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Newest Mail:
Mom,
Just a short note to let you know what the MWDs do for us over here and
how important they are to our mission. Attached are two pictures that show
an explosives find for Zzar and his handler. They were awarded the "Iron
Hero" award in our division for this find. The pasted notation below is the
story that goes along with what they did.
Name: SSG Kevin Dee / SSD ZZarr
Unit: 1st AD PMO (K-9)
Hometown: Williamsburg, VA
Date of event: 6 March 2008 / 1200
SSG Dee and MWD Zzarr were performing combat missions with C Co 1/8 IN DIV.
While searching an industrial complex and surrounding areas for explosives (IEDs)
Zzarr showed a strong change of behavior throughout the building. Zzarr
showed change near a 50 gallon drum at which time EOD moved it to expose a
hole in the floor. Further investigation revealed over 1,200 lbs of
explosives were in this hole.
Items found:
20 bags Potassium Nitrate; (25 KG ea), 4 bags Black power (25kg ea); 1 (10
gal) cans of fuel, 2 (25 gal) fuel cans,
2 (5 gal) cans of fuel, 2 barrels of UBE (5 lbs ea); 2 jugs of Aluminum, 3
RPG launchers,
7 RPG rounds, 1 bag of suicide; vest explosives, 1 AT mine, 1 Improvised
Rocket, 1 level 4 SAPI Plate, 1 AK-47; and 2 jugs of Acetylene 5 gal ea)
All items found were destroyed on location by EOD
On a daily basis these dogs and their handlers conduct searches for
home-made explosives (HME), unknown bulk explosives (UBE) and military grade
explosives (MGE). The greatest killer of Americans on this battlefield
continues to be Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). In just the past week
alone our Regiment lost three Troopers to an IED in Diyala.
The ability of these animals to detect even small quantities of
explosives means that we regularly discover caches of ready made IEDs or of
materials to make the IEDs. This directly interdicts the enemy's supply of
explosives reducing the number of IEDs we face. Additionally the MWD find
ammunition caches on a regular basis. Every single time I have gone out on a
mission (not nearly as often as many of the great young Troopers down in the
Squadrons) we have been hit with small arms fire and RPG attacks.
Every time the dogs locate an ammunition cache they take the enemy's
resources out of circulation.
You can understand, of course, that these dogs and their handlers do not
have the luxury of working in a nice, climate-controlled environment. Even
up here in Northern Iraq, the temperatures will soon exceed 100 degrees
every day. The MWD will be out on the battlefield, riding around in cramped
up-armored HMMWVs for long hours at a time. When they are needed, they will
walk through the sweltering, rubble-strewn streets finding IED and
explosives. The cooling vests will enable the dogs to work longer without
becoming fatigued and will directly impact not only the health of the dogs,
but the survival of the Troopers on the battlefield because the dogs can be
more effective for longer periods.
Thanks again to you for all of your efforts to organize this. Also,
please pass on my heartfelt thanks to all of the people who have supported
you in your efforts. I know that the majority of Americans support our
efforts here and want to find ways that they can help. I can tell you that,
for the most part, the military has things figured out in terms of what
Soldiers need. We have been doing this for awhile now and largely identified
all the quality of life needs for the Soldiers. From my perspective, there
isn't really much anyone can send me but quality coffee, and my wife takes
care of that. However the idea to address the needs of the MWD is a great
initiative and will reap benefits for the Soldiers as well. Thanks again for
all your efforts.
Love, Parker
PARKER L. FRAWLEY
Major, Aviation
Regimental S3 Planner
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
FOB MAREZ, Mosul, Iraq
BRAVE RIFLES!
 
After Erica's Kennel Received their vests:
-----Original Message-----
From: ERICA KLENK
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 7:04 PM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Thanks!
Hey there. I just wanted to drop you a quick line. Thanks for all of your
help and remembering us when you send out your donations. We really
appreciate it. And I speak for every single one of my handlers and working
dogs when I say that. I sent the vests to my outlying FOBs and I told them
where they came from and my guys were speechless. It's just so nice to know
that people haven't forgotten about us over here. When we see some of the
things that we do, and we go a little while without talking to friends and
family back home, it's easy to see how disconnected we are from our family
and the very country we fight so hard to keep free. I just want you to know
that I truly appreciate your help. I'm nearing the end of my tour here, but
I have told ALL my handlers about your website.
