ATTN: Jack Taylor's Birthday

[Ryan]

Hello everyone,

As you all know, Jack Taylor (Discus_KC here at the board) was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been in touch through e-mail and is doing well. However, he said that getting mail would be "a true blessing."

Jack's sister e-mailed a few people from his address book and asked us to send him a birthday greeting for his 40th birthday. Here is her e-mail:

Hi, this is Jack's sister Shelly. I took all of your email addresses from Jack's last email to all of us and was hoping each one of us could send Jack a 40th Birthday Card so he knows that we are all thinking of him on his special day.

His birthday is May 31st so we have time. I believe it will
take approximately 2 weeks for him to get his mail or a package. Even if he gets them early it surely doesn't matter, just the thought will mean alot to him and keep his morale up.

I think it'd be a great idea to have everyone send Jack a letter or a birthday card just to say hello and wish him well. I'm sure it will make him feel better and let him know that he's in our thoughts and prayers. Jack may be deployed for a while, so this may help pass the time.

You can send letters and cards to:

Msgt Jack Taylor
506 AEG / EAMXS USAF A-10s
APO, AE 09347

Also, if you would like to send a message to Jack or some of the other troops to let them know that we're proud of them and anxious to see them return home safely, you can post it here and I'll print this whole thread out and mail it to Jack along with some of the recent Simply threads that he's missed out on.

Thanks to everyone in advance for their participation! Let's help make Jack's 40th birthday a special one, even if he's not home!

Ryan

[April]

Thanks for posting this Ryan. He also would love to get even pics or newsclippings of interest even. to keep current...or if you can.even a treat or something the men could use or share. etc. their all very anxious for news or letters of good wishes etc.
any little thing that we take for granted im sure will boost their morale or spirits. and to let them know we appreciate them.

[April]

[glow=red,2,300]HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!!!!!! [/glow]
A care package will be on its way. Just gotta collect some stuff.
Id send a birthday cake.but possible it could come presquashed.
Maybe one of Carys McGyver boxes will get it there safely?

For those who want to send Jack something (a package) and have never sent anything via an APO address before it is quite simple.....Package up what ever you want to send but do not seal the box, depending on your post office they may or may not want to inspect the items before they send it off.
For us in the USA you will have to fill out a U S Customs form listing everything in detail that you are sending along with a value of each item....Then you can choose how you want the package sent from your post office to New York where all APO mail is sent before being shipped overseas, at least for people sending mail from the East coast...... That is all there is to it...I sent off a box last week that had quite a few items in it and the postage was only $7.00.....That is such a small price to pay to help improve the morale of everyone over there..................


Randy

for those that would like to send something and have not been writing to Jack, here is the latest e-mail I recieved from him...This may help you when picking out items to send


Randy

Hello from Tallil,

In a earlier E-mail, I had talked about this airbase being my operating location for the duration. Boy, I was wrong !!!!! I can't give details or timeframe but I will be moving forward again. So I will have to pack all my bags again and head out. Just when things had settled down and conditions were beginning to be bearable, we are off again. The unsanitary conditions are bad and a percentage of the group is ill. Stomach cramps, vomiting, and diahrea are the norm. I was fine until earlier today. Now I am suffering my case of the crud. We have been informed it is the Norwalk virus. That is the same virus that the cruise ships had the problem with. It seems with using baby wipes all the time, you still can't get clean enough. Sorry for the graphics but that is reality. The military is working very diligently to improve conditions but progress is slow. Most large cargo airplanes can't land at this airfield so things are convoyed up on trucks. And when you figure we have close to 10,000 total military personnel here, that computes to one heck of a lot of trucks. From here to Kuwait, all you see are military vehicles or private semis. Tallil is bringing in almost 90% of the humanitarian aid supplies. The containers are starting to arrive from the ships. Logistics is crazy, with this city getting so much of the supplies and another getting so much. I do have a great respect for those coordinating the relief efforts. The local people are very appreciative of our mission !!!!!!!!! It is the press that skews the facts. They preview the Pro Saddam protestors which are a small group and make the American public believe that is how “all” the people here feel. The smart ones see through the BS and the naпve ones believe.

Temperatures are on the rise with highs in the 100's and lows in the 70's. The wind is kicking up and sandstorms are very frequent. We had a nice rain today followed by a super bad dust storm. Go figure.

I do not know when we will have E-mail again but still continue to write. Once I get settled and the information is declassified, I can tell you where I am at. It has been 3 weeks and still no mail. E-mail has been a lifesaver for me. Communication via the E-mail has helped us keep in touch with family and friends. Letters will be greatly appreciated by anyone.

