[Abigail Adams]

I bought some underwear, socks, feminine items, and candy today. I'll mail it tomorrow. Thanks for forwarding the address so I can help out!

Also, do you have the name of a soldier I could email?

I already "adopted" a soldier through www.operationmilitarysupport.com, but I would have time to do email correspondence with another soldier.

Today we got our first letter from our adopted soldier. It's so exciting! Turns out he and we have a lot in common, so it will be fun writing. I can imagine if we get excited about a letter from Iraq, those guys and gals over there are probably twice as excited to get mail from home!

[krb]

Can we send 'em ammo?

[nicollo]

*bump*

[krunkygirl]

BUMP and save

[freedom4me]

Where do we send the items you listed? I'd like my students to participate in this before the end of the school year.

[MoJo2001]

SENIOR CHIEF GILLIAN
”GETTING TO KNOW YOU”


Senior Chief Gillian is the man responsible for our having the opportunity to support our wounded Troops. We thank him for allowing us to help our brave men and women. And let us take the opportunity to say “THANK YOU” for his service to America.
 

*** Before I get started with the interview, my sister Patti Rodriguez really got this started by caring enough to just ask for the support.  My sister - by fraternity, Senior Chief Walsh, has really taken this request for support to the next level – she has a kind heart and is a Saint. The support we have received from both the Command where we work – to the support we have received from many, many, Americans is commendable. God Bless all of you! ***

Q. Where are you from?
A.      NAVY Brat – guess I call home – Suffolk, Virginia.

Q. How long have you been in the Navy?
A.      19 ½ years

Q. Where have you been stationed?
A.      Bootcamp in San Diego, CA.         USS Nashville (LPD-13) – – Homeported Norfolk, VaVaVa         Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD         COMSIXTHFLT onboard USS Belknap – Homeported Gaeta, Italy         USS California (CGN-36) – Homeported Bremerton, WAWA         Naval Computer Telecommunications Station Puget Sound, WA         USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) – Homeported Norfolk, VA         Naval Computer Telecommunications Area Master Station Det         Hampton Roads, Norfolk, VA

Q.  Where is the most unusual place that you have been stationed? A.     Gaeta, Italy

Q. If someone were thinking about joining the Navy, what would you tell them?
A.     Know what you want to do before you make the step.  Have a game plan and set realistic goals – don’t take NO for an answer, give 100% and you will succeed.

Q. As a Senior Chief, what day to day responsibilities are you required to perform for your shop?
A.     I manage, lead & mentor junior sailors on both personal & professional growth.
Q. If a private citizen would like to know how to support our Troops, what would you tell them? How can they get involved?
A.     First and foremost – NEVER FORGET.  Our troops – all of them – are doing an outstanding job providing service to our country.  They provide the blanket of freedom that we all take for granted.  Next buy a United States Flag and keep it waving.  Find an avenue to provide support – much like what we are doing now and give what you can. If money is an issue – write a letter – send a picture of your family waving the flag!  Lastly, when you see someone in uniform – stop them, shake their hand and thank them for serving our country.

Q. Was your family surprised when you decided to join the Navy?
A.     No, my Father served 24 years in the Navy and retired as a Master Chief Radioman. My older brother served 20 years in the Navy and retired as a Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (Radioman Rate changed to Information Systems Technician) & I have 19 ½ years in – and will probably stay for 30 years.



Enough of the formal stuff. Now the important questions.

Q. What are your favorite movies and music?
A.     Movies – Action & Comedy.  Favorites – Few Good Men, Braveheart & Old School.  Music – all music.  Current favorites are music related to supporting our troops, for instance Toby Keith’s current album as well as Tim McGraw’s new release – Iraq and Roll.

Q. If you were given a million dollars, what would you spend it on?
A.     Bigger house, college education for my kids & help immediate family.

Q. If you were able to have dinner with 3 people throughout history, who would they be?
A.     William Wallace, John F. Kennedy & my Grandfather Rosco Dance.

Q. What kind of sports do you like?
A.     Boxing, Football & Racketball.

Q. If you could switch salaries with any athlete or actor, who would it be?
A.     Mel Gibson

Q. What are some of the most interesting excuses that you’ve heard from Sailors for not doing something?
A.     I didn’t know, my dog ate it & but I did do it.

Q. When thinking back about your Navy career, is there anything you wished you would have done?
A.     No, everything happens for a reason – what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – don’t look back at yesterday – look forward towards tomorrow and beyond.




Thank you so much for enduring this interview. We realize that you are busy.  Thank you for your service to America. We are all very proud of you.



 

[Dante3]

BUMP

[Carolinamom]

You can count on me! It will be an honor to do something for these brave troops. Just tell me where to send the package.

[cgk]

bttt

[MoJo2001]

OPERATION FR CANTEEN SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

WE'VE FINALLY HEARD BACK FROM OUR CONTACT AT THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN IRAQ!!

 

 

 

Please let everyone know the packages are getting here-in fact we are working thank you letters now to everyone who has sent stuff (complete with pictures of our Marines).  We will be changing the address again because of CPA dissolving.  However, the (removed) zip code is our post office only and they know where the stuff goes-they even have a shelf labeled the "Ministry of L (Her name has been removed)" because I get so much stuff (especially from your organization).  We had hoped to have thank you letters out earlier, but quite frankly the dissolving of CPA and standup of what is now being called the Area Support Group has taken a toll on our hours-my average day is now from about 0815 to between 0200-0300.  I think I'm going to hibernate for a week or more when I get home!  Anyways, letters should be on the way (it's kind of done like a flyer with pictures of our Marines-we felt uncomfortable taking pictures of wounded) as soon as our mail is flowing again (security conditions sometimes prevents the flow of our mail).  By the way, here's a picture of one of the guys enjoying some of the snacks-in fact, I think it looks like some of the ones that came out of your organizations boxes if I'm not mistaken.  (As you can see, our Marines have a lot of "character."  And they are soooo young-I think most of them were born after I graduated from high school, and in many cases college-it's time to retire.)

 

Again, tell everyone I'm sorry we haven't gotten a letter to you all sooner.  We've just been overwhelmed lately as we get closer to the transfer of sovereignty.  As soon as mail starts flowing again, you will all see something.

 

Lt Col L. J

Click to enlarge the photo!