I sent a little note to all the email addresses that you sent with the
vests. You had a line on there saying to send any messages to both emails
and the only other one on there was yours. So you got copy of my messages as
well. I would have sent pictures, but we are super limited with the
bandwidth thing (I don't understand why or what, I just know that I can't!).
Maybe when I get back to Germany I can send some pictures of some of the
stuff we did during my tour. I'll remember to do that.
Again, thanks for everything. Take care.
SSG Erica Klenk
From: ERICA KLENK
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 11:51 AM
To: Petey's Mom
HI!
Yes, I'm and MWD handler. My dog's name is Hena.
We're deployed right now, but I'll see if this computer will let me upload a
photo (you know I always have one on me!). A friend of mine gave me a
toy that your company makes and Hena absolutely loves it. More than
anything else! I can hardly get it back from her most of the time.
Hena and I have been together for about 9 months now.
This is our first deployment working together, but we were both in Kosovo
last year just with another dog and handler. Our kennels here are
good. I'm the kennel master and I have a total of 9 teams including
myself. I chose your toys because I know they're durable. We
have people send us chewy toys or small rope toys but I think they forget
that we have big dogs that chew on things for a living.
I don't expect you to refund my money, but if you insist,
I would rather you take that money as a donation. I know of your
company and what you do for handlers. I greatly appreciate it. I
hope the picture gets to you. Thank you again. Hena looks
forward to the toys! Also, if you have any other questions, just shoot
'em my way. Take care.
SSG Erica Klenk and MWD Hena
 If
you would like to send a care package to this Soldier to distribute to other
handlers, let me know and I'll share his address. (See below)
From: Carter, S. SSG USA
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:39 PM
To: Petey's Mom
Subject: RE: Wants to be sponsored
The things that I would like to see come in and would be of great help
would be coffee, laundry soap, liquid body washes, milk bones, snausages,
dyer sheets, AAA batteries, antipersprant/deoderant, and any other things
people can think of that would be useful. I would like to pass on our
appreciation, maybe send a photo or what not. Just let me know.
    
   
-----Original Message-----
From: Ellis, Melissa A CTR MNF-I Slayer
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 7:44 AM
To: Petey's Mom
Subject: RE: MWD cool vest program
We got the chance to train inside the former Baath
Party House the other day and used the vests as it was in the 90s. I have
attached some pics of the dogs in the vests. We really appreciate all you do
for the dogs!
Thanks,
Melissa & K9s Recon (Golden Retriever) & Sasha (Catahoula)
Lyn & K9 Rudy (Golden Retriever with grey face)
 
Mikel thank you so much for the cooling vest! I think that it's wonderful
that you and the Soldiers' Angels work together to help all of us out. It
took Beny a few times to get used to the vest, but now its second skin to
him. I love the fact that I can take the ice packs out and put them in just
cold water and they will freeze up again. That helps out so much, especially
being out all night. A big plus is that Ben LOVES that toy. Hahaha..he runs
around with it trying to chew it to bits and pieces and it's still in one
piece! Thank you again for all of your support for us and with the Soldiers'
Angels! You are truly a blessing. I hope you are able to open the pics of
Beny with his vest on..if not please let me know and I will try sending them
back again!
OXOXOXOXOX Jess B. and MWD Beny!!!!
Friends,
On Sept 11th, 2001, then SPC Shuck was one of 11
individuals chosen to represent all the single soldiers in the Army on the
DA Staff at a BOSS conference in VA. On that fateful morning, I walked in
from a briefing to see that American was under attack. I remember the fear
running through me that my little brother was headed to school and I
remember running to the phone to call my mom to tell her not to let him
out of the house. 6 years later and many years into a war, we have to ask
ourselves the question? Are we prepared to deal with 9-11 all over again.
I am not going to answer that question, but I do know this. I have spent
over 1,000 days of my Army Career in Iraq fighting the fight like
President Bush has asked me to do. Am I disgruntled at the President for
me still being here? Not at all. This is the job I chose along with many
other soldiers and we do it proudly! We the soldier have an obligation to
YOU ALL, the American people and that is to protect you from the
enemy. I would rather stay in Iraq for as long as it takes rather than
watch what I saw on CNN in 2001. So in closing, I ask that you take the
time today and tomorrow to reflect on what you were doing that dark day
and hold your family members a little closer to you and tell them how much
you love them. Also if you see a firefighter, a police officer or an EMT,
tell them thank you for their service as they are just as much a hero as a
soldier is.
