A Letter From Our Troops

HALLELUJAH!
THE VERY ARMY UNIT IN WHICH MY PEN PAL IN IRAQ SERVES, (the 4th Infantry Division) CAPTURED SADDAM HUSSEIN TODAY...AND THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE. WAY TO GO, ARMY...AND HOORAY TO ALL OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN UNIFORM. HERE'S THE LATEST FROM CAPT. CHAVEZ. NOTICE THE DAY OF THE POST.
P2

Subject: Greetings from CPT Chavez in Iraq
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 10:12:51 -0700

Dear Mr. Petersen (Paul)

I hope that you do not mind me e-mailing you at your personal address. Our mail is so slow and I didn't want to wait til my letter reached you to thank you. I can't express my amazement and gratitude for what you have done.

I should explain by saying that the response I have received from celebrities has been phenomenal! I have received close to 450 responses, and it never fails to amaze me when I get such a response from someone like you. Your letter, photos, watch, and putting my letter on your website is truly heartwarming. That really meant a lot to the soldiers and of course to me.

You must be very proud of all your children and of the time your son has served with the Navy. I never realized how many celebrities have ties to the military until I received letters after letters telling me about it. I firmly believe that entertainers are behind the troops and that was all I was trying to get the soldiers here to realize. And trust me, they all do!

A good number of the entertainers I wrote to became famous in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. The Donna Reed Show, Leave it to Beaver, and the Andy Griffith Show still remain among my favorite shows of all time. Which reminds me, another show I love dearly is Little House on the Prairie. Interestingly enough I did write to Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxlietner. Unfortunately, the addresses are not always good ones. So I don't get a response back. But if you do see her, tell her thank you and let her know that I have gotten responses back from Richard Bull, Karen Grassle, Kevin Hagen and Katherine MacGregor. So hers would definitely complete the set.

Thanks again for all of your support! I have to go to Samarra for a couple of weeks to cover the activities there. It has become somewhat of a hotzone. I will definitely send you a thank you note in the mail.

With Warm Regards,
Sandra Chavez
CPT, Public Affairs Officer
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division