From: Andrew Calvert Date: Monday, February 6, 2012 6:49 AM To: iowacookiecrumbs@hotmail.com, do_over@cox.net, mgarst, g2204 Subject: Iowa Cookie Crumbs Dear folks of the Iowa Cookie Crumbs, Thank you so much for the tasty treats. You should have seen the eyes of my Soldiers as they peer over my shoulder while I opened the box to discover it filled with treats (and shredded paper). I believe the cookies and other items went a long way to lift the spirits of the troops I care for here at Camp Julien, Afghanistan. I would like to also "double-tap" our new mailing address. It has changed slightly because we have moved a half mile down the road to consolidate the working personnel. Grace and Peace be multiplied to you!  Very Respectfully, CH (CPT) Andrew Calvert Battalion Chaplain 716th MP Battalion (Peacekeepers) Camp Julien, Afghanistan Subject: Thank you! (UNCLASSIFIED) Thank you very muchfor your prayers and thoughtful letters!! ~Elizabeth Elizabeth Dang, Capt, USAF, DC KAIA Role 1 Medical Clinic Subject: Thank you! (UNCLASSIFIED) Hi there, I wanted to take a few moments to thank you for your wonderful and very yummy cookies. It is always such a treat to hear from home and know that even over the distance, we are thought of and remembered by many. Please give my thanks as well as the thanks of many soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are grateful that you take the time out of your busy lives to bake for us. Many blessings to all of you and your loved ones. And, as February approaches... an early Happy Valentines~ CH Mel Baars Chaplain (CPT) Mary E. Baars 14th MI BN Task Force Viper Theater Intelligence Group Note: Photo shown reflects some of the Valentines sent in our January cookie boxes. Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:10:05 +0900 I've been sharing your care packages with my brothers in arms for a while now but today you brought me to tears. Not tears of sadness but tears of joy, after seeing many things that i wish with all my heart i could unsee it surprised me that something as simple as a homemade valentines day letter written by a child could move me to tears. My friends and Co-workers thoroughly enjoyed the hard work you put into the cookies as usual but i just sat back and had a good cry. A grown man, moved to tears by a strangers son or daughter really made me think about why i do this, before this was just a job to me, I joined because i was bored and it was an easy job. Initially i hated the armed forces and swore to do whatever it would take to get out, but then as i was telling my supervisor about how i felt he challenged me. He told to me to deploy once and then if i wanted out after that deployment he would get me out no questions asked no punishment administered. I took him up on this wager and got sent to Afghanistan. I changed, my coworkers were no longer coworkers, they were brothers and sisters i trusted with my life. I served my time in the middle east came back and gladly go back every chance i get. THIS LETTER has surpassed everything i have done selfishly in my career thus far. This valentines day card gave me endless hope that there still are VERY good people out there that support us, and that means the world to me. I'm not just saying that either. We may be the ones who do the fighting, but without you, we would have quit years upon years ago. You are our backbone, the coal to our engine you keep us going! I used to be a man who joined so he could have some easy cash and could see the world. Because of you I am now a man who would do this for free because of the support and love you have shown me. I now have a cause to fight for. Thank you. SrA Matthew Morris HH-60 Crew Chief (I fix the combat rescue helicopters) 4Dec11 Dear Iowa Cookie Crumbs, You never know what you are going to get when you ask for support. I didn’t even think of homemade cookies my first and second tour for whatever reasons. I was in the mood for a good homemade cookie and simply asked my Chaplain Assistant to find an organization that provides homemade cookies for deployed soldiers. Clearly, he found the right organization. Your boxes did not come all at once. My Chaplain Assistant, SCT Niewiadomski, and I received on box of cookies and thought that was it. We were blown away when we received the rest of the shipment, it was outstanding. My office smelled like a bakery for half the day, you cannot beat the smell and taste of homemade cookies.  And the timing was perfect your cookies came just a few days before Thanksgiving. It’s great to be able to pass out a taste of home on Thanksgiving. My Chaplain Assistant personally passed out hundreds of cookies you sent to our Soldiers. I don’t think a crumb was wasted. Personally, I haven’t wasted a crumb. Thanks again for the hundreds of hours and the large investment of money it takes to make and ship your cookies. Chaplain Joseph S. Gotshall Jr. TF Tareel 535th Military Police Battalion Forwarded email from Baker Judy Heithoff: "Just wanted to share. It is alwayas good to know what little we do is appreciated." ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindstrand, James A SFC MIL USA USA USARCENT 364th ESC" To :jdheithoff Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 3:03 AM Subject: Thank You From Kuwait Dear Ms. Heithoff,We want to thank you on behalf of the Soldiers and Service Members here at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for your kindness and thoughtfulness. It is not taken for granted that Patriots like you are thinking of us as we're overseas serving our country. We are proud to serve such a special nation so that freedom may be enjoyed by all. Your actions have meant more than you may ever know, but rest assured, what you've done has made a difference in the morale of the 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) from Marysville, Washington. My mother is a 2nd grade teacher and she enjoys it very much. My grandma was a teacher for over 30 years as well. Thank you for what you do, I know it's not easy. However, your cookies were very much enjoyed and appreciated as they brought a little slice of home our way, so thanks again. We pray you and your family will have a wonderful holiday season. