They Came in Peace

Beirut, 23 October 1983

"Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I’ve watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers-in-arms"

From Brothers-in-arms: 'They came in peace' by Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola. Read the rest here.

Originally posted 23 October, 2005.

The Reason

And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know...

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you.

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear...

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you.

- Hoobastank, The Reason

For the guys I saw at the hospital yesterday who put it all on the line for us.

For the American Soldier.

There are no words.

16 October 2006

Patti Patton-Bader
Founder, Soldiers Angels


Patti:

My name is [redacted]. My son was a computer wizard and communication specialist with [redacted] and most recently at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.

I wanted you to know that you and your many Angels are doing a great job. I would mail my son magazines and cookies every Saturday. He has told me several times how much he appreciated the mail I sent him and when he was home on leave in June he told me of the letters your Angels were sending to him.

Patti, I have found your letter to my son tonight as I was going through all of his mail that he had saved and some of the mail that I had sent to him that he never received.

My son died of non-combat related medical complications at [redacted]. My son was buried with full Military Honors and among many Medals he received the Bronze Star. Services were held at Arlington National Cemetery on York Street near a nice Maple tree.

Please spread the word to your Angels how much your letters of basic humble trivia are appreciated. My son never answered letters or emails but had a few emails on his email account from your Angels and as I have said previously he has several letters that have been read and I know appreciated very much.

I am not able to convey my appreciation for your support of our Troops and of our son.

With utmost Sincerity,

[name redacted]

"My quilts are very simple... "

Hi Friends,

As some of you know, I have been making quilts to send to the military hospital in Landstuhl Germany to be included as part of a package given to all incoming injured military by the group Soldier's Angels. During the summer I sent them 24 home made quilts, blankets or lap robes. I'll be sending another package within the next week with more quilts.

As requested, I include my name, address and e-mail address on each one. Today I received a lovely note in the mail from a wife. I won't use the name since I haven't talked to her, but this is what she wrote:

Mrs. Stemniski,

Thank you so much for the lovely quilt. My husband, LTC [name redacted] found it very comforting during his stay at Landstuhl Army Hospital.

Since he did not need a quilt upon his return to Baghdad, he sent it on to me.

We decided to continue on your kindness and gave it to a struggling family with 5 children. The mom was so grateful and I told her the story behind the quilt.

I thank you for your service to our injured soldiers. What a wonderful tribute to the service of your son and daughter-in-law.

Thanks,

[name redacted]

I was so pleased to get this note, and am so happy that the family passed on the quilt to someone else in need! My quilts are very simple, generally just a few colored squares sewn together, a layer of fiber in between and a solid piece of fabric on the back, all layers knotted together with yarn. Each quilt is different and I really enjoy making them.

And MY thanks goes to Soldier's Angels for what they do for the troops!!!!

Dorothy

Thanks for all you do, Dorothy.

Soldiers' Angels Mourns Pfc. Shelby J. Feniello

From Cathy of the Soldiers' Angels Living Legends Team:

We have a fallen hero from Soldiers' Angels, Pfc. Shelby J. Feniello.

Shelby, 25, of Connellsville, Pa., died Oct. 9 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Shelby is survived by his parents, Richard Feniello and Kimberly McCune, also of Connellsville, Pa.

Cathy

Pfc Feniello was killed alongside his Marine brothers Sgt. Julian M. Arechaga, 23, of Oceanside, N.Y. and Lance Cpl. Jon E. Bowman, 21, of Dubach, La.

Feniello's family said the men were rushing to the aid of Marines involved in a gun battle with insurgents near Ramadi when the vehicle was hit.

Feniello joined the Marines shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He started this, his second tour of duty in Iraq, a month ago after an 11-month leave.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Camp Lejeune Marines and their families.

Please take a moment to read the Marine Pfc Shelby J. Feniello tribute at the Soldiers' Angels Fallen Heroes blog.

The Patriot Guard Riders will be riding for Pfc Feniello.

Remember our Heroes.

At first I felt guilty....

... about asking a couple of outpatients to help me assemble the new shelves for the SAG freight room. But after they told me it was "the most constructive thing they'd done since being in Germany", I didn't feel so bad ;-)


Arthur and Chris being "constructive".
These are those cheapo shelves where the holes for the bolts never line up right and you work up a sweat trying to force them together (I believe the instructions used the word "press", which is a freakin' joke).

Within 5 minutes I'm ready to take a sledgehammer to the thing and so when Arthur said, "now don't get frustrated... " I'm ready to take a sledgehammer to him. But when he was cursing and sweating 15 minutes later it was time to make him eat his words.

I promised to do the buying that evening but of course they wouldn't let me. So now I owe them for the beer, for putting together the shelves, and for protecting our sorry civilian a$$es.

