FULL BATTLE RATTLE E-NEWS & 2011 THANK YOU

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Harry Franklin
5 years ago
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1 Our hearts go out to all the people of Japan from all of us here at adoptaplatoon. We feel deeply sorry for your loss, the sadness & worry you must feel and the challenges you must face. We would like you to know that you do not stand alone, that millions around the world are holding you in their prayers, their thoughts and their hearts. We hope you feel our arms around you FULL BATTLE RATTLE E-NEWS March 2011 THANK YOU for your continued support of our Troops and AdoptaPlatoon! You help make AAP s vital mission continue; by being a pen-pal or adopting a deployed Service Member; by your generous donations to support our deployed Troops by purchasing care package items; by your generous donations directly to AAPs Walking Wounded where we assist our wounded Heroes from Iraq or Afghanistan and by your word-of mouth asking your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join AdoptaPlatoon in our vital mission. Again, THANK YOU! Because of your support and donations MWSS 373 Motor Transport Platoon writes I want to start by saying Thank You for all of your support, thoughts and prayers. Times can be tough out here, but a care package sent from a complete stranger has a wonderful affect on the morale. We all know the rest of the country is busy but by taking the time to put together a small package you have shown that what we do is worth it. It s been a long war but you have stuck by us all we for that we are thankful. The snacks, drink powders, socks, cards, letters, coffee, hot chocolate and everything else brightened each and everyone s day. Our platoon said our goodbyes to our families and made the long trip to Afghanistan. It is never easy to leave loved ones behind but that is the job we have. During our seven months out here we played a major part in this war. The platoon supported the flight line as well as convoying across the country to various areas. We kept ourselves very busy throughout the deployment. For a lot of Marines this was their first deployment, for others this was one of many. Regardless, a care package and a thank you went a long way for everyone. While we were out here a few of our Marine s wives gave birth to beautiful, healthy babies. Some of our Marines had birthdays which we helped celebrate with cakes and cards. All of our Marines kept in touched with their families for the duration of the deployment so updates were easily passed. Mail call was one of the biggest highlights of each and every day. Whether the package came from a loved one or from a complete stranger, nothing made the Marines happier than a small token of appreciation for a job well done. I cannot stress to you enough the impact your thoughts had on us. We are about to leave here but please continue to show support to those Marines replacing us. The war is not over yet and we will continue to come here until the job is done. I personally don t think we could have been half as successful

2 if we did not have your support. Please know that what you do can change a person s day drastically. I cannot thank you enough for your support. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of this platoon THANK YOU!!!!! MWSS 373 Motor Transport Platoon CH (CPT) Robert H., HHC 3-8 CAV, Iraq writes Your organization is amazing!! Thank you so much for the 60 boxes we have now received. Our remote areas we are supporting will be loving you all!! I am very humbled by your service to our troops, please know you putting smiles on many Soldiers faces!! I will send pics soon. Carol, PhD, LCDR USN MSC, Clinical Psychologist/Division Officer at Camp Leatherneck writes Thank you so much for supporting our unit and our patients! Your gifts have brought joy to many patients at Wounded Warrior here at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. One remarked around the holidays that he would not have received any mail at all if it were not for your organization. Many thanks to you and your wonderful team for supporting our patients during their hour of need. SSG Eric from B Troop, 4-4 Cavalry wrote to AAP to sign up his Platoon We are on the forward edge of battle and my Troop does several combat Patrols a day in very hostile conditions. We have very little in the way of comfort Items where we are located. There is no PX or even a local economy to be able to purchase comfort items such as candy, drink mixes, board games, movies, blankets and pillows or any other of the amenities usually afforded to deployed soldiers through AAFES or local bazaars. I was wondering what it would take to get my whole platoon adopted by your organization. From myself, I would like to say thank you very much for your support. URGENT CALL FOR AMERICANS TO SIGN-UP AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! OUR TROOPS NEED YOU! Please join AdoptaPlatoon in coming to the aid of our Troops who need your support. We thank you for being a part of AdoptaPlatoon because together, as a team, we will never stop remembering our Nation's Troops serving on our behalf. We are in a critical mode right now with hundreds of newly deployed Soldiers, as well as Platoons signing up asking for support, and not having enough Married people or groups to assign support to them. We are asking you to please open

