Random Acts in Action
Operation Yellow Ribbon Letters

08 Jun 03 Dear Firefighters of Oakland CA: Thank you for the care package that your organization sent to us through the Random Acts of Kindness program.  Your kind donations were sent to, of all places, a postal unit in Iraq.  Camp Bucca, in southern Iraq was named on behalf of Thomas Bucca, a firefighter from New York who lost his life at the World Trade Center on the horrible day of September 11th, 2001.  Many of the camps in Iraq, as well as Kuwait, have been named after places and people (heroes) that were linked to September 11th. To me, I honor the men and women who serve our towns and cities as firefighters.  These brave people are truly “heroes” that take all sacrifices to serve and protect every citizen.  It is an honor for me to serve the nation at Camp Bucca. The unit I serve with happens to be from Southern California, and most of our troops are Oakland Raiders fans.  Even though the team went packing along with the Rams the same year, it is hard not to like the Silver and Black.  We’re still stunned that the Anaheim Angels won the World Series last year and that the Mighty Ducks looks to follow them with the Stanley Cup. Again, thank you from the 806th AG Company.  This thoughtful gift is really appreciated. Go Raiders 2003 SSG Kevin Schumaker June 1, 2003 Dear Friends of the Oakland Firefighters, We can’t thank you enough for all the packages and supplies you sent to us.  They were much needed and greatly appreciated by all the marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Reading the letter that you enclosed, I’m not sure if you knew where all the packages were sent, so I’ll try to explain.  The 26th MEU is a Marine readiness force that is deployed for 6-8 months to the Med and the Gulf.  It is composed of about 2000 marines and sailors.  The marines range from all ages, and ranks, and all jobs from infantry, recon, cooks, supply, intelligence, etc… We are aboard The U.S.S. Iwo Jima, a ship one size smaller than an aircraft carrier.  We do have fighter jets and attack helicopters on the flight deck however.  The 26th MEU was engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom for about 2 weeks in April.  We were in Mosul, in Northern Iraq.  So far, we have hit countries such as Malta, Crete, Iraq, and, most recently, we did an exercise in Albania.  There is a website that tells a little more about us, where we are, and what we are doing.  I think it is www.26meu.com. Now that you know a little bit about us, please tell us some things about you, as we are all anxious to know.  We have a lot of marines on board who are interested in becoming firefighters once their tour of duty is over.  Again, we cannot thank you all enough for your generosity and thoughtfulness.  We hope all is well, and we also want to thank you for the jobs that you do.  Firefighters and soldiers, although the job is different, have a lot in common.  And, we thank you for your dedication, commitment, and sacrifice, day in and day out, that all of you make.  Take care and thank you. Semper Fidelis Cpl. Jon Dansicker.USMC June 3, 2003 Dear Oakland Firefighters, I want to commend your organization for sending the boxes full of goodies to myself as well as my troops.  I am a staff sergeant in the US Army Infantry stationed in Korea about 15 km from the DMZ.  I am in charge of Force Protection and Security of Camp Hovey which is in the Republic of Korea.  I have about 20 soldiers that I am in charge of and 40 Korean soldiers also.  I am from Hawaii.  I was raised in the Big Island in a city called Hilo.  I joined the Army because college was just too easy, and I wanted to defend this beautiful country of ours.  Many of us take our freedom for granted, but I know being here in Korea that everyday I could be attacked and killed for that precious thing we call freedom.  I will correspond with your group and also send pictures of my troops, for they loved all the candy as well as the letters.  My address is on this envelope, so I will personally write to you and say thanks again for making me feel like it is worth doing my job, feeling appreciated for walking the fence at 0200 in the morning.  I am so proud I am an American fighting for our country, and, if I may die, it was all worth it, for if I do not step up, who will? Thank you again, and I will wait patiently for more letters. Thanks and God Bless, “Second to none” Staff Sergeant Nofo, J. 2 June 2003 Oakland Firefighters- On behalf of the Marines of 2nd Batallion, 5th Marine Regiment, I would like to thank you for your thoughts and cares.  