You just can't get ahead with these guys.


The finished product.
Now this may look like chaos to you, but believe me, this is much better. This place is like a freight terminal - thanks to your support, we have our hands full keeping up with unpacking, sorting, and distributing as fast as you send stuff.

Clothing, blankets, and hygiene items.
Snacks and microwave meals for outpatients who get in from downrange after meal hours.
Liaison Officer giving inpatient an SA backpack with teddy bear.
Now they may be those of you who are thinking, "why doesn't the Army... ???"

3 things:
- The Army (DoD, government, etc.) does.
- Why shouldn't you?
- And most importantly, don't you think it means more to our troops to get things from people like you?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Time to step up, people. We're at war.

Soldiers' Angels Mourns Cpl Bradford H. Payne

From Cathy of the Soldiers' Angels Living Legends Team:

We have a fallen hero from Soldiers' Angels, Cpl. Bradford H. Payne.

Brad, 24, of Montgomery, Ala., died Oct. 6 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Brad is survived by his parents, Howard & Carol, and his wife, Erin, along with 2 children. We are going to support both his parents and his wife & family.

Cathy

Cpl Payne was killed together with his Marine brother Lance Cpl. John E. Hale, 20, of Shreveport, LA.

Payne's parents said the only solace in their son's death is knowing he was killed while living his dream.

"He pretty much shot for (the Marines) in the sixth grade," Howard Payne said. "That's what he wanted to do."

Hale's military career was inspired by the 2001 terrorist attacks. He graduated from high school in 2005.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Camp Lejeune Marines and their families.

Please take a moment to read the Marine Cpl. Bradford H. Payne tribute at the Soldiers' Angels Fallen Heroes blog.

Remember our Heroes.

"And then there was Valour-IT"

" ...how many of you remember me lying in a hospital bed, unable to get up, unable to see, and unable to say what was on my mind? ( ... )
And then there was Valour-IT."

From Sgt Allen at Contact Right.

I remember how I felt when I first received my Valour-IT computer. I was eager to get back online with my teammates that were still in country, to feel as though I still had something to contribute. And ever since I have been extremely grateful to Soldiers' Angels and to CPT Chuck Ziegenfuss for their work and contributions to the Valour-IT program.

Read the rest here.

And while you're over there, please look closely at the photo and meet some of my colleagues, SA Wounded Director Lynette and 2 Angels from the SA DC Wounded Team, Jill & Monica.

SGT Allen took this photo of some of the Wounded Warriors who received laptops that day together with members of the Howard County Police Department who presented signed shirts of appreciation during a recent get together at Malogne House.

When a Letter is Enough

"When I read in your letter that you and the kids put peanut butter on pine cones with birdseed, it brought back a lot of memories because my sister and I used to do that when we were kids... mostly in the wintertime when there was snow on the ground. I had forgotten about that... "

- From a Soldier in Iraq

Great article about Soldiers' Angels in yesterday's Hood River News:

Terri Hansen of Hood River once cried at the thought that soldiers serving their country often had no encouragement from home — then she dried her eyes and got to work.

“Some of these men and women have been in combat for months and never received a card or letter telling them that they are appreciated,” said Hansen. “I think, whether people support the war or not, we all need to support our heroes.”
( ... )
In fact, she and the children in her day care — who have colored more than 300 pictures for the troops — regularly get return letters. And they receive first-hand accounts about the hardship brought by weather that often tops 120 degrees and hard-hitting hail that forces everyone to run for cover.

Hansen said her most touching story was the follow-up to a request from a platoon leader who wanted dozens of colorings from the children.

He told her that the bright pictures had been hung on the dark walls of an old and dank prison that his men had secured and were bunking in.

“He said that we gave them hope and determination to get the job done and come home safe,” said Hansen.

“You asked in your letter if I needed anything. Not really. Your letters are enough.... "

Terri is also a supporter of our mission here at Soldiers' Angels Germany. Thanks for all you do, Terri.

Won't you step up and become a Soldiers' Angel?

Thanks, but No Thanks

Alaska villages reject Venezuela oil

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - In Alaska's native villages, the punishing winter cold is already coming through the walls of the lightly insulated plywood homes, many of the villagers are desperately poor, and heating-oil prices are among the highest in the nation.

And yet a few villages are refusing free heating oil from Venezuela, on the patriotic principle that no foreigner has the right to call their president "the devil."
( ... )
"As a citizen of this country, you can have your own opinion of our president and our country. But I don't want a foreigner coming in here and bashing us," said Justine Gunderson, administrator for the tribal council in the Aleut village of Nelson Lagoon. "Even though we're in economically dire straits, it was the right choice to make."

And then there are those who make the wrong choices.