Gabe says woof woof
Chuck
Ms Miller,
My name is J---- B------, i am currently deployed to
Afghanistan. I
received a package some time ago containing a cool vest and your special tug
toy. I want to apologize that it has taken so long for my reply. First i
want to say that i had the pleasure of meeting Kory while i was attending
the SSD course after his. It was defiantly a sad day to hear that one of our
own had passed. I truly appreciate you and your friends taking the time to
take care of my SSD Coffee. Coffee is a female chocolate lab who enjoys
working. We spend our days trying to save lives and make an impact for the
soldiers over here. By sending us this vest you have given us that little
extra time working that we might need to make sure our friends and loved
ones make it home alive. I also thank you for the Udder Tug, Coffee loves
it. Once again i am sorry it took so long to reply. Thank you once again for
all your support.
Sincerely,
J---- B------t
My personal favorite. Click to enlarge and read.
-----Original Message-----
From: lee.m
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 12:36 AM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Thank you
SIR
Spaulding and myself got the package you sent us yesterday. We truly
appreciate the items that you sent. The black tug toy is great. Spaulding
hasn't put it down yet, he wants me to always play with him with just that
toy. The cool vest will come in handy its still kinda hot here but it will
be more useful next summer. What you are doing for the MWD and SSD handlers
is great. We truly appreciate it thank you for your support over here. We
are currently at FOB COBRA we are attached to ODA 735. Once we get a picture
of us we will send you a picture of us. Thank you.
V/R
SSG Lee M & Spaulding
********************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles S.
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2007 3:41 PM
To: My Mailing List
Subject: Chuck's Favorite pictures of Iraq
      
   
Dear friends.........Hope this email
finds you all having a blast.........Gabe and I are just waiting for our
plane out of Q-West and to our next location where we will wait 10 days
until I can sign up for 10 more years of this Army stuff, yes 10 years!!!!
I love what I do and I love Gabe so I have no other choice.......I am
planning on being back in Texas by hopefully the 3rd week of sept......The
weather here is okay, hot, but not bad...we are back to the old water bottle
shower thing so that is one thing I will not miss when I get home...Gabe and
I have told you all many times how much appreciate the support, but no
matter how many times we tell you thanks, it will never be enough......The
pictures I have selected are my favorite out of about 1500 I took while here
so I hope you enjoy them......Please continue to keep all soldiers in your
daily prayers, fly your flags proudly and if you see a veteran, tell them
thank you because if it wasn't for them, God only knows what we would be
fighting for today :) I will email you all when I reach either Baghdad or
Kuwait.
Chuck and Gabe
****************************************
*********************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Mel
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 1:14 AM
To: Petey's Mom
Subject: RE: need any more cooling vests for your dogs?
Mikel, We did get them in, 30 at Bucca and 10 up here, then pushing them out
to the kennels. We could use @ 15 more vest, should cover everybody. It has
been pretty quiet lately, waiting to see if it is the calm before the storm,
if so, we are ready. Thanks again, Mel
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and
degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is
worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a
miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so
by the exertions of better men than himself." -- John Stuart Mill
******************************
Email from Chuck S to his Angel, Jan. We sent them a total of 24 vests
and extra packs.
Thanks so much Jan, we are pretty much packed up and ready to go, I handed
over the reigns today to the guy that is now in charge of the dog
teams.....I also wanted to thank you both for the 3 boxes of vests we got in
the mail yesterday......words cannot express how grateful we truly are to
all your kindness....many many dog teams will benefit and we are passing out
the toys also.......I will include when they get the vest to take pics and
send them to you......thanks again...chuck, gabe and the gang
*************************
-----Original Message-----
From: jim hall
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 11:06 AM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: thank you
mikel,
my name is sgt jim hall at fob shkin. i
just received the dog cooling vest and toy for my mwd partner denis. i just
want to say thank you for all that you do. i already put the cool packs in
the refrigerator for future use.
i am grateful for all of the support of
my partner and i. sometimes these guys go without notice. i know they don't
mind, but you and i know that it is wrong to forget these hard working four
legged heroes.
my dog is an German Sheppard. he is
about 80 lbs. and all black except for the tan on his lower legs. he is a
great companion and partner. he loves people, and he is a great worker.
all the guys at this fob just love him.
he brings a piece of home with him. he gives people a chance to forget for a
while.
i just really want to say thank you to
all who donate. it is nice to know that someone out there cares for these
guys and gals as much as we their handler's do.
sincerely,
sgt jim hall
fob: shkin
****************************
From: Kathreen L
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 12:35 PM
Sorry for the delay with emailing.