I am a 0331 machine gunner.  I have been in the Marines for nearly two years.  I feel we have been through so many ups and downs out here, but it is truly your prayers and thoughts that have kept us safe.  We all cannot wait to come home.  Hopefully, by the end of this month!  We have been here for six months.  It is regularly 119°.  Well, it could be hotter.  That’s how far as our thermometer goes!  We are equally as proud of our heroes back home, as you are of us!  Keep up the good work and hope to see you home soon!  Again, thank you. Always, LCPL  Sean Crozier , USMC June 7, 2003 Dear Members of Oakland Fire Department, I personally want to “Thank You” for the care packages you guys sent to me and my troops here in Iraq.  My name is Lon Chhau.  My ethnicity is Cambodian.  I just turned 21 yesterday on June 06…Yeah, it does freakin’ suck to spend it here in this country.  Please excuse my figure of speech.  So, how’s everyone doing today?  God Bless all of you and your family for your thoughts and support for us troops. Golf Company 2/5 has been in this country since early February of 2003.  All of us marines here are just waiting for that good word from Higher to pack our gear and go home.  I am a Corporal in the U.S. Marines.  My job is a Team Leader for the Machine Gun Line in support of Golf Co. 2/5 Infantry Line.  During this Iraqi Freedom war, we’ve encountered numerous firefights from the enemy.  We had four marines wounded in action, and we had one marine severely down at the time.  His name was Gardener.  He’s now recovering from his would where he was shot on the side of the stomach.  We haven’t heard from him since then, but he’ll be okay. Oh yeah, by the way, I’m from Modesto, CA.  I grew up and lived there until the day I enlisted myself in the Marines in July 2000.  I have another year in the service.  When my time is done, I want to stay in Central California and become a Highway Patrolman around our area.  Well, once again, thank all of you guys for the goodies.  Know that you’ve made a lot of us troops here very happy for what you’ve all done to help.  “Thank you all”.  You’re very good people.  God Bless you all. Your friend, Lon Chhau June 8, 2003 To the Members of the Oakland Fire Department, Hello to all of you.  I must say it was a pleasure to receive a package from you.  It really means a whole lot to me.  I wanted to say thank you very much.  It was truly a wonderful thing you did and do everyday.  I have a great deal of respect for all of you.  THANK YOU!!! OK, you said in your letter you wanted to know about me.  Well, my name is Marc Miller.  I am 21 years old.  My family (mom, dad, brothers and sisters) live in Santa Clarita, CA just 8 hours south of you, near Magic Mountain.  I am an infantryman in Golf Company, 2nd Batallion, 5th Marines, the most decorated unit in the Marine Corps.  We arrived in Kuwait on a stormy day, February 2nd.  We sat around for 43 days just waiting.  Then on March 17th we got called, and on March 19th crossed into Iraq.  Our unit crossed 8 hours before the main assault and got into a hell of a fight.  But, when it was over, there were no friendly casualties and we had opened a lane for the rest of the marines to pull through safely throughout the war.  2/5 was commended on its various battle movements and achievements.  We are currently in a small town called As Samanceh, in Southern Iraq.  We are running humanitarian and retrograde operations.  We are training the police, fixing utilities, protecting the hospitals and banks, and just providing overall assistance.  The people here are very grateful for what we do.  They always wave to us, ask us questions and say Thank You.  It is a very rewarding feeling knowing that all the hardships we endured here have had such a lasting effect on these people. Well, I’ve got to close now.  But, on my behalf and on the behalf of everyone out here, THANK YOU!!! Sincerely and forever you friend, Marc Miller United States Marine Corps God Bless and Semper Fidelis “Blessed are the peace makers for they are the Sons of God” – (Matthew 5:9) Monday the 9th of June 2003 Greetings from Iraq, I came across a letter from a boy named Brandon Marchione.  He attends Schroder Elementary School.  He stated that his teacher has a son in the Marine Corps 2/43 Air Defense DBTRY, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd Infantry Div.  I would like to express how much we soldiers appreciated your care packages, letters, prayers and support of our mission to improve this world!  God Bless You All.  