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More Help to Soldiers in Iraq

Release Date August 2004

Summary: From a fellow soldier to a 3-year-old playing in the mud, people from around the country have offered their support, contributions and thanks to our troops in Iraq.

To all the men and women of the Armed Forces I say Thanks - From Brandon, Age 3
Little 3-year-old Brandon had been out playing in the mud, when he stood up and told his mom he was saluting the soldiers. She took his picture and his dad sent it to us. Thank you to the Lane family!

CHIEF is working with "Marine Grandma" Ruby Sutterfield to send gear, supplies and donations to her grandson, Lance Corporal Lonnie Sutterfield and his USMC 5/11 R BRTY (GUNS) unit in Iraq. Earlier in the month we emailed a newsletter to our customers, telling them about our efforts to help these soldiers. Since that newsletter we've received tons of emails, phone calls, thank-you's and offers of more help.

Thank you to everyone who has written, and to those of you who have also begun sending your own letters and donations to our soldiers overseas. While we've received more responses than we could print, we wanted to share some of them with you.

Toddler Salute

Our favorite reply is the photo above, which Steven Lane sent to Marla Ingram, CHIEF's Operations Manager. She sent it around the office, and to Lonnie's grandmother –

The attached email was sent to me following a conversation that I had with a gentleman who had previously emailed us about his son, who was a proud American! This little 3-year-old boy had been out playing in the mud, when he stood up and told his mom he was saluting the soldiers. She took his picture [above] and his dad sent us a copy to be added to our website.

From Family and Fellow Soldiers

Lonnie's family has also been in touch with us. They've been very moved by the response, from CHIEF and especially from other folks who have offered their help and support.

Sgt. Tammy L Dougherty, with the Army's C/458 EN BN and also in Iraq, wrote, "The support received from stateside really does lift our spirits. It lets us know that, despite what the media coverage shows, we still are supported. That we can hold our heads high when we come home. We don't want the same reception as a lot of the Vietnam vets received." Marla is currently talking with Sgt. Dougherty so we can start sending contributions to her and her platoon as well.

Our "Marine Grandma", Ruby, also told us she recently talked with Lonnie on the phone –

Lonnie got to call about 1:30 last night and all was okay there. He said they had got two boxes from you and the catalogs from me.... The phone connection was very broken but we did get to talk, he said they got the boxes from you that had the family pictures and were so grateful, he said that was really a lot of stuff, and thank you each and every one of you. (He said the large shirts were way to big, but he was wearing them anyway. I told him I will mail the medium I had ordered tomorrow with other things I had here.)

Lonnie's cousin, Glen Forshee, also sent his thanks –

My Aunt Ruby has told me of all the kind and generous things that you and your co-workers have been doing to help our boys. I really think it has helped my aunt's spirit that other people unrelated to those at risk share her compassion, love and generosity for those brave men in that very dangerous place. I pray that this conflict ends soon and he can be returned safe to his family and especially to his loving grandma and grandpa along with all the other brave men. Please thank those in charge of your company and all your friends that are contributing to the morale of those kids.

More Donations Going to Iraq

On Aug. 13, CHIEF sent another shipment of donations to LCpl. Sutterfield and his unit:
This box will soon be on its way to Iraq
Jerky, postcards, Kool-Aid – all these home comforts and more will soon be on their way to US Marines in Iraq.
  • LifeSaver drink mix
  • Gatorade drink mix
  • Oberto Jerky
  • Raisins
  • Hard candies
  • Assorted packages of nuts
  • Nutrigrain cereal bars
  • Peanut butter crackers
  • Keebler cookies
  • Welches Fruit Snacks
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • BandAids
  • Sunscreen
  • Q-Tips
  • Hand Wipes
  • WATER JEL hand sanitizer (thanks to WATER JEL, who donated over 1700 packets)

More shipments are going out soon, both from us at CHIEF, and from other people and organizations in our community and from around the US.

Other People Helping

Many of the people who have called or written, have asked to include donations with our shipments. Some are now also sending their own care packages to the troops.

Here in Eugene, other businesses have contacted us about sending donations. We'd like to give a big "Thank You" to Peace Health's Business Office and Peace Health Downtown. They've joined CHIEF's efforts with two boxes of their own. Thanks especially to Dianne Demarco and Colleen Blain for coordinating with us and each of the Peace Health locations. We look forward to working with you!

If you would like to send donations or letters to our troops, please contact us »

Thank you everyone, for your support and good will to our soldiers abroad. May they return home safe, sound and soon.