Tom Sawyer e-mailed me yesterday (well, actually day-before-yesterday, as it is now well past midnight). I thought you might like to read some of what he had to say.
(TS's exact words are in quotations. The rest has been paraphrased due to the need to "scrub" the content for the purpose of OPSEC. Emphasis is my own.)
"(My location in Afghanistan has) an extremely small US presence," but there are forces from other nations present, as well, working cooperatively to help this particular province within the Afghan nation to become self-defending, self-policing, and self-reliant. "I would not have it any other way. I have the BEST platoon...the whole platoon (is here together). Missions never stop- 3 to 4 a day- along with so much else. My (Section Chiefs) are awesome and focused. (My platoon leader) is the best teammate for me to work with. Our mission is tough and one to be mighty proud of. "
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Tom Sawyer's Address in Afghanistan
Here is the address to send mail to Tom Sawyer: (please try to address all mail and packages exactly as I have typed here. It just makes the transit through the mail system so much easier.)
(ADDRESS DELETED FOR SECURITY REASONS-shoot me an email if you need it.)
Some are already wanting to know what TS needs or wants in the way of care packages. I heard from him today; main request at the moment: tobacco products
TS is an unapologetic regular...make that heavy...smoker. When he deploys he also dips tobacco. He cannot purchase tobacco over there right now. This is what he said via IM today:
...tell everyone I am going to need tobacco in a hard way and soon...can't buy tobacco here due to shut down**...and afghan tobacco has drugs and crazy crap that will blow up your face...I will take the cheap dip like Grizzly straight and mint...tell everyone {we} really need coffee and tobacco...
(**this means that they no longer have even a rudimentary convenience store run by friendly entities available to them)
Now, I am well aware that some people would not dream of sending tobacco out of moral or religious objection to its use, or because it is just such an expensive thing to ask for, or out of genuine concern for TS's health.
To the moral/religious objectors, I can only tell you that TS loves and is committed to his relationship with his Savior, and whatever vices he struggles with are between him and the Good Lord. He knows that "all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial." He greatly appreciates your prayers, some of which, no doubt, will now include supplication for the salvation of his soul, which, according to some, may be in jeopardy due to the use of such a substance. Maybe you would be more comfortable meeting his request for coffee, which would be greatly appreciated. And please do pray! He appreciates your prayers too and has told me numerous times in the past that he can feel them. :0)
As to the issue of the cost of tobacco...tell me about it! I do the shopping for our family and I know how expensive it is. I will be sending him cigarettes and dip regularly anyway. The thing is, since the men can't safely purchase the stuff themselves in the local economy, and since they can't purchase it from any coalition convenience store, obviously the stuff is scarce. They all share everything they have with each other over there, but given TS's leadership position, there is somewhat of an issue with him asking to "bum" from others. At the same time, he will readily share with his peers and subordinates if he knows that they are lacking. He won't wait for them to ask. That's just how he is. Having said all that...if you are going to spend money for a care package, might I point out the logic in spending it on something that is wanted and used by many.
Finally, from a standpoint of health, again...tell me about it. I'm a nurse, for crying out loud. However, I have seen what withdrawal from both tobacco and caffeine can do to the man, and let me tell you...the distraction that withdrawal brings could very well be much more hazardous in the short term to his personal health and safety.
Ok...so I hope by now, you can tell that I have an incredibly dry sense of humor and that I pretty much tell it like it is. Don't mistake me for a jerk. I am saying a lot of this tongue-in-cheek. I can also be an insufferable sap who cries over Kleenex commercials. The hard exterior protects the soft core, I promise. I just love my soldier and I want to do for him what he can't do for himself right now, which is readily communicate with the rest of the world back here at home. Let me assure you, he loves you all, misses you all, and is counting the days until he doesn't have to rely on me to talk for him. He is so much sweeter than me, which is very much a paradox to the battle-hardened NCO that his is! I am so blessed! I do love that man of mine!
(ADDRESS DELETED FOR SECURITY REASONS-shoot me an email if you need it.)
Some are already wanting to know what TS needs or wants in the way of care packages. I heard from him today; main request at the moment: tobacco products
TS is an unapologetic regular...make that heavy...smoker. When he deploys he also dips tobacco. He cannot purchase tobacco over there right now. This is what he said via IM today:
...tell everyone I am going to need tobacco in a hard way and soon...can't buy tobacco here due to shut down**...and afghan tobacco has drugs and crazy crap that will blow up your face...I will take the cheap dip like Grizzly straight and mint...tell everyone {we} really need coffee and tobacco...
(**this means that they no longer have even a rudimentary convenience store run by friendly entities available to them)
Now, I am well aware that some people would not dream of sending tobacco out of moral or religious objection to its use, or because it is just such an expensive thing to ask for, or out of genuine concern for TS's health.
To the moral/religious objectors, I can only tell you that TS loves and is committed to his relationship with his Savior, and whatever vices he struggles with are between him and the Good Lord. He knows that "all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial." He greatly appreciates your prayers, some of which, no doubt, will now include supplication for the salvation of his soul, which, according to some, may be in jeopardy due to the use of such a substance. Maybe you would be more comfortable meeting his request for coffee, which would be greatly appreciated. And please do pray! He appreciates your prayers too and has told me numerous times in the past that he can feel them. :0)
As to the issue of the cost of tobacco...tell me about it! I do the shopping for our family and I know how expensive it is. I will be sending him cigarettes and dip regularly anyway. The thing is, since the men can't safely purchase the stuff themselves in the local economy, and since they can't purchase it from any coalition convenience store, obviously the stuff is scarce. They all share everything they have with each other over there, but given TS's leadership position, there is somewhat of an issue with him asking to "bum" from others. At the same time, he will readily share with his peers and subordinates if he knows that they are lacking. He won't wait for them to ask. That's just how he is. Having said all that...if you are going to spend money for a care package, might I point out the logic in spending it on something that is wanted and used by many.