May Brandon grow up to become an Air Force soldier like he plans!  Be Free, Be Brave on the Rocks! P.S.  Thank you members of the Oakland Fire Department.  Keep up the great work and we will likewise! Sincerely, Sgt. Laura Micks Monday, June 9, 2003 Dear Oakland Firefighters, I would like to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for what you are doing for the soldiers.  Although the majority of us have been receiving a vast amount of support from our friends and family, it is nice to know that much of the country is uniting behind our efforts here.  My name is Court Butler and I am a specialist in the Army Reserves.  Currently, my unit is at Camp Bucca, an EPW (enemy prisoner of war) camp near the port city of Umm Quasr.  My unit is out of Riverside, California, and we are tasked with getting mail to the trigger-pullers and all of the other soldiers as quickly as possible.  Contrary to what you might be seeing and reading about back home, our troops are still getting shot at and attacked on a daily basis, even in the more pacified region of southern Iraq.  I’m telling you this to further highlight how much encouragement and motivation these care packages offer the soldiers.  If nothing else, they remind us of the good old USA.  Thanks again. Sincerely, SPC Butler  P.S.  I’m a huge Raiders fan.  Thanks for the stickers. Dear Oakland Fire Department, Hi.  My name is SPC Celestino Johnson, age 20.  I’m writing to say thanks for all the support and stuff.  We are not heroes.  We just do what we have to to keep our homes safe.  It’s like your quote “Creating a positive difference in the lives of individuals through Random Acts of Kindness”.  I appreciate all the hard work you guys do.  Thanks for the pin.  I will wear it on my uniform as a tribute to Thomas Bucca the reason we named our camp, Camp Bucca. To tell a little about myself, I’m 20 years old and I live in Anaheim, CA.  I was attending Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa.  I was studying to become an elementary teacher.  I was in my 2nd year.  I am the oldest of six.  My little brothers and sisters look up to me, and all I want to do is return home safe for my family.  Well, thanks again.  Oh yeah, GO RAIDERS.  I am a big Oakland Fan.  Viva Los Raiders. Sincerely, SPC Celestine Johnson June 5, 2003 Hey Guys and Gals of the Oakland Firefighters- First off, I would like to thank you for all the packages you all sent.  The things inside each box were a great help to us over here in Iraq.  Everyone here really appreciates your support. Well, as you all know, the war has come to an end, and, for the most part, everything is under control with the Marines holding things down.  We’ve been in Iraq since the 29th of March, and I’m not exactly sure when we’ll be going back to the States.  The rumors of our return range from the end of June to as far away as September.  Whatever the truth is, I know that someday we will be on a flight home, and that will be a damn fine day – to see Americans just like us and to enjoy the freedoms that we’re over here fighting for. Just in case you’re wondering, the days and nights are hot, the bugs are relentless, and the chow isn’t exactly home cooking.  We try to stay from going crazy by reading month-old magazines and writing home to our families.  The #1 activity here is playing volleyball on our homemade volleyball court that we built with some 2 x 4’s and cammy-netting.  The tournaments go on whenever we get a chance to play and last for hours. Well, thanks again for writing.  Take it easy, and be careful putting out all those fires. Sincerely, Mike Terry CPL/USMC June 5, 2003 Oakland Firefighters, We just received one of your packages, and I wanted to write and express the thanks from myself and my fellow Marines.  My name is Rex McIntosh, I am a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.  I am the 1st platoon commander for India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.  We are currently keeping the peace in the town of Diwaniye, to the south east of Baghdad.  We’re not sure how much longer we’ll be in Iraq, probably another couple of months.  It’s an interesting country, nice and hot, and it’s always exciting to interact with another culture. Thank you again for all of the packages your group has been sending.  It’s always a huge morale booster to receive mail, and it’s especially encouraging to receive packages from strangers who are willing to help us out.  All of you firefighters know the meaning of sacrifice and dedication to duty, and your gifts help to reinforce the bonds between our fellow services.  