Our coms have been down for almost a week now, they finally came back up
this morning.
I do have some photos to send to you.
I just have to put them on this computer so I can send them out. I have
included one of all of us. I'll send the ones with the dogs in the vests as
soon as I can.
I did get in touch with the Sergeant
Major at 25th ID and they could use 50 vests, I have 21 set aside for them,
but if you could get some more that would be awesome. He said he would fly
down here to get them so that they
can have them as soon as possible
instead of waiting on the mail. Please let me know if you can do that,
I know that they could really use them. The people vest that you sent are
awesome, thank you so much for them.
Looking forward to hearing from you
soon.
****************************************************
To the Army, Kory was a soldier and Cooper was a
Specialized Search Dog, to the politicians in Washington, Kory and Cooper
were more numbers to make President Bush look bad, but to their friends
and family, they were two special individuals that loved what they did and
that was answering the call of duty when America needed them most. We as
Americans in general, take what we have in life for granted. I have
learned through Korys' and Coopers' death to take every moment I have to
be thankful for what God has blessed me with and I will never ask for
more.
Serving this country with Gabe has been one of the best experiences
of my life and 6-8 months after we return to Texas, we know we will be on
orders back to here again and we are dedicated to finishing what we
started back in 2003. 6 nights ago, Gabe and I were on one of the busiest
highways in Iraq searching for bombs prior to soldiers entering the area
to fix a 6 foot hole left by another bomb....some people might say that's
crazy, but to us, that is our job to ensure that we find the bombs before
the bombs find the soldiers........I ask tonight as I give my final salute
to Kory and Cooper that you say a prayer for both his family at home and
for his military family..........May God bless you and your families and
may he continue to bless us, His American soldiers! - Chuck S
------------------------------------------------
From:
Kathreen L
Sent: Thursday, July 26,
2007 1:15 AM
It's been a while since I've heard from
you. I hope that all is well.
You'll be
happy to hear that all the vest have been distributed. I included my email
address as well as yours and Mikel with the vests. I'm hoping that you get
some pics of the dogs soon and I will forward any that are sent to me. My
email is rather slow but I have included a pic of Heri with this email. I
don't think I sent you one of him yet. He loves getting dressed up and
making the rounds with eveyone.
Have you
gotten the other photos that I have sent?
I want to
thank you again for your generosity and kindness.
------------------------------------------------
7/25/07
Mikel and Jan,
Thank you so much for all your help from the kennels at
Q-West...I have another email with pics of our 3 dogs with the cooling
vests to thank you.......I would be honored to pass out the 20 cooling
vests to 20 dog teams in our AO in honor of Kory and Cooper....the support
you guys are giving to the dog teams in Iraq are second to none and we
will not forget it.......Thanks again and I hope you guys enjoy the
pictures I will send after this email.
Chuck and Gabe
   Dog's
from Chuck S's unit with the boxes of vests we sent.
Thanks again from Gabe, Lewis and Beny....They send their
thanks and slobbers - Chuck and crew in Iraq
---------------------------------------------------
 Jessica
B and her MWD Beni.
-------------------------
The links below are about a K-9 team that recently
gave their lives for us in Iraq. Kori Wiens and his dog Cooper were killed
July 6th in Iraq. His friend Chuck S is one of the guys we've been
sending vests to. Chuck put me on his email list and sent the email below
to his list today. I'll find out who Chuck wants us to send vests to after
he comes home. The pictures Chuck speaks of are at the bottom of the page,
under the picture of Kori and Cooper.
http://mikegulf.blogspot.com/2007/07/korys-best-friend.html
They
were featured in this article earlier this year
http://tinyurl.com/2fkwlx
Cpl Wiens' Guest Book -
http://tinyurl.com/yosr82
From:
Charles S
Sent: Wednesday,
July 18, 2007 2:34 PM
Subject: Gabe and Chuck hit month 11
11 months, 2 days are in the books for Chuck
and Gabe and we are on the down hill stretch of Chuck's 3rd deployment and
Gabe's first deployment. Please stop all mail immediately and Gabe and I
would like to thank you all for the hundreds of packages, cards and letters
we have received this deployment. We could not have made it without your
support. We still have till Sept 4th and we know a life can be changed in
seconds in Iraq so believe me when I say my guard will be up until I am
sailing in American skies. The pictures I have selected this week are very
special to me. The first one is Gabe doing what he does second best and
that is giving love to soldiers that are in need of some dog love (this
happens to be one of Gabe's good buddies MAJ Varney). His best is searching
for bombs lol. The second picture is Kory and Cooper. This picture was
featured on the army website after his death. I was talking to his brother
yesterday and his body should be in the US now for burial. He is a true
hero as well as SSD Cooper. Have a great week, God bless you and your
families and may God continue to bless us, His American Troops and K9's
Chuck and
Gabe
 Kori
& Cooper
 
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Langevin, Kathreen
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 2:32 PM
To: 'Petey's Mom'
Subject: RE: sending several boxes
Hello Mikel,
I wanted to let you know that I've
started receiving the packages yesterday. Thank you so very much. I
will include the paperwork that you sent with the tugs when I ship out the
vests. I can't promise that the handlers will reply, but I will include your
information.