Finally, from a standpoint of health, again...tell me about it. I'm a nurse, for crying out loud. However, I have seen what withdrawal from both tobacco and caffeine can do to the man, and let me tell you...the distraction that withdrawal brings could very well be much more hazardous in the short term to his personal health and safety.
Ok...so I hope by now, you can tell that I have an incredibly dry sense of humor and that I pretty much tell it like it is. Don't mistake me for a jerk. I am saying a lot of this tongue-in-cheek. I can also be an insufferable sap who cries over Kleenex commercials. The hard exterior protects the soft core, I promise. I just love my soldier and I want to do for him what he can't do for himself right now, which is readily communicate with the rest of the world back here at home. Let me assure you, he loves you all, misses you all, and is counting the days until he doesn't have to rely on me to talk for him. He is so much sweeter than me, which is very much a paradox to the battle-hardened NCO that his is! I am so blessed! I do love that man of mine!
Check this out!
So...I have been tossing around some ideas for how I can keep informed anyone who wants/needs to know the latest updates on Tom Sawyer as he journeys through his fourth deployment...this time to Afghanistan. I have decided the easiest way to do this is via blog. I am not going to, at least in the beginning, make this blog "pretty" or in any way try to "sell" it to the general public. I just need a simple venue in an accessible place to share the latest news.
DISCLAIMER (for anyone who needs it...I don't know who you are, but you probably do. If the shoe fits, wear it. If not, disregard and move on.):
I am currently residing on a military installation with my sons, which is to say that I am not in very close proximity to any of my biological, immediate or extended family members. I am currently homeschooling both boys. I am co-leading Tom Sawyer's battery's FRG (Family Readiness Group). I am volunteering regularly in the Emergency Room here on post to keep current my nursing skills and knowledge. In short, I am a busy lady. I am busy by design, so I am not sharing this to seek sympathy. I just want anyone who may read this to know that a lot of what you will read on here will be "quick and dirty" in the interest of time management, or because I am possibly having a rough day, or both. If I seem short, crass, or inappropriate...oh well. If I make spelling or grammar errors...oh well. If you can't handle it...oh well. I don't want to hear it. Just move on.
There are things that I will not be able to share with you due to Operational Security (OPSEC), so please don't ever think that I am keeping you out of the loop to be mean or whatever. Keep this in mind especially when the time comes for Tom Sawyer to come home. I cannot post things like troop movement dates, because doing so can get soldiers killed. You will just have to trust that I will tell you what I can, when I can.
My husband serves our country out of a genuine desire to support and defend the Constitution and the people of the United States. These are contentious, uncertain times. Animosity and strife are run amok. This blog is not here for YOU to vent to me about topics such as your love or hate for my husband's Commander-in-Chief, this country, this war, US domestic or foreign policy, or pretty much anything else about which one could possibly mount any soapbox. If I comment on such matters from time to time...well, it's my blog and I'll opine if I want to. If you wish to do the same, start your own blog.
Finally...THIS: Any opinions expressed herein are the sole opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any US government entity, including but not limited to, the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.
******
Ok...now that that is out of the way...stay tuned. Next post will be Tom's mailing address for the deployment.
Thanks for stopping by!
:0)
DISCLAIMER (for anyone who needs it...I don't know who you are, but you probably do. If the shoe fits, wear it. If not, disregard and move on.):
I am currently residing on a military installation with my sons, which is to say that I am not in very close proximity to any of my biological, immediate or extended family members. I am currently homeschooling both boys. I am co-leading Tom Sawyer's battery's FRG (Family Readiness Group). I am volunteering regularly in the Emergency Room here on post to keep current my nursing skills and knowledge. In short, I am a busy lady. I am busy by design, so I am not sharing this to seek sympathy. I just want anyone who may read this to know that a lot of what you will read on here will be "quick and dirty" in the interest of time management, or because I am possibly having a rough day, or both. If I seem short, crass, or inappropriate...oh well. If I make spelling or grammar errors...oh well. If you can't handle it...oh well. I don't want to hear it. Just move on.
There are things that I will not be able to share with you due to Operational Security (OPSEC), so please don't ever think that I am keeping you out of the loop to be mean or whatever. Keep this in mind especially when the time comes for Tom Sawyer to come home. I cannot post things like troop movement dates, because doing so can get soldiers killed. You will just have to trust that I will tell you what I can, when I can.
My husband serves our country out of a genuine desire to support and defend the Constitution and the people of the United States. These are contentious, uncertain times. Animosity and strife are run amok. This blog is not here for YOU to vent to me about topics such as your love or hate for my husband's Commander-in-Chief, this country, this war, US domestic or foreign policy, or pretty much anything else about which one could possibly mount any soapbox. If I comment on such matters from time to time...well, it's my blog and I'll opine if I want to. If you wish to do the same, start your own blog.
Finally...THIS: Any opinions expressed herein are the sole opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any US government entity, including but not limited to, the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.
******
Ok...now that that is out of the way...stay tuned. Next post will be Tom's mailing address for the deployment.
Thanks for stopping by!
:0)
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