Our unit is stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, so it’s also nice to get a gift from fellow Californians.  Thanks again, take care and God Bless. Very Respectfully, 2nd Lt. Rex McIntosh, USMC June 8, 2003 Dear Oakland Firefighters, I just wanted to start out by saying thanks for the care package.  It went to good use.  Myself and my fellow Marines appreciate all ya’ll have done, as citizens and Firefighters. My name is Jeff, or what they call me in the Marine Corps, Sgt. Duncan J.C.  I joined the Marine Corps back in June of 1993, and I have enjoyed everyday that I have been in the Corps.  Currently, I’m aboard the USS IWO JIMA.  It’s one of the ships that’s attached to the 26 MEU “Marine Expeditionary Unit”, the unit I’m with.  We left Camp Lejeune, NC back in March on a regular schedule deployment as Marines do.  But, instead of a regular six-month float, they said that we would be out for a minimum of eight months.  No big deal.  That’s what being a Marine is all about. When we left the coast of North Carolina I thought I would find myself in the War with Iraq.  But, we are on a ship, and it would take us about 16 days to get to Iraq.  By the time we got half-way there, a lot of troops had already been flown into Iraq.  The government did not need us there, so we sat off the coast of Turkey during the War.  Some of us got off, but only a handful.  We were in Iraq for about 21 days before they pulled us out.  From there we went to Malta for a liberty port.  We just recently passed through the Suez Canal.  That led to the Red Sea.  From there, who knows?  All I can do is stand by for our next mission. That’s enough about my military side.  I live in Hubert, NC where I’m a full-time Marine.  But, in my spare time I’m a Volunteer Firefighter.  I started fire fighting about two years ago.  It only took one fire call and I was hooked.  The fire station that I work for is the HVFD “Hubert Volunteer Fire Department”.  For a small town outside of a military base we stay busy.  We have on average about 280 to 300 calls a year.  Not bad for a bunch of volunteers.  We are known as Onslows Counties Finest.  I have a lovely wife and two kids, one boy and one girl. I hope I didn’t bore ya’ll too much with this letter.  You probably are wondering why there is a fire patch with this letter.  Well, at Hubert we have a board that we put patches on that the members get from places around the world.  The board is full of fire departments and rescue squads around the nation and world.  During the float, so far I have collected five patches.  So, if it is no trouble, I would like to have one of ya’ll’s patches to add to the collection, and your local rescue squad also.  We started the board shortly after 911 happened, to honor fellow firefighters nation wide. Sincerely, Sgt. Duncan, J.C. (sent via E-Mail) June 28, 2003 To the Oakland Firefighters, This is CPL Algarin-Mendoza with Fox Co. on the 15th MEU returning from Iraq.  I received all the packages that were sent.  You can’t imagine how much we appreciate your support.  Those were the best care packages we received.  You guys really know what we like.  I had a bunch of Marines coming up to me to take two because you guys really hooked up.  We all thank God we made it through Operation Iraqi Freedom and to have people like yourself supporting us in everything we do.  We had a job to do out there, and now it’s been done, and it’s our time to go home.  When we have a chance, me and a couple of friends will go visit you guys in Oakland.  I really appreciate everything, for taking time out our your schedules and thinking about us.  You should be receiving a call and some e-mails soon.  We’re on our way to Hawaii, so we’ll be home soon.  Thank you again to all the families for your support and to all the firefighters. OOORRRAAAHHH……..Semper Fidelis. CPL Algarin-Mendoza W., USMC (sent via E-Mail) June 20, 2003 Hello, and thank you for the package.  My name is Sgt. Shawn Clark.  I have been in the Marine Corps for 9 ½ years.  I am currently stationed in Oceanside.  I am currently with the 15th MEU, MSSG-15 on the USS DULUTH.  We were out in Iraq for almost 3 months during the war.  These packages that are sent like this one are very important to a lot of Marines.  Myself and the rest of the Marines thank you for sending out care packages like this one that you sent out to me.  They are all very useful in many ways.  A lot of single Marines don’t get that many packages and these always put a smile on their faces. Sgt. Clark SL