Dear Scott, Wallace and Gail and all others at West Texas Troop Salute,

I am completely in awe with the generous package I just received from your organization! WOW! I shared with everyone and I can't express how truly impressive this box really was. A camera, batteries, a phone card, not to mention the Cheezits, which are my personal favorite, and so much more that I cannot mention them all. I am so grateful for people who rally to support the Soldiers.

This is a 15-month tour and frankly, it is miserable. Not simply the conditions, but also the workload. Sometimes I really cannot imagine getting through another 6 months working 17 hours a day, every day (and the war-fighting troops are working much harder to make our area safer for the Iraqi people), so it is critical at times that other people are putting in time, too, to show us that our work and sacrifices mean something to other who are home. You choose to sacrifice time, effort, and money to show us your support and that is encouraging and inspires more greatness from us. Personally, I am proud to share these times with people like yourselves who want to accept some of the burden in bringing some love and support to the Soldiers out here.

You are doing a tremendous service for your country and for that, I will always be grateful for your time and efforts - this one package means more than you know. I am from El Paso and I am not sure how you got my info, but I am so pleased, once again to be from the best State in the Union! Thank you with all of my heart.

Sincerely,

Captain Preston
Engineer Branch
FOB HAMMER, Iraq

Hello, My name is SSG Jackson. I didn’t know who to respond to, so I went to your web site and looked under contacts. I would just like to take the time to thank you for the care package that you sent me. It really means a lot that there are still people who support us troops overseas. Just want you to know that I distributed your gifts amongst my Soldiers, and they greatly appreciated them. Is there is a mailing address, so that we may send the kids that made the cards something in return. Once again thanks for your support and God bless.

Out here,

SSG Jackson

Dear Christmas for OUR Troops,

I want to thank you for myself and all my soldiers for your kindness! We have really enjoyed your packages escecially since there is something for everyone in your excellent packages. My gunners especially liked the bore snakes for the .50 cals. I believe that my junior enlisted are the biggest winners, not only were you kind enough to send candy but also all the little comfort items that many of us miss

As a native Texan, who has family in Midland, I want to thank you again for myself and on behalf of my soldiers. Your support is critical to the troops morale, especially during the holiday season. You are all great Americans and I salute you!

Kind regards,

Major Montgomery

Hello and I hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful day. My name is Sgt Thomas Moses [top left in photo] and yesterday I received a package from you. First off I wanted to say thank you; I have shared many of the items with the soldiers under my care. Our unit has many responsibilities however my guys are pretty specific. We run a route security team thru Iraq ensuring the safety for anyone going anywhere at anytime. My guys and I are from all over Texas most of them are from the Dallas area, I am from Midland.

During this time in our lives for many of my soldiers this is their first time not only out of Texas but their first time out of country and for many of them their first time away from their families and friends. Your boxes have helped them all; I always ensure that we share them. My background, I have spent 33.3% of my life serving in the Army Infantry and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I have found that teaching those around me and helping guide young soldiers thru their lives is my calling. My family supports me more than I could have ever hoped and they have packed up and moved from country to country and city to city to ensure I have the support I need to carry out my missions. During this time I ask that everyone take some time and realize what is really important in their lives. It's not the game systems nor the cars we drive, it’s the people around us everyday.

Having been in Iraq for 3 out of the past 5 years I can truly say we are making a difference every day, one person at a time, and although I don’t believe Iraq will ever be a total democracy like what we have I do believe the people here will grasp and embrace their new freedom and understand that they hold their future within their hands. Once again I thank you all and I would also like to thank Cathy Gilleland, Mo and Cheryl Gaddis; I received your packages as well and I would like to apologize for not writing sooner but in my defense we have been quite busy with missions and I have 21 young and older soldiers (age 18 to 47)to tend to everyday being a parent isn’t ever as easy as it looks. God bless everyone and take time to smell the flowers. Husbands take time to hug your wife and kids and share a sunset, buy someone something just because life is to short and embrace it with everything you have and you will never regret it. Thank you all again and have a wonderful new year. Sgt Thomas Moses 11B20 Infantry leader Iraq Delta RST/ACC P.S. Who ever thought to put the bore snake in the package thank you very very much.