September 21, 2007

Release Number : 0709-15 from Fort Drum Daily News

By 2nd Lt. Liz Lopez, 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI)

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — In today's technologically advanced society, the thousands of miles creating a gap between Soldiers in Iraq and their loved ones at home can be easily and immediately bridged via telephone or Internet.

Nevertheless, there are few things these men and women look forward to more than mail call.

In that moment, the divide separating them from home is even narrower as the Soldiers receive letters and packages thoughtfully packed especially for them. It is a tangible representation of support.

Since the war began, this support has come just as frequently from strangers as loved ones.

Soldiers from 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), out of Fort Drum, N.Y., have been the recipients of packages from Americans like Mike Jones and employees of Regent Communications in Utica, N.Y.

The radio station there has "adopted" the battalion throughout the duration of their deployment, and has since been sending them care packages at regular intervals.

"The Adopt-a-Platoon program has been such an incredible morale boost for all Soldiers in my battalion and throughout the brigade," said Maj. Tony Haycock, 210th BSB executive officer. "Col (Ret.) Mike Plummer introduced me to Mike Jones back at Fort Drum before we deployed to Iraq and we have a great dialogue and relationship ever since."

When the battalion receives a new set of packages, representatives from each of its companies gather to sort through the boxes jammed with snacks, toiletries and comfort items.

It is quite an event, with stacks of boxes teetering as high as Soldiers' heads. There is quite a bit of work to do, but no one is without a smile and a positive attitude.

As the boxes are opened, goodies within are separated based on category: food, hygiene items and comfort items. From there they are divided, repackaged and distributed to the companies within the battalion or sent forward to Soldiers in the field.

The items in the boxes may not be anything extraordinary — a box of cookies, a bottle of shampoo or a used magazine — but to the men and women serving in Iraq it is a bit of home.

"I imagine that Mike Jones and the generous folks back in Utica have sent well over 1,000 packages to us throughout the past months," Haycock said. "The Adopt-a-Platoon is definitely a success story of Fort Drum and the wonderful north-country communities of northern New York. They will never know how much they have contributed to the morale and mission accomplishment of every Commando in Iraq."