Courtesy Photo | Spc. Jason Richmond holds a few of the letters sent to the 1538th Transportation...... read more read more
By 1st Lt. G. Elizabeth Brown
10th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Taking time out for Soldiers is just what Mrs. Henninger's first grade class did. The 1538th Transportation Company, an Indiana National Guard unit from Elkhart, Ind., was the end stop for the letters of kindness from her class to the deployed transporters.
Hoosier children from West Grove Elementary, Greenwood, Ind., took time from their busy days of learning the ABC's to putting that new found knowledge to paper for Soldiers.
The patriotic children sent three large boxes of goodies and wrote page after page of thank you letters with pictures colored by their little hands. The Soldiers in the 1538th Trans. Co. cannot help but smile when they look at the displayed array of greetings that cover the walls of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building. The letters commonly have similar messages of thanks for protecting the U.S., the hard work of the Soldiers, or for simply being a Soldier.
Throughout the months of November and December, the deployed company received packages, cards, letters from all over, and some from the Soldiers' hometowns. While 1538's Soldiers were hanging dozens of letters made from the elementary school, one of the messages stood out from the rest – a small flag, colored very carefully on a single piece of paper with one of the children's' skillfully crafted letters. It simply said "Thank you for serving."
1st Sgt. Jeffrey Spencer, a Westport, Ind., native, said "that is what it is about right there."
1st Lt. Brett Monroe, of Sullivan, Ind., said, "When I saw all the letters sent to the Soldiers, my heart swelled with pride. That little note meant more to me than anything. To know that these children had taken the time to make sure we knew that they cared enough to say thank you."
Mrs. Henninger, the teacher who put this project together, can relate to military life all too well. Her father is currently a chief warrant officer in the Indiana Army National Guard.
Henninger sent a letter about the boxes and letters.
"You are strong and brave for fighting for our country."
It is common to write articles to tell the public and family at home about all of the missions and accomplishments that have been done since deployment. Rarely told, are the unrecognized efforts of the families and supporters back home in the states. They tirelessly send care packages, letters and warm wishes for all to know that someone cares.
"It would be impossible to thank everyone individually, so we proudly display all of the letters of thanks from the children and various organizations as a way of showing our thanks," said 1st Lt. G. Elizabeth Brown, executive officer, and a native of Indianapolis. "Their efforts are humbling and full of caring. It demonstrates compassion to a person that they probably will never meet. The most compelling part of this all is that they expect nothing in return. This simple act demonstrates exactly what America is, what Americans are and why we are here in this country right now."
Spc. Jason Richmond, a native of Indianapolis stated, "It is really cool to get the letters from the kids back home."
"The 1538th Trans. Co., 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade would like to say thank you to West Grove Elementary and the students of Mrs. Henniger's class and all the others who have supported this company," said Spencer.
The Citizen-Soldiers of the 1538th deployed in July 2008 and are scheduled to return from Iraq in the summer of 2009.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2009 04:22 |
| Story ID: | 29083 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 320 |
| Downloads: | 306 |
This work, Indiana National Guard Transporters Thank Hometown Hoosier children for kindness, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
