Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Pfc. Roxana Anderson, an administrative specialist and mail handler returns missent...... read more read more
CAMP TAJI, Iraq " Mail is one of the main morale boosters for servicemembers when they are deployed.
The mailroom of the 4th Sustainment Brigade at Camp Taji distributes mail to more than 300 Soldiers, bringing joy into their lives while deployed.
"I am super excited when I get mail, because it is from my mom and dad," said Pfc. Joshua Lopez, a signal support systems specialist from the brigade S-6. His parents often send him his favorite Mexican candy, although at times he has to wait more than a week to receive it, since mail has a long way to travel before it arrives in theater.
For example if a letter is mailed in the Unites States to an Army Post Office address in Iraq, from the local post office it goes to New York first. From there it is sent to Germany, then in the case of mail coming to Camp Taji, it first goes to Logistical Support Area Anaconda, and finally to Taji, said Staff Sgt. Maurice Elmore the mailroom NCOIC.
He is also an administrative NCO at the Special Troops Battalion S-1.
Since Soldiers work different shifts, while deployed, the mailroom is open from 8-9 a.m., then from 11 a.m. to noon and then again from 6:30-8 p.m.
"The hours go by my watch though," jokingly said Pfc. Roxana Anderson, an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 4th SB.
Besides picking up mail, Soldiers may also send out letters and postcards through the mailroom, as long as they are less than 13 ounces, said Spc. Sarah Fahl, also a clerk with HHC, STB, 4th SB.
Fahl and Anderson both work in the S-1 section of the STB, and take turns weekly picking up and distributing mail.
The Christmas holidays were the busiest time for them in the mailroom. "We had a three-truck convoy coming from the mailroom at one time," Anderson said.
Elmore agrees. He recalls a time when they had to borrow a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle to bring mail from the warehouse during the holidays, he said. They had more than 150 boxes a day during the main holiday season, but now they pick up between 30 and 40 boxes a day.
The three-Soldier team works long hours to accommodate everybody else's schedules and they take pride in their work.
"I feel needed," said Anderson.
"Even if they only get a postcard, most Soldiers are happy that somebody is thinking about them," Elmore said.
The Soldiers who normally don't get mail are really excited when they get something, others know exactly what is in the mail for them and come in the mailroom knowing the exact content of their boxes, Fahl said.
Anderson also enjoys when she picks up boxes sent by schools or the girl scouts. "When it is colored stickers, you can tell it is coming from the kids," she said.
These Soldiers are also in charge of the mail for the brigade back at Fort Hood, but they deal with much smaller quantities, mostly for the Soldiers who live in the barracks.
Anderson hopes to be involved in the mailroom operations once they redeploy.
Elmore has a high opinion about the work his Soldiers do. He warns all that mail clerks are not mail fairies. They merely safeguard and deliver mail, they cannot control whether one receives anything or not.
"My Soldiers do an outstanding job. Don't give them a hard time when you come in and you don't have any mail," Elmore said.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2006 03:49 |
| Story ID: | 6281 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 137 |
| Downloads: | 65 |
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