Letter to Lt. Kelly shares the importance of Operation American
Braves
The following letter is a striking example of
how Operation American Braves has reached out beyond our
community.
April 7, 2008
Lt. Kelly,
My name is Maureen Mulino and Nancy Deitch gave me your e-mail
address and suggested that I contact you. I am a member of the
Soldier's Angels organization. I was assigned a soldier who is
in D-Trp 1-91 CAV, 173rd Task Force Saber, APO,AE 09354. His
name, between you and I, is ********.
Not being from a military family and not knowing the modern day
cavalry, I relied on the organization's generic list of home
items to pack several boxes for ********. I am really dealing
out of my element here, however, because I was born and raised
in Louisiana and am by training, a marine biologist. I work for
the Minerals Management Service (Department of the Interior) in
the deep Gulf of Mexico. So I am really a water person.
I went to the Internet to find out what I could about Task Force
Saber and came immediately across Nancy's school website. I
e-mailed her and she was so kind as to tell me a little about
the school project and how she knew you and your guys. So that
is how came to seek your advice.
If I understand the web site letters correctly, Task Force Saber
is a group of guys who jump out of perfectly good helicopters
and cargo planes into God forsaken places on earth. Bless you
all!
I e-mailed ******** asking for a list of thing he would like to
have or need, but I never received a response. This is not
unusual. I've had other adopted soldiers that I never heard
from. I know the guys are incredibly busy and fighting for their
lives, and I know that security will prevent you from telling me
about where they are and what they are doing. I'm really just
asking for a general list of things that makes the guys say
"Wow, I missed that and I'm happy to see it again!" For example,
I keep seeing that the guys like magazines. I don't know what
******** likes. Golf digest or the football draft predictions
might not be appreciated by a guy who likes chess. So I stand in
front of a rack and look at everything from muscle and fitness
to sports.
I've been sending mostly food items and Gatorade, and I am sure
that any extra is not wasted but shared, but I'm looking for new
ideas. I would like to bring a little bit of home to him.
By the way, Nancy shared the PP presentation on the schools and
the CNN clip website with me. I am really impressed with the
school effort, and, as a professional woman, you can understand
that I am gung ho and will do anything at all within my power to
help educate women anywhere in the world.
The CNN clip about the ambush was absolutely heartbreaking.
Those young men were truly incredible and I cannot imagine their
pain. I know that they are trained for it, but I still was
deeply touched. I have a 23 year old son of my own. I just can't
imagine.....
If you can give me some guidance as to what the guys in the
region might like most (besides a trip home to see their
families), I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Maureen