3 your hearts and adopt another Service Member or two (bring the total you have up to four) by sending monthly care package along with weekly letters, or support a Platoon by sending ongoing, occasional or one-time support. Below is a list of options you can choose from to support our Troops: 1) Pen-pal (weekly correspondence) or Adopt (weekly correspondence AND monthly care packages) with an individual Service Member; (we need MARRIED supporters) 2) Adopt a group or Platoon of Troops for ONGOING support (you let us know how many you can support); 3) Send an OCCASIONAL package to a group or Platoon of Troops (you let us know how many you can support); 4) Send a ONE-TIME care package to a group or Platoon of Troops (you let us know how many you can support); 5) Participate in one of our annual Campaigns with Arline Grant, our campaign director aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org. PLEASE REMEMBER, if you are already a current, approved supporter with AAP, it is NOT necessary to submit a new application if you wish to support a new Soldier(s). If you would like to pen pal or adopt an individual or a Platoon please forward this to info@adoptaplatoon.org and put the following in the subject line: CURRENT SUPPORTER if you are currently supporting a Soldier/Platoon, or; REPEAT SUPPORTER if you are an AAP Approved Supporter but are not currently supporting a Soldier/Platoon at this time. Be sure to include all of the following in your to info@adoptaplatoon.org o your name o address o marital status o age o the last name(s) of your currently deployed Service Member. o if you want an Individual(s) or a Platoon o what type of support you want to do and to how many: if you want to adopt or pen pal an individual Service Member(s) (bringing the total you have up to 4); OR if you wish to support a Platoon (let us know how many), and if you will do this as one-time, occasional, or ongoing support for the remaining course of their deployment. If you would like to participate in one of our annual Campaigns please Arline Grant at aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org and put CURRENT SUPPORTER in the subject line. Do NOT info@adoptaplatoon.org.

4 If you need a current list of our on-going campaigns, please send Cheryl an e- mail at: ongoing_campaign_list@adoptaplatoon.org and she will forward you the updated list. Please DO NOT share this list with anyone. The safety of our Troops is paramount. Only approved supporters will receive this list. If you know someone who hasn t been approved by AAP and would like to participate, please ask them to fill out an application form located in "New Supporter" Application on the AAP website at Your kindness makes a huge difference in their lives as they serve on our behalf. Please us your requests today and let our American Service Men and Women know that YOU STAND BEHIND THEM! What does Platoon Support entail? As a platoon supporter, you are requested to send all letters and care packages to one Service Member, your Platoon Point of Contact (POC). Supporting a group of Troops could be as small as 20 or as large as 50. Sending a monthly care package for a platoon to share with each other or sending a one-time care package for a platoon to share with each other. Who can participate? Individuals, Families, Groups, Companies, Schools, etc. can support a Platoon. As a platoon supporter, you are requested to send all letters and care packages to your Platoon Point of Contact (POC). You do not have to send individual packages for each person in the platoon as they all share whatever is sent. We suggest that you purchase larger sizes whenever possible so that everyone can have a taste. The important thing is that each soldier will know that someone thought of him/her and that's what matters. Sending zip-lock bags will help the POC in sharing with everyone. Of course there are hygiene/toiletry items that they would rather not share like toothbrushes, deodorant etc, but the travel sizes work great for these items and aren t that costly. We have married Service Members asking for support. As you know, AAP's policy is not to link single supporters to married Service Members. We are in great need of married individuals / families, or older singles (over 50) to support deployed married Service Members. Our deployed married Service Members also need our Nation's support so please, if your family can reach out and embrace a married Soldier or Marine, write to info@adoptaplatoon.org and let us know that you will "step up to the plate" and add one more member to your family! Let us know that you can send a minimum of one (1) care package per month and that you will pledge to stand behind your married Service Member deployed in harm's way! As a current supporter, if you can pen-pal or adopt another married Service Member, and you fit the criteria, please contact us right away! You can have up to 4 total Service Members at a time. Remember what is needed to participate in AdoptaPlatoon! MINORS UNDER AGE 18 MAY NOT PARTICIPATE. Please send an with your name, address, marital status, age, and last name of your currently assigned Soldier, and what kind of additional support you want to do. We will work with you. Please be

