St. Francis de Sales at 1 Maria Drive, Loudonville, NY 12211 US - More Letters From Soldiers

We would like to share letters we've received from recipients of the "Support Our Troops" care packages recently sent to U.S. soldiers and service personnel. Thank you for making it possible for us to send these gifts to those who serve and protect our country. The letters are below: Dear Father Noone, I have recently received a care package from the great people of your church. I wanted to write to you and ask you if you could thank them for me? My name is Chief Warrant Officer 3 Richard Clark. My mother is Gloria Clark (I think you know her. ahaha) As I said I received this wonderful package from your parishioners and thought that it was so nice to have people back home thinking and praying for us here in Iraq. I know that many may not agree with this war, and I am very proud to defend that right even with my life, but more importantly, it is wonderful to know that there are people back home supporting the troops. It provides us great strength and will to do what is necessary. If you don't mind I would like to relay a story or two that I am SURE you will not hear on the news, but one that should be shared. When I first got into country I was flown up to Saddam's palaces in Tikrit. There I spent several days in awe of the number of palaces this tyrant built!! It is unbelieveable. Well after a time there, I convoyed back to my unit via ground. I was struck very hard by the vast differences of the haves and have nots. As we were driving down the road approximately 3km from the palaces I saw a little girl about 5 years old standing there in front of her mud hut, with long dark curly, but dissheviled hair, in a very tattered burgundy dress, barefoot watching us drive by w/all of our weapons pointing out of the vehicle. And I had the honor to see the most amazing thing. This little girl was standing there smiling and waving to us. And at that moment I knew we did the right thing by coming here. The decadence this tyrant lived in while his people suffered like this is totally unacceptable. And I was not raised to allow something like this to go on and standby and do nothing. You know I kid around a lot about my strong Catholic upbringing, but you should know that it has helped me make the right decisions at very critical times. Just one other story: I had sent this to my mother: I was just relayed a story from one of my associates, he and his team just did a Toys for Tots for some of the local towns. He said they flew in and landed at a couple of towns and the best thing he saw was a little girl about Rianna's age (that's my 5-year-old daughter) with 2 of the stuffed animals he had just given her, walking by with the biggest smile on her face just giggling with joy! That was the best thing to hear first thing in the morning. So like I have said in the past, you only hear the bad things on the news but know there is a great deal of good going on here. Well Father, thank you for listening and sending that care package. I will use the candy when we go out on missions, to give to little children. That always brings a smile to their faces and mine. Thank you again for all of the thoughts and prayers. ~ Rich Clark - - - - - - - - - - To the parishioners of St. Francis de Sales: Thank you so much for the package, it is really appreciated out here! I shared the goodies with my fellow soldiers, with the exception of the granola bars, those are my favorite! Everyone wanted me to say thank you. It is so nice to know people at home are thinking of us. Bless you all, Marla Anson from PFC - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dear St. Francis: Thank you very much for the thoughtful package. Myself and fellow soldiers appreciate your kindness and patriotic spirit more than you know. It's a great thing when people, despite their opinion about the war, still support the individual soldier. Being here is a life changing event. Despite what is seen on the news these people need us. Conditions were and still are very poor for a lot of the Iraqis. We are their saviors and heroes. People come out of their houses, cheering, waving, and giving us the thumbs up. We open the way and bring humanitarian aid, water, and safety to hundreds of people a week. But for some reason, a small group of insurgents from Iraq and surrounding countries would rather see the people starve and suffer. We are not at war with Iraq. We are at war with a network of political zealots that thrive on instability and manipulation by fear. They are a cancer. And if not kept in check will continue to spread around the world. I have no doubt that good will conquer evil, that right will bansih wrong. Not everyone can be on the front lines of the epic struggle. But every good deed and show of support adds up. And ultimately it will be those deeds and support that give what's right and just the edge to conquer and eliminate wrong and evil. Thank you again for the package. And thank you for your prayers and support. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9 - RTC Bernard CTRP 10th Cavalry Brigade Recon Team - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 42nd Divison, 21 Dec 04 Thank you very much for the wonderful care package you sent me. It was very nice. I shared many things with my fellow troops. We all thank you for caring. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Always, Srg. Erin Driessen --- December 24, 2004 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the parishioners of St. Francis de Sales from Sgt. Tracy Nall, one of our soldiers, who is home on leave waiting for her new assignment. Tracy said "Thank you" for her "We care" packages. Many of her fellow soldiers do not recieve any packages and some are from families who cannot afford to send anything to them. Thank you from Tracy and her fellow soldiers! - - - - Dear St. Francis de Sales Church, Thank you very much for the wonderful care package you sent. It was very nice. I shared many things with my fellow troops. We all thank you for caring. Always, Srg. Erin Driessin - - - Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales, Thank you for the care packages you have sent me. The other guys and I have been getting a lot of packages from people. I am a HMMWV driver for our battalion's scout platoon in Tikrit. Tikrit has been very quiet compared to other cities to the north and south of us. Thanks again. Mike (5pc Jackson, Michael P) - - - Dear Parishioners of St. Francis de Sales, I would like to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation for the generous care package provided by your parish. Mail call is the part of the day that every soldier looks forward to. Receiving care packages, letters, and prayers from home helps keep morale high while deployed overseas. It is especially nice to receive an unexpected package from caring and supportive Americans like yourselves. Your care package was well thought out and I am happy to share your many splendid gifts with my fellow soldiers. We have a community table where donations are placed for soldiers in need. They can "shop" for snacks, personal hygiene items, literature, etc. at their will. I know the contents of your package will be well received! My personal thanks for the October issue of Oprah magazine, (I have been trying to locate this issue since the beginning of the deployment and it's the only issue of "O" I have yet to read!), the bow-wow cards (which I think are really neat and remind me of my much-missed puppy), the Avon body wash and disposable camera. Again, thanks ever so much for your support and prayers! God Bless! Sincerely, Sgt. Nicole Prevost FOB Speicker, IRAQ

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