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! With sincere gratitude, Ken Alford, Command Chaplain - James Lindstrand, Chaplain Assistant A. Crawford,  I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you and all those that volunteered and helped put those care packages together. To see my soldiers faces light up when they got the treats and goodies you guys sent was rewarding to say the very least. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. SPC Bowman From: "Doak, Jonathan A CW3 USA USA 1-24IN" Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 9:50 AM Subject: Reply to MRS. Crawford Iowa Cookie Crumbs Ma'am I and my Soldiers received the cookies, candies and cards from your group. I cannot express my gratitude. We have many long days and a few exciting ones. This is my 4th Deployment and I am always humbled by the caring and appreciation of strangers. I read your letter and know through the words you wrote you and your family are blessed. Thank you again and know your efforts were and are appreciated. Respectfully CW4 Doak CRT OIC 1-24IN, 1-25 SBCT | Subject: Thanks for the Cookies! Dear Friends; I’ve meant to send you all a note of thanks sooner, but have been very busy. Myself and the Marines of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines have been enjoying cookies and goodies from your care packages for the last 6 months. I want to let you know how much it means to these men when they get heart-felt support from the good people back home. Each time I received one of your packages I would carry them with me as I travel to each of our positions and let the Marines pick through for what they want and to read your letters. Many of these men are still teenagers and although they’re fierce fighters and brave men, they are away from home and really need a simple thank you sometimes. Your letters never failed to bring a smile to the men and buoyed their resolve to do their very best…how could they let the “Iowa Cookie Crumbs” down? Anyway, we are nearing the end of our deployment and will rotate home soon and I wanted to say thank you. My mom is friends with Lee Boyle which is how I think these packages got to me. Please give each other a warm hug from the Marine of “The Walking Dead” God Bless and Semper Fidelis; Ty PS…attached is a picture of one of the platoons that always enjoyed the cookies and would ask about you every time I visited! LtCol Tyler "Ty" ZagurskiCommanding Officer 1st Battalion, 9th Marines "The Walking Dead" Dear Ms. Stukenholtz’ classI am writing to say THANK YOUfor the multiple letters my team has received from you all. I have read letters from Thomas, Camille and Gabby. My team mentioned there were more and I have encouraged them to write as well. Your letters have reached a team of Army soldiers and Navy sailors in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Our mission is to train components of the Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP) in logistics, combat tactics, policework, driving, vehicle repair and many other disciplines. It is very challenging work, yet very rewarding at the same time. Our goal is to ensure that the ANCOP is self sufficient when the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan. It is slated for the U.S. to withdraw in 2014. All of us here should be home long before then. It is difficult to be far from home – especially for such a long time. I have a wife and two sons who live in  Austin, Texas.
LTjg Jim LaValle, USN Subject: Heartfelt Thank You! Dear Iowa Cookie Crumbs, Thank you so much for wonderful assortment of homemade cookies! It was a bright spot in my day! Being away from home, for a year at a time, is sometimes difficult, especially around the holidays. The fact that kind folks like you, take time to remember us, is truly a blessing! Thanks again for taking time out of your life to do something so thoughtful! SSG Smith, Robyn From: Park, Calvin CPT USA TF WARHORSE CHAPLAIN Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011 10:43 AM To: do_over@cox.net Subject: new chaplain from FOB Airborne  Hi, I hope you had a wonderful time with your family. By the way, I attached some pictures what I do with your supports. This is called CAV Café. People come and find what they need. It is for everyone in this FOB. Again I appreciate your supports so much, Note: Beginning at the second bookcase from the right are items from our Holiday Cheer Comfort packing - hygiene, dental and feminine products, games, decks of cards, spiral notebooks, envelopes, pens, etc. We were able to send multiple boxes to several Chaplains in this year's Operation Holiday Cheer! To the Sixth Graders in Ms. Stukenholtz’s Class, Ryan & Taylor and everyone else: Thank you so much for sending me your letters and packages. The group of us have shared the wonderful things that you have sent. The letters from the townsfolk enclosed in the package are also wonderful.
Afghanistan Subject: RE: Treats for Troops packages Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:15:30 +0300From: amy.k.justice To: iowacookiecrumbs@hotmail.com CC: donald.r.souter I'll second that. The Peanut Butter cookies just kind of disappeared...Strange things happen in Kuwait. ;) I think I hear the sound of chomping mouths...are those...cookie crumbles on the ground? Hmm... THANK YOU for the wonderful cookies and Rocky Mountain Fudge. They are wonderful. Respectfully, SSG Amy K. Justice Chaplain Assistant 595th Transportation Brigade Camp Arifjan Subject: [UNCLASSIFIED//NONE] Treats for Troops packages Mrs. Crawford, Greetings from Kuwait. Can you imagine my surprise today when I returned to my office and found 6 boxes from you wonderful bakers. The cookies are delightful. My assistant, Staff Sergeant (SSG) Amy justice and I did sample them so that we can in true ministry form declare how great they are. Just began delivery in my building. You have certainly improved the morale in this unit. Thank you. The attached picture is of SSG Justice & I. Grace and Peace, D. Richard Souter From: simpkins.ashley Dear Ma'am and Sirs, |
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Unfortunately photos are not allowed in our secure work area so I can’t show you how excited your “treats” have made the 595th Transportation Brigade.