5 sure to include ALL info we ask for when you reply to us so we don t have to write back to you again. If you are a current supporter whose assigned Service Member has deployed home, please sign up to embrace another Service Member! If you are requesting to pen pal or adopt an individual or Platoon: Send your information to info@adoptaplatoon.org and put the following in the subject line: CURRENT SUPPORTER if you are currently supporting a Soldier/Platoon, or; REPEAT SUPPORTER if you are an AAP Approved Supporter but are not currently supporting a Soldier/Platoon at this time. If you would like to participate in an annual campaign: Send your information to aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org Please Do Not submit a new application if you are an Approved AAP Supporter. PLEASE be patient with us in getting you linked once you reply to this urgent request to adopt/pen-pal with more Troops. We work as quickly as possible to link your request, but sometimes it takes a little longer than usual. We promise we will do our best to link you as quickly as possible, as we do not want one single Soldier to be forgotten. Your support is so appreciated by our Nation's men and women who serve on our behalf. Let s do our part America! While our Troops serve overseas in dangerous conditions, let us here at home make sure that we are SUPPORTING THEM! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS! PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO BOOST MORAL BY PUTTING SMILES ON THEIR FACES AND BRINGING JOY TO THE HEARTS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR DEPLOYED U.S.TROOPS UNTIL THEY SAFELY RETURN HOME. SGT C, A Co., 3-1 Special Troops Battalion, 3 rd Brigade, 1 st Infantry Division writes I just wanted to take a moment to thank you guys for a blanket and pillow I received from your group today. I don't know who it was sent to exactly but someone on our base brought a huge box over with a bunch of green fleece blankets in them and everyone in my squad was able to have one. They are very nice and warm. I think it's really awesome that there are still people like you who support us so whole heartedly all the way through this, even as most Americans lose interest. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Especially myself as I lay with my new warm blanket instead of using my sleeping bag tonight.

BELOW is a quick review on ways to support our Troops: Pen-pal (weekly correspondence) or Adopt (weekly correspondence AND monthly care packages) with an individual Service Member; Adopt a group or

6 BELOW is a quick review on ways to support our Troops: Pen-pal (weekly correspondence) or Adopt (weekly correspondence AND monthly care packages) with an individual Service Member; Adopt a group or Platoon of Troops (you let us know how many you can support); Send occasional support to a group or Platoon of Service Members (you let us know how many you can support); Send a one-time care package to a group or Platoon of Service Members (you let us know how many you can support); Participate in one of our annual campaigns with Arline Grant, our campaign director, aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org. Right now we are running our LAST CALL FOR CHOCOLATE and will be getting ready for our DON T BUG ME campaign very soon. Another way to help is to spread AdoptaPlatoon s mission letting everyone in your community know that our Troops need us and they do not deserve to be forgotten! We are in an urgent situation with newly deployed Troops and platoons arriving in dangerous areas in Afghanistan and Iraq and they are signing up quickly to be supported. They are just asking to receive mail from back home their America our America -- They are asking to be remembered and saying, "Please don't forget us! We're here and we need mail from home!"... We would be happy to send you some AAP pamphlets and bumper stickers you could hand out to your family, friends or fellow co-workers. Just our AAP Information Account at: info@adoptaplatoon.org requesting some and please don t forget to include your mailing address.

REMINDER: if you are already a current, repeat approved supporter with AAP, it is NOT necessary to submit a new application. Please just email the requested information to info@adoptapaltoon.

7 REMINDER: if you are already a current, repeat approved supporter with AAP, it is NOT necessary to submit a new application. Please just the requested information to info@adoptapaltoon.org and you'll be ready to go! Thank you for being a dedicated AdoptaPlatoon Team Member Your support makes a tremendous difference! CAMPAIGN UPDATES LAST CALL FOR CHOCOLATE Campaign Yes, this is the last call to send chocolate to our Troops before the desert sun starts beating down! If you are a current approved supporter and would like to participate in this campaign, please send an to Arline, AAP Campaign Director at: aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org. Be sure to include all information we ask for (listed after the Coffee House.)

View Campaign OPERATION FOOT CARE Campaign View Campaign Our Troops feet are extremely important As we sit next to the fire on these cold winter nights or snuggle with a warm blanket, don't forget

Bitter cold can be very hard on our Troops (as well as the desert heat and sand) so an extra pair of boot socks can mean so much to a young Soldier or Marine serving far from home.

