[NPInfo] RE: A request from a fellow NP in Iraq

[Mike & Vicki Rowlands]

I received this request from Steve DePorter who is a member of our local
PA/NP group in the Quad Cities, Illinois/Iowa area.  He is on, I believe,
his third tour of duty in Iraq.  He had actually retired from the military
but felt compelled to return to help his fellow soldiers and volunteered to
go again. He sent this request out to our listserve and I thought maybe some
of you may also want to donate whatever.  He will be very surprised if he
hears from any of you.
Vicki Rowlands

Hello everyone, this is a note to make a request for school supplies, candy,
little toys, crocs, power bars, women's toiletries, art supplies, clothes
for kids or women, etc (use your imagination, just no Christian articles as
U.S. military policy prevents any proselytizing here). Many of the
detainee's here have family members visiting them. These family members
travel long and often perilous miles to see their husbands/dads/sons.
Regardless of what you think of the war or our policies or the enemy, (and
believe you me, I have a LOT of mixed feelings about this and did NOT arrive
at this request easily) the way to positively influence this next generation
of Iraqi's is through Christian compassion and American largesse. Yes, I
still want to kill the bad guys, but it would also be smart to turn off the
tap of the system that is providing the bad guys. We, the troops, are
achieving fantastic results defeating the enemy and providing security and
giving guidance to a backward country on how to get along with your
neighbor, no matter what their grandpa did to your uncle 20 years or 200
years ago. If you want the troops to come home from here and stay home, then
help in a small way that could have strategic results that benefit us and
the common folks here in Iraq. I've been nearly overwhelmed by the looks of
joy on the kids faces, the smiles from the moms and wives and parents, the
thanks that are heard from the detainee's later in the week for the
generosity and compassion and kindness shown by us, the troops, on
visitation days. So no matter what your contribution and no matter your
views on the war, help out at a very basic Christian level and send
whatever, whenever you can to my address below and be Jesus to folks on this
side of the world. God Bless!

MAJ Steve DePorter
205th ASMC
FOB Bucca
APO AE 09375