It was 132 degrees here the other day
and right now it's 22:30 and it's still 106 outside. So you can imagine that
we'll definitely be using the vests. I'll see about getting some pics of the
dogs with the vests and send them to you.
Again I want to thank you for all
that you are doing to support us here. I can't thank you enough.
Kat
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sheppard,
Jimmy M USA
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 4:30 AM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject:
MIKEL
THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE K9 WORLD. I'M NEW TO THIS
PROGRAM AND IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT LIKE YOU
WHO CARE AND SUPPORT US. THE VEST, TOY'S AND TREATS YOU SENT MADE MY DOGS
(FLYER) DAY. THE VEST WILL COME IN HANDY WITH THE WAY THIS HEAT IS COMING
IN THIS SUMMER. FLYER IS A GOLDEN RETRIEVER SO HE CAN USE ALL THE HELP HE
CAN GET WHEN IT COMES TO COOLING DOWN. THANK YOU AGAIN.
SGT SHEPPARD,
JIMMY
SSD HANDLER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original
Message-----
From: Richardson, Raymond M USA SSG
USA
CJTF82
Sent:
Friday, June 08, 2007
5:42 AM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Cool Vests
 
Good Afternoon,
It has taken me
some time to get to a computer but I wanted to inform you that I received
your package with the coolvest and some treats. I am the NCOIC of the
kennels at FOB
Salerno
and we tried for about a month to locate SGT Curtis with no luck. The post
office informed me that the package said to any k-9 personnel and here we
are. I just wanted to start by saying thank you very much. I happen to
know SFC Seamands pretty well, I was stationed with him at
Ft.
Sill.
Whats up Meathead? Anyway , I have only needed to use the vest once and it
was absolutely great. See my MWD Ardy and I responded to an IED blast to
check for secondary devices and it was about 110 deg. We had limit time to
rest, so I tried the vest. It worked great! I did have to have the
alterations shop add more velcro so I can attach the loose straps but I has
been great. The udder toy that you sent was the best thing my MWD has
played with, so much so that I left it out one day and he had destroyed it.
I apologize about that but he did love it! Well other then that, all is
well here. I have 4 MWD teams here with me including myself. I am
enclosing a picture of Ardy and I after we found some ammo and a hand
grenade. I don’t take a lot of pics cause it hard to think about we your
working at night. Thanks again for all the things you have done to help the
dogs and handlers here and in
Iraq.
SSG
RICHARDSON,
RAYMOND
Salerno MWD
Section, NCOIC
FOB
Salerno,
Afghanistan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Neveu
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:39 PM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Thank you
Ms. Mikel,
Thank you for the Cool Vest and the Udder Tug.
They're very much appreciated. The vest will definitely come in handy with
the hot weather fast approaching. Unfortunately, I have yet to come across
any Marine Dog Handlers here in Balad. I know that there's quite a few of
them here in Iraq, but I personally, have only come in contact with Army and
Air Force handlers. Thank you again.
SPC Neveu
PNDD Handler
Balad, Iraq
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Johns Jason - Kennel Master
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 9:55 AM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Cooling Vest
Mikel,
Our current cool vest is made by Coolzone, and as you can see in the
enclosed pictures it is huge and bulky. The one you mailed to us is more
compact and allows for more mobility and it is easier for the dogs to get
use to wearing it. In my opinion that is. The one my kennels uses is
insulated and is designed to keep the vest cool, however when the packets
lose its coolness the vest becomes a heat trap for the dog. Where as
yours isn't so bulky and doesn't hinder the dog as much. Plus it is a 100
times easier to put it on. Again thank you for this wonderful donation, now
that the weather is getting very hot over here the vest will see a lot of
use. Sorry for the delay in getting these pictures to you we have been very
busy lately.
