Request from a soldier...

A former student of mine, James Williford, recently sent me (and several others) this email. I thought I would share it...

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hey all, I am deploying yet again.... Well, here's my address. Will be RIP'ing out with 4/101 sometime next month. Won't be at Salerno, but all of our mail will be routed through there. Will be at a COP or JSS somewhere in Khost province. Back to my old stomping grounds.

James R Williford
A Co 425th BSTB
FOB Salerno
APO AE 09314

Hey all, I know i don't really keep in touch with many of you. Some of you might care less I am deploying. But hell, support a soldier. Some of my men don't really have much for family or extended network of friends. Things that are good are non-perishable snacks (crackers and jerky are great, as is easy cheese in a can), Smokes or dip (hey you can hate it and choose not to support it, but if you wanna really perk up soldiers, send tobacco), padded insoles (preferably any size fits all. Foot movements in excess of 15 miles and over 10,000 ft elevation change during movement are not uncommon), and baby wipes (cuz water isn't always a basic thing while deployed). If you don't care, delete this. If you wanna help out, just send stuff. Once, once a month, once a week, whatever. Any helps out and it's nice to get mail. If you want the specific name of a soldier who might not get stuff from family, lemme know, otherwise i will distribute to those not getting anything by who's just not getting shit. Trust me as a veteran of two deployments and a recipient of the purple heart, when you are going out day after day and risking your ass and getting told it's for the US's safety, it's nice to know that it's not all smoke and people, not just churches and schools that do it cuz it's prolly a tax break, actually care that young men and women are downrange enduring often miserable conditions to come home and see people protesting the place they just lost some dear friends.

-Tango Mike
SGT Williford, James R
"Sapper 2"
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