or maybe agreeing with me since you live in Florida!
We are located in an area surrounded by mountains. You can still see the snowcaps on the tops that are left over from last year. New snow has begun to accumulate.
It is very rocky and dusty and almost everyday there is a sand/dust storm around 3PM. It doesn’t take long before you and everything you own is covered with gray dust. The soil is a combination of dirt and sand here. But the FOB (Forward Operating Base) has spread rocks throughout the entire area to keep the dust down and to make it harder for the vehicles to get stuck. The rocks also make it harder to walk, but oh well, just something else to get used to.
Again we thank you for your box and for caring about the people of Afghanistan.
Hug your families and keep them safe. And please keep us and all of the military personnel in your thoughts and prayers.


Patricia A. Fortner
LTC, AN
555th FST
Commanding

Subject: Thank You

I have been promising quite a few people who support our Battalion a picture. Well, I finally got off my butt and saved a few boxes to stock our shelves so I could getr a good photo. The Soldier kneeling takes a lot of pride in setting up the shelves like a little store and he's the one I always ask for help. I took the picture around 1900 and by 2000, its looking almost empty. Our Battalion has more tha 790 Soldiers in it with seven different companies. Each one of my 1SG's have there name on the anysoldier.com website and have something similiar to what we have set up in the Battalion at company level. I also take, depending on how many boxes I have, out to the companies in sector.

A little about our Battalion.
We are from Fort Stewart, GA, home of the 3rd Infantry Division, also known as the "Marne Division". Our Battalion (3-69 Armor) is part of 1st BDE/3 ID and we deployed in mid January. Initially we were deploying for a 12 month tour, but a few weeks ago we found out we were extended to 15 months which will put us back home in April 2008. For many of us, this is our third deployment. I have personally been in this Battalion since July 2002 and deployed with them to OIF 1 where we spearheaded the Division and the fight for Baghdad. OIF 3, we were in Samarra, Iraq which is North of Baghdad, and for OIF 5, we are in Ramadi. Our Battalion, during this tour have had 6 Brave Soldiers killed, over 50 wounded, and 18 of those wounded evacuated back to the states for further treatment. Of the 32 Soldiers who weren't evacuated are back on the job and some of them are walking around with fragmentation and bullet holes in them. It is a very humbling experience
to serve with such brave Soldiers and i can't think of anything I would rather do.

I want to personally thank everyone who has supported us. Being here and away from our families is hard enough not to mention the war going on around us. The support and kind thoughts people have been sending us makes it all seem worth while. As I mentioned, this is my third time and for the first time since this war started, I can actually see light at the end of the tunnel. The Iraqi people are tired of the insurgents and just want to have a normal life. Since we started working side by side with them, there has been vast improvements. An Iraqi Soldier or Police Officer will stand next to our Soldiers and go toe to toe with any insurgents that are foolish enough to stand and fight. The Iraqi people have made numerous sacrifices as we have for their freedom and I believe we are finally on the right track in order to be able to pull out in the future (the sooner the better).

Take care and God Bless!
Respectfully

CSM Randall Sumner
3-69 Armor
Command Sergeant Major

Communications from the Troops