Letters From Our Troops
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GySgt Jeremy M de Vries (4-2008)
Howdy!
I came
out of a dull meeting yesterday to see a pyramid
of boxes on my desk. The boxes y'all sent
arrived and my Marines piled them up and topped
it off with an American flag. Thanks so
much for all the boxes!
I made sure to pass them out to the junior
Marines in my section. One went to one of
the Captains who hadn't received very many.
I also have six remaining to go out to one of the
local teams of 15 Marines that works off base
with the Iraqi Army. Having done that for a
year, I know the frustration those guys have so
figured I'd give em a treat the next time they
stop by.
I know that I and my Marines really appreciated
the boxes. CD's and movies, cookies and
hygiene stuff was all awesome. It really
worked out for one Marine that got movie and
popcorn as he was able to have himself a little
movie night. Everyone here is generally in
good spirits but y'all provided an even bigger
morale boost.
As always, thanks again for all your
support!
Love
ya!
Jeremy
de Vries
GySgt Jeremy M de Vries (2-2008)
I just wanted to say
hi and thanks for the birthday package! I was on
day 28 without mail (due to weather and one
package getting lost). Mail finally came in today
and the birthday package came along with some of
the stuff from my family.
It definately made for a really awesome day. I
wore the party hat while I opened up the rest of
my care packages. I'm sure I looked a little
goofy wearing it in uniform as the senior
enlisted Marine in the office though :) It was
really great getting all the cards as well! I
can't thank you all enough for everything, the
letters, emails and the package. It's been really
terrific. I'll be sure to write actual letters to
everyone as well.
I hope that you all are doing well. How did
y'alls meeting go on the 20th? How successful has
the 'Share Your Dream' program been so far?
Please be sure to tell all the wonderful ladies
at BSM of NKY Chapter 5 that I said howdy! I'll
be sure to write again soon!"
Take care and best regards,
Jeremy M. de Vries
GySgt / USMC
Staff Sgt James Ross
I wanted to take a
minute to thank all of you for everything you do
to support us troops here in Iraq and abroad. It
truly does mean a lot to all of us soldiers, when
we are having a rough day, or down and out and
mail comes and there is a package of goodies from
you all. Truly does put a smile on our faces and
feels good inside. This is my second deployment
to Iraq and when I was here during the first year
of the war we didn’t have any groups sending us
packages over here.
I just wanted to write and send my heart felt
thank you for everything you all are doing. Keep
up the good work and we will be seeing you very
soon. It meant a lot to me to receive a Christmas
box and a birthday card and everything with
everyone’s signature on it. Once again thanks for
everything."
(Sandy Bolmer’s son)
GySgt Jeremy M de Vries
This is GySgt Jeremy de Vries. I came to KY
to talk to y'alls Blue Star Mothers group.
I just wanted to thank y'all for having me at
your event. I ended up at some really neat
events over the summer, but really had a blast at
yours. Unfortunately, the Grand Ol' Opry
had you beat, but only by a little bit, and
that's only because I got to meet Lee Greenwood
and go on stage there.
After the speaking tour, I got to spend a few
months with my family back home, have a nice
Christmas with them, and then was back in Iraq by
New Years. Can't say that it's necessarily
good to be back here, but it's not too bad.
The chow hall feeds me well and I'm lucky enough
that I have my own room (with my Tennessee flag
flying proudly in it). I hope that you all
are doing well and thank you all so much for
giving me a taste of home while on my little
speaking tour.
Please be sure to
pass on my thanks to your daughters and say hello
to Michelle and all the other ladies at BSM."
Sincerely,
Jeremy
M. de
Vries
GySgt USMC
SSG Becky Cox
"Dear Blue Star
Mothers,
Thank you very much for the love and support of
American military men and women. It’s wonderful
to serve and protect this country for ones like
yourself. Your support gives each and every
soldier more courage and bravery.
Again, thanks for everything. May God Bless you
and your families over the holidays and
throughout your life."
SPC Julia Logan
Also thank you for the birthday card!!"
Sincerely,
SPC Logan, Julia
A Very Brave Son
PV2 Stephane M.