Many have asked about when I get to come home. I wish I could give a definite answer, but we are not sure. Just don't expect me back in the next 30 or 60 days. If I was a betting man, I wouldn't bet. All you do is get people excited by telling them one thing only to turn around and have to change the facts. I have had my fill of that already. I will be home !!!!!!!!! That is 100% factual

The support from everyone has been overwhelming and I want you to know we do so much appreciate it. Just a simple card telling us we are being thought about and prayed for is so encouraging. We knew that all along we would be supported but it sure brightens our faces.

I have rambled on long enough. I am not sure when the next update will be. I have great faith in the communication system so let's hope I have it in a few days.

Some have expressed wishes about sending care packages. I feel a bit ackward asking for things from strangers. But if this is a way for some to help support us even more, I don't have a problem with it. I can and do have people to share it with. Baby wipes, hand sanitizer, any type of beef jerky, a newspaper, anything that we can't get here. That almost leaves it wide open. There is no obligation and I didn't even want to write this down, but I made a promise that I would since requests have been made.

I will include my address and e-mail if someone would like to write.

Take care and God Bless. Each day I am here means 1 day I am closer to getting home. I wouldn't change any of this experience I have endured. This is called Operation Iraqi Freedom but it is perserving our freedom as well.

Jack

E-mail Jacktaylor@gimail.af.mil

Address

Msgt Jack Taylor
506 AEG / EAMXS USAF A-10s
APO, AE 09347

All mail will be forwarded.

I think that letter say's it all.......So please take some time out of your busy day and and send him an e-mail or better yet pick up a few items and send them Jack's way.................Randy

[April]

hmmmmm. wonder how it will work out sending things from canada? think it will have to go to the place in new york to ship out?

[boobar]

hello all

after reading Ryan's & Randy's posts i have decided to speak with the israeli fish forum admin to get a formal message for Jack Taylor and his fellow friands the american soldiers in iraq. i sent a copy of that letter to jack's e-mail.

This is a formal letter written on behalf of the ffil.org:


Dear Msgt Jack Taylor,

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you and your country for the good service you have done to the world in Iraq. I feel great sympathy and appreciation to the hard and important work that you guys are doing there, making our world a better place.

It is funny how ‘fish addicts’ like us, regardless of race, gender or faith, love to sit back and relax staring at our ‘aquarium harmony’ and feel sympathy for each other.

All our forum members in Israel have served in the Israeli military (and still do reserve duty) so they have experienced the things that you described in your post.
Here in Israel, we were expecting non-conventional missile attacks so we have some forum threads (in Hebrew only, sorry) on “how to handle biological pollution from biological weapons in the aquarium”

Although the war in Iraq has raised conflicting opinions around the globe, the sheer fact that some biological and chemical weapons were aimed against our aquariums are enough to the members of this forum to completely justify your actions in Iraq...

I would like to salute you my friend,

Best regards and Godspeed

Staff sgt
Kfir Alfandari
The Israeli Fish Forum administration

http://www.ffil.org



Happy Birthday jack
oren.

[dm]

Have a Happy Birthday Jack!
Stay safe and come home soon.

[brewmaster15]

Happy Birthday Bro!

Thinking about you alot these days My friend! Hopefully snail mail gets to you guys soon! Looking forward to the day you are back with us!

-al

[zoids]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!!!!

Hope you be back soon!!!

Take care and be good

Roy

[Don_Lee]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK! We are thinking of you, and miss you.

AMERICAN TROOPS!-WE LOVE YOU! THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING OUR GREAT COUNTRY! YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS EVERY DAY-YOUR EFFORTS ARE SOOO APPRECIATED!

Don Lee ;D

[sgt95b]

This was a great idea. I myself am a Sgt. in the North Carolina Army National Guard and have been in his shoes. A million miles from home on deployment and celebrating a birthday. This should really help to boost moral even in the less than comfortable conditions. I currently have a brother, Navy P.O. Christopher Crabtree and two close friends, Army Sgt. William Lemke and SFC Tony Smith there now. Some times I kinda feel guilty for not being there but you can't march without the order.
I would like to ask that every one pray for those who are there,those who are awaiting orders and most of all those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for there various countries.

Thanks to all that have served.

Sgt William C Crabtree
N.C.A.N.G.

[Tyler]

Jack,
We miss you so much, and you have been in my thoughts a lot lately. I appreciate all that you, and every one of our troops have done for this country. Hope it settles down a little for you, and that you and everyone stays healthy. Stay in contact, we will be here for support as much as possible!
And a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!

[Ardan]

Happy Birthday Jack!
Make the best of it, pass the time, and GET HOME! ;D