More Letters

On behalf of the Task Force Iron Dragons, I want to say how appreciative we are for your kind words that you had sent to us within the care package. We are truly grateful to have the support and blessings of people such as yourself back home to help encourage us while we are away from our home and families.

I know Mother Nature has been pretty rough on your homes during this past season, but hopefully some of the sun we have on us will start shining its way over to Iowa. The country here is a dusty land that could use a little TLC, but that is what makes me appreciate what the US has to offer people like you and me.

With the long hours worked each day, the inconsistent weather, the random moments of work that consists of ups and downs, I count the days that I have been here and wait for the day I get to go home back to my wife. We are fortunate that we have a USO that I volunteer at and it gives me an opportunity to at least have the feeling of a home away from home.

Thank you for the treats and the letter, Tom

Thank you so much for the sending the Soldiers so many great cookies. All the cookies came intact and not melted. I am going to compile a slide show of pictures to send to you and everyone else who has opened their hearts to our Soldiers. I am beyond words and deeply grateful to you! May you and your family be blessed this year. These Soldiers were very happy and full of smiles opening and enjoying the cookies. They will always remember that memory. You are all one of a kind people and I mean that! I have too many Soldiers who I know will not get much if any mail here. If you would like to send a box for me to share ill make sure they are the only ones who get access to the box(s). I have been the morale coordinator for the unit and I control the distribution of all the care packages. I can ensure only they receive the anything you send. We will not leave until the middle of Novemebr. I keep everything in a locked office until I distribute everything between the sections. I appreciate everything and you have my salute!

V/R, Aaron

Thank you very much for our package and letter to the troops! We are currently 7 months into our deployment overseas. The cookies and goodies you sent us are very yummy! We are sorry to hear what has been going on in Nebraska and Iowa. How devastating! The American people always persevere and I know this situation will be no different! Our prayers are with you and your community. We really appreciate your support, it’s reminders like these that help make deployment easier and reminds us that there are still folks back home who care about our military! My heart is full. God Bless! SPC Lewis, US Army

P.S. if others chipped in and donated to the box or made cookies please tell them thank you for us! it’s hard for us to send snail mail thank you cards from here and we only came across a couple of email addresses available in the letters. We just want to make sure everyone knows how much we appreciate them! Thanks again!

Several bakers received letters from a Veterinary Detachment. Following are excepts along with some pictures:

Thanks so much for the wonderful cookies and letters. I am a veterinarian in the Army and on the civilian side. In the United States, I work mostly with pet dogs and cats (with the occasionally cow, pig or goat). Here in the Middle East, my job is somewhat different. We work with the MWDS (or Miltary Working Dogs) and to protect the food source for our Soldiers. It's a very neat experience to be here but I do miss my own dogs and family in Illinois.

Thanks again for the letters! We really appreciate the care packages and have shared with other units!

Note from SSG Klein (below): Ma'am, I wanted to personally thank you for all of the time and effort you have given to the "Iowa Cookie Crumbs" program. I have watched and seen first hand just how excited the soldiers get when your groups car packages arrive. I wanted you to know just how greatly all of your efforts are appreciated. Knowing that there are so many people back home that are willing to donate their time is a great boost to morale. Thank you again for all of your past efforts and for any future work you may do.