Salet
"To my friends I have
some life updates: Yesterday you may have seen my
son on the news. Stephane was following a car
down a winding country road when that car lost
control and spun out. The car wrapped around a
tree and started smoking right away. It quickly
burst into flames. The passenger side was wrapped
around the tree, but the driver's side door came
open and he pulled an 18 year old boy out who's
legs were broken. The flames got higher and he
had to move the boy far enough away in case of an
explosion.
He was then ran back to try and get the young
female out of the car. The seat belt was twisted
in the metal of the car and he did not have a
knife to cut it. He tried desperately to get her
out, but the fire took over the car. As you know
Stephane just got back from his Army training and
was prepared to handle emergencies. He wasn't
prepared to watch a life lost.
He was destroyed and called me sobbing
uncontrollable. It was some time before the
police and fire could get there since it was out
in the county, and when they did they called me
to get me down there to help support him.
He was hero, he saved the young boy's life and I
told him God knows he did his best and it wasn't
his fault. The news media was taken by his heroic
actions and came to our home to interview him.
Today I ask for your thoughts and prayer for the
families of the deceased and the injured. They
will have a difficult holiday."
From Mary Stafford
Major Curtis


Sgt Hester
"I just wanted to let
you know we received the care packages today and as
soon as I can get them passed out and pictures
taken I will get them sent out to you.
Thanks again."
Sgt Hester Bravo Co 1
149th
Infantry
Division Baghdad Iraq
Keith Ransdell
My name is Keith
Ransdell and I am serving in Baghdad, Iraq with
the 1/149th Infantry Battalion of the Kentucky
National Guard. Last week, we received some very
kind gifts from you and your organization and it
was greatly appreciated. The gift boxes contained
many useful items to us as well as things to just
remind you of home. I can’t say in words how much
this means to us! It is very hard being here
doing what we have to do on a daily basis, not to
mention being away from our friends and loved
ones back home. I would just like to say thank
you for your love and kindness that you have
given to us. We need that support so much. It’s
what keeps us going over here!
Thank you again and
God bless you."
Sincerely,
Keith Ransdell
Sgt Joe Brown
“First of all I would
like to thank the Northern Kentucky Blue Star
Mothers organization for sending my fellow soldiers
and myself the care packages. It really helps
getting these packages because it gives a little
something from home. My name is Sgt Joseph Brown
and I am originally from Barbourville, Kentucky,
but I currently live in Cumberland Gap, TN. I have
a wife of 3 years and a son whom is 22 months. I
have been in the Kentucky National Guard for a
little over 4 years and this is my first deployment
to Iraq.
Once again thanks for the goodie boxes and the
only thing I ask is to continue to keep my
family, my fellow soldiers and myself in your
thoughts and prayers, and pray that everyone
makes it back to their family and friends.”
Thanks,
Sgt Joe Brown
Company Bravo 1/149th
APO 09342-1400
A Military Family in Germany
I just thought that I
would drop a few lines to see how your group is
doing and to again thank you so much for the help
with my grandmother. Our family has had some hard
times in the last few weeks. My other grandmother
died at the end of Feb. and I was unable to
attend. The price of the tickets were so much
that I could not in good conscience do that. We
are trying to fly home this summer before my
hubby is deployed again but of course trying to
buy 5 tickets is rather expensive. Also, I have
been really sick and I feel bad because I was
unable to hold our daughters birthday parties
like we do every year. I just was physically
unable to do it. We are almost out of boxes, the
key word is almost. We still have not told the
kids about dad leaving again. Or the rest of the
family. We don’t want them all to dwell on it.
This will be his 4th time.
Other than all of that things are well. I seen
where you got A LOT of snow this year. Of course
we didn’t. We got a light dusting one night. Boy
the kids were praying for it. Well, I had better
get going. I am doing some stuff for an Easter
Egg Hunt and it is so much fun stuffing 500 eggs.
Well, you have a great week and thanks again for
all you do to support our troops. I know that you
get a lot of thanks but I wanted to let you know
that I APPRECIATE YOU!!!
Thanks again and GOD
BLESS.”
Allison Walker