8 View Campaign OPERATION FOOT CARE Campaign View Campaign Our Troops feet are extremely important As we sit next to the fire on these cold winter nights or snuggle with a warm blanket, don't forget that we have Troops serving in Afghanistan who need your help. Bitter cold can be very hard on our Troops (as well as the desert heat and sand) so an extra pair of boot socks can mean so much to a young Soldier or Marine serving far from home. If you are a current approved supporter and would like to participate in this campaign, please send an to Arline, AAP Campaign Director at: aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org. Be sure to include all information we ask for (listed after the Coffee House.) CHAPLAIN S COFFEE HOUSE Snacks, coffee, magazines, books are appreciated at these coffee houses that military chaplains' host. If you are a current approved supporter and would like to participate in this campaign, please send an to Arline, AAP Campaign Director at: aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org. Be sure to include all information we ask for listed below: If you are a current approved supporter and would like to participate in this campaign, please send an to Arline, AAP Campaign Director at aapcampaign@adoptaplatoon.org with the following information. Be sure to include all this information we ask for below when replying to us: Name Address Marital status AND age

Name of last Soldier / address you supported Name of campaign you want to participate in If you have someone who hasn t been approved by AAP and would like to participate, please ask them to fill out

9 Name of last Soldier / address you supported Name of campaign you want to participate in If you have someone who hasn t been approved by AAP and would like to participate, please ask them to fill out an application form located in "New Supporter" Application on the AAP website at REMINDER: if you are already a current, approved supporter with AAP, it is NOT necessary to submit a new application if you wish to support a new Soldier(s). LET US KNOW IF ANY OF YOUR INFORMATION HAS CHANGED AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION AND THEN THE NEW INFORMATION and send it to info@adoptaplatoon.org. AAP WALKING WOUNDED This is such an important program AdoptaPlatoon has launched. AAP Walking Wounded provides immediate emergency support to active duty and recently sectioned out wounded / injured Troops and Veterans who are having financial problems and we do what is needed to ensure that our Troops and Veterans do not "fall through the cracks". Please, won't YOU help? Together, we can make miracles happen for our Nation's wounded and injured who have sacrificed so much already on our behalf. You can help by sending a tax-deductible donation to AdoptaPlatoon that will be specifically allocated to the AAP Walking Wounded Program effort. Send your kindness to our Nation's wounded by sending a tax-deductible donation made out to AAP Walking Wounded. 100% of your donation will be used for AAP Walking Wounded and all donations will be acknowledged. Send your tax-deductible donation to: AAP Walking Wounded AAP HQ P.O. Box 234 Lozano, Texas You can also contribute on-line via Pay Pal at the AAP's website ( please mark that your gift is for AAP Walking Wounded. VISIT ADOPTAPLATOON s FORUM: and participate in the many threads and conversations. We would love to hear from you and share your stories. SPREAD THE WORD -- Spread the word to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and let them know that we as a Nation need to stand behind our Heroes and ask them to join the ranks and sign up at by clicking on "New Supporter" under the application heading. Thanks to EACH OF YOU, AdoptaPlatoon s Team of Supporters, who stand behind our Nation's Troops, because we are "MAKING IT HAPPEN!" If you would like to help with the cost of postage or help fill a care package to our Troops, you can make a tax-deductible donation via credit card (pay pal) at

www.adoptaplatoon.org, or you can mail your donation made payable to AdoptaPlatoon and send to: AdoptaPlatoon Headquarters P.O. Box 234 Lozano, TX 78568 Remember, all donations are tax-deductible!

10 or you can mail your donation made payable to AdoptaPlatoon and send to: AdoptaPlatoon Headquarters P.O. Box 234 Lozano, TX Remember, all donations are tax-deductible! Grateful words of thanks are sent your way for every blessing you send to our Nation s deployed U.S. Service Members and we thank you for continuing your participation as part of the AdoptaPlatoon Troop Support Team! God bless you and your families and God bless our Troops. Contact us at info@adoptaplatoon.org For detailed mailing instructions visit, GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. Michael, Chaplain, Captain, U.S. Army, 201st BSB, 3/1 IBCT, Afghanistan writes We look forward to receiving the care packages, and will stock our store as soon as they arrive. The Soldiers are absolutely loving the blessings the folks back home are sending! It is definitely a high-light in the day when they can come pick up these wonderful blessings. Please accept our deepest gratitude for all of your support. The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Douglas MacArthur ed ghts Reserv

5/20/18 TROOPS THANKS 2018

5/20/18 TROOPS THANKS 2018 Hello, My name is Jessica Manley. I am a sailor currently serving in Afghanistan. I am writing to say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the care packages we received.