I would like to take this time to again thank you all for everything you have done for Tango Battery and all service men and women that are serving in Iraq. It warms my heart to know that there are people like yourselves who take time out of your busy day to send us letters and packages from home. I wish I could shake each and every one of your hand but shortly we will be rotating back to the states. I would like to ask for you all to please send to other units who are still going to be here and make their deployment a little happier. I would also like to ask that you support our replacement unit as well as you
did us. I will send out an email in the future with their address. Thank you all and God Bless.



Semper Fi,
1stSgt Russell A. Strack
Tango Battery 5/10
Iraq 

Dear Mrs. Smith,

I would like to thank you and the rest of Tennessee Marine Family for
the care packages you sent the Battery and I. My mother, LeAnne,
speaks very highly of ya'll and I'm sure her heart as well as all of
ours go out to you.

Mail is pretty much the only thing a Marine cares about when he's
gone and it warms our hearts to know ya'll care. The batteries ya'll
sent are especially appreciated as we need them to run NVG's, laser
sights and flashlights. They are already being put to good use. The
hygiene gear and treats are great, too.

And, of course, the letters and cards. I would love to write everyone
a thank you letter, but the only return address I had was yours.
Especially the kids, lots of them wanted a letter back.

We are all doing well, and doing a great job out here. There is a lot
of progress being made out here that folks back home don't know about.

Sincerely,

Andrew Thomas

 

The Tango Battery “Toughguys” continue to perform with courage, endurance, and unselfishness.  The Marines remain vigilant providing artillery fires and mounted security escorts in support of Regimental Combat Team 6. 

“Arty” are the “go to” guys when the Regiment has a short fuse requirement for security escort.  We recently provided security for the RCT-6 Executive Officer’s visit to an Iraqi village.  For many of the Marines it was their first opportunity to interact with the populace.  The Marines made quick friends with the children.  The Iraqi’s were friendly and supportive; we were met with smiles and handshakes.  It was obvious that we were welcome guests in their village. 

At the battery position, the gunline runs like a well oiled machine.  The Marines continue to improve on the lay time of the howitzers.  They move with speed and precision every time the call “Fire Mission” comes from the Fire Direction Center (FDC).  In the middle of the night the howitzers boom and the “tin cans” shake as the battery provides fires in support of the RCT.

The EOD Security Team continues to display their professionalism and flexibility on every mission.  They provide security escort for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.  They contribute to the clearing of Improvised Explosive Devices and weapons caches in our area of operations, helping to keep the roadways safe for travel.

Again, thank you to the “Toughguy” families and friends for the outstanding support.  A special thanks to Cape Cod Cares for the Troops.  Dylan DeSilva, a 14 year old from Brewster Massachusetts, with the help of his teen age brother and sister started a non profit organization to provide care packages for troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Their patriotism is beyond words. 

 

 

We received 92 boxes as to date. I gave every Tennessee Marine in my unit a book as well Tennessee Marines in two other units. I also broke down the remaining boxes and sent them out to our platoons who are on outlining camps and do not have much there. I even shared some stuff with the Army unit that is attached to us. They are a great bunch of soldiers. The news papers were a hit. I gave a few copies to the Chaplin so he could post them in the Annex for other service members aboard Camp Fallujah to read. Please thank everyone involved for their wonderful gesture of support. Its people like yourself who really remind us what we are truly over here for. You and those involved in your group are truly "Great Americans". God Bless to you all. Please keep in touch. We now consider you part of the Tango "Tough Guy" family.

Tennessee Marine Family feels very strongly that we should show our support for ALL deployed troops, no matter what service branch they are a part of.  We are proud and honored to be able to hold several Package Drives throughout the course of the year to show our support.  We are hoping to have our fifth drive in the next few months. We will post a list of items needed, some requested by the troops themselves, and will advise everyone when we will be collecting the items. We send non-perishable food items as well as personally requested items. Many school aged children have drawn pictures and written letters that the troops hold very dear. We will post specific information as soon as a date is determined and we welcome your support. We always need many hands to accomplish such a huge task, but if you cannot help us at the Drive we will welcome your contributions of donated items and/or postage for the mailing of the hundreds of boxes we send out on that one day. Postage is our largest expenditure, as you can imagine.

 

We look forward to meeting you at our next Package Drive and we thank you in advance for your support.

 

Arlene Smith

Package Drive Chairman