I am a battalion chaplain with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq. I am in the Brigade where CH Riggs is the Brigade Chaplain. He passed on to me a package that you sent to our soldiers–operation Christmas in Combat. It was full of really good cookies. I say it “was†full because my soldiers love them and ate them up quickly.
Thank you so much for sending us these cookies. It is wonderful to see great Americans reaching out to my soldiers.
Thanks and Blessings from Iraq,
Chaplain Trotter
TAKING CARE OF SOLDIERS
CH (CPT) Stanton D. Trotter
82nd BSB, 3BCT, 82nd ABN DIV
COB Speicher, Iraq
APO AE 09393
DSN: 242-1058
The Golden Brigade Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association wishes to thank everyone who has thus far made donations to support the 82nd Airborne Division’s Christmas in Iraq. We have been able to send many ‘goodies’ and hope to be able to send more to our young paratroopers (for some, it will be their 3rd Combat Christmas), and support their families over the coming holiday season. We Vietnam Veterans, and our friends, appreciate what they do for us – and we can never support them enough.
Newest Donors
Wilbur and MaryLou McAninich
Golden Brigade Members
Tom Berryman
Tom and Mary Holtzman
Ed Martin
Larry “Doc” Jameson
MG (Ret) Alexander R. Bolling, Jr.
Don Paquin
Bill Hoffay
Pat Barry
Keith Allen
Rich & Martha O’Hare
Gerald Schaefer
Peggy & Ron Yorkovich
Step Tyner
Michael Hood
Claud Dunn
Alton Bass
Ned Voigt
Shirley & Ray Henry
James Mueller
Edgar A. Ramirez
Stephen Burley
Seldon (Pete) Watkins
Thomas Ladwig
Our Friends
Mr. Robert McPhail
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Lasser
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Lambiase
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Garten
Mr. & Mrs. Carroll Plunkard in Memory of Sgt John F. Plunkard
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sommerich
International Lodging Security Association
For those who have yet to donate, your contributions are still welcome … any amount will help. For those who have already given … fell free to do so again! This roster will be updated frequently – let’s see your name here.
Donate to the 3rd Brigade Christmas in Iraq Fund
You may also send your check to:
3rd Brigade Christmas in Iraq Fund
Richard F. O’Hare, Treasurer
Golden Brigade Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Assn., Inc.
4075 Old River Trail
Powhatan, VA 23139-4112
Airborne, All The Way & God Bless Our Troops!
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
Contingency Operating Base Sepicher, Iraq
APO AE 09393
12 December 2006
Dear Golden Brigade,
Not too long ago we received the gifts you sent for Project Christmas in Combat. I cannot say thank you enough for the support you have shown the soldiers who will be spending this Christmas away from their families. I am continually humbled by the support from so many back home for us at Camp Speicher in Iraq. It is always overwhelming to see the people who do not know us by name, but are willing to pray for us and send us presents at Christmas, letting us know we are not forgotten. Thank you very much!
The other chaplains and assistants and I took some pictures with the presents and I have included the best one. We will also be taking some pictures on Christmas Day with other soldiers. I will send some of them to you as well.
Thank you again for all the support you and the entire Golden Brigade crew have shown us Panthers.
On Christmas day the gifts you sent will be distributed to over 4,000 soldiers and US service members on North Speicher. I am confident that every service member will feel the warmth of Christmas because of your support for all of us here.
May this Christmas be more treasured knowing that you have helped bring the spirit of Christmas to US service members in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006.
Merry Christmas!
In His Grip!
DERRICK E. RIGGS
CHAPLAIN (MAJOR), USA
Brigade Chaplain
Dear Troopers,
Thanks to your generosity, 160 tins of fine Belgium cookies have been sent to the 3rd Brigade in Iraq. The final ones went out last week and I’m sure that Uncle Sam will make sure that they arrive in time. It’s really not about the cookies, it is about a message that Americans send to our Airborne Brothers and Sisters. Once the tally is done, we will send the remaining funds to the Food Locker at Fort Bragg to give support to the families at home.
They are in a very tough situation, just as we were. We have sent a message, in a small way, that we love these troopers and that we are very proud of them. Say a prayer for them and hope that they all return home safe and sound. Furthermore, we must welcome them when they come home to the greatest fraternity in the world – the 82nd Airborne Division Association. They are our Airborne sons and daughters so we must never forget their service and sacrifices and they are going to need our support.
Rich O’Hare
MG David M. Rodriguez and CSM Thomas R. Capel regretfully had to cancel All-American Week 2007. This announcement is not a big surprise as more than 75% of the Division is either currently deployed or will deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan in the near future. As for the remaining 25%, Task Force Devils in Baggy Pants is presently ‘holding down the fort’ as the Division’s Ready Brigade (DRB) as well as conducting intensive training in preparation for their deployment in June or July of next year.
Consequently, President Rath, in coordination with the Executive Committee, made the decision to cancel the Veterans’ portion of the All American Week Activities. This includes the Directors’ and Delegates’ Meetings as well as the other meetings such as the Educational Fund. Following this announcement Fayetteville Chapter Chairman, Ray Willard, also reported the Fayetteville Chapter Activities to be canceled. Please be sure that all of our members are informed of these decisions and encourage them to transfer their travel plans from Fayetteville, NC in May, to Harrisburg, PA in August for our 61st Annual Convention. Who knows, perhaps we will be able to partake with the incoming or outgoing troopers at that time.
