Reaching Out to the Military

[The Middlesex Women's Republican Club recently reached out out to the military with a care package. Here is the exchange. It makes wonderful reading!]

Dear Doris Karkota,

First of all, I would like to "Thank You" for your care package. Your books were put into our company library of kindness that has traveled over the miles and has been an inspiration to the "cause".

The profile of my men are just like I said on the web site, we are a National Guard unit representing the state of Kansas, Charlie Company, 2/137 Infantry, but we have men from the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Alabama. These men come from all backgrounds, but the majority of the platoon is everyday "blue collar" workers, the same men that you see at the mills, working on your car, doing construction, your everyday hard working Americans. In my opinion, these men have stepped up to the next level and are trying to make a better life for people other than Americans, to ensure that the Iraqi people have a better way of life in the future. You have to remember that these men do this because their country called them to duty and not a single one of these men have ever complained about being here. They hear all of the politics and media that are going on at home, but they are here to complete a job and will leave when told to do so. They do what they are told for the overall picture, they are not concerned about the pieces that make it up.

The past couple of months have been very eventful, everything from patrols, house assessments, FOB (forward operation base) security, to IED scares, and being shot at from purposed insurgents. You never know what the day brings you, I wake up each and every morning just thinking about it and I will tell you that all my men think about it, men with wives, children, and families that miss them so much.

We are having some problems with the weather here. You would never think that it could rain in Iraq so bad, but the land is so dry in the winter and the rain just sits on top of the ground and it causes mass flooding around the area we work in.

I hope this gives you a little information about what life is here in Iraq and to "Thank You" again for your thoughtfulness and the time you have taken out of your schedule to express your gratitude. You can always write me or if you want I can give any letters to any one of my men, I wanted to make sure that your letter gets answered first by their platoon sergeant, it's the least I can do. Till then, always in our hearts and minds. First Platoon, "Felons", Charlie Company, 2/137 Infantry.

You can always reach me by email at seanmental@yahoo.com or sean.matthews@us.army.mil.

Remember, American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some President says, they don't fight for the American way or apple pie, they fight for each other.

Sean M. Matthews
SFC, US Army, Infantry
C Company, 2/137