SSG Jason D. Johns
Kennel Master
Camp Slayer, Iraq
 From:
Davis, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 5:01 PM
To: 'Petey's Mom'
Subject: RE: Care package
Ma,am I cant tell very much about our
mission here. We are at the theater interment facility. we are the largest
in the world so I am told we walk the compounds and fence lines night and
day any where from 8 to 18 hour days just according to what the detainees
are doing to try to get out. We also work on the base for patrol and
security issues that MWDs can help with. Do you know any one whom donates
the ballistic vest to teams? I am five kool vest short we all share what we
have at this time and the mutt luck are nice also they just wear out fast on
this sand and rock ill send you pic of another one of my teams with this.
And I'll talk to you soon. Shannon Davis
V/R
Shannon Davis
SSG, USA
Camp Bucca, Kennel Master
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jodi Stone
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 12:50 PM
To: mikel@helpingudders.com
Subject: Thank You
Ms. Mikel-
I just wanted to write
and let you know that I had received the package that you sent me. Myself
and Bengo cannot say thank you enough. Just a little background info on my
partner and my best friend over here who will definitely be thanking you and
everyone who donated to make the package possible especially the cool vest.
Bengo is a 3 year old
solid black German Shepherd so as you can imagine he will be enjoying the
vest in a month or two. Bengo and I have been together now for over a year
and half and he is my first dog as a handler as well as I am his first
handler. Bengo loves his new toy as well and I have already taken pictures
of him with the toy and I will send them as soon as I am able to download
them.
Once again I cannot say
thank you enough and I will look into the locations of the Marine handlers
for you since there are none here at the location that I am at. Like I said
I will definitely be sending you pictures as soon as I am able to download
them as well as when Bengo is able to wear his cool vest. He will
definitely be thanking you all. I am hoping to stay in touch and I just
want to say thanks again.
Thank
You,
SGT Jodi F. Stone
PEDD Handler
Camp Victory
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Davis,
Shannon
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 12:56 PM
To: 'mikel@helpingudders.com'
Subject: Care package
Dear
Mikel,
I wanted to write and
let you know that I received the care package that you sent. It was greatly
appreciated. It's very nice to know that there are people back home that
support us. Sometimes it's easy to forget that, especially in this place.
The KoolVest, doggles
and the muttlucks will definitely be put to good use. We have already had
several days here with temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. We are trying
to get more sets of these things but you know how military supply can be. We
have close to a dozen dogs here and supply tries to do the best that they
can; unfortunately it's an uphill battle.
Any support
is greatly appreciated. I will try to send some more photos out to you as
soon as we get some taken. I have included a photo of my self and my MWD
Heri. He's the furry one.
Again, thank you for all
that you are doing the MWDs.
SSG Shannon Davis
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A picture of UiLani Bio and her MWD Belgian Malinois Amber. We sent
Amber a vest on 3/27/07
From: Lani and Amber
April 12
Mikel,
I wanted to thank you and all the supporters
in sending me the cooling vest, toys, booties and all other goodies for my
K9 partner. She loves the udder toy tremendously. I know that all the
items you had sent will definitely be needed and used here soon since the
weather is going to get very HOT.
As I read your letter and all the comments
people had written, I came into tears. I was so amazed that there are
people out there that may/may not support the war but definitely supports
the troops. I will make sure that if I meet up with a marine that may need
the vest or other items to write to you or if they are unable to contact you
themselves, I will obtain their information and send it to you personally.
I can tell you that the handlers I am here
with are at awe when they saw the things I received.
My K9 partner Amber and I are doing great
here in Kuwait. We work mainly at the vehicle search pits and it can get
pretty repetitive but we are getting use to it.
Well again I really do thank you and all
other supporters. I have to head out to work and will try write more later.
Sincerely,
TSgt Uilani F. Bio
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From:
SSG JOSEPH SECRIST USA, FOB Falcon Kennel Master
Date: April 8, 2007
Subj: Thanks from Iraq
Dear Ms. Mikel,
I received your package
the other day and I would like to express my gratitude to the contributors
for the cool vest and the tug toy that you sent. My MWD (Clara) found the
toy to her liking and she also sends her thanks. I am working on getting
you the pictures you asked for and will be in a follow up email with a brief
on the use and effectiveness of the cool vest that you sent. Again thank
you very much from all the handlers here at FOB Falcon, Iraq.
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4/5/07
From: SSG Jason D. Johns (MWD Briscoe)
I wanted to thank you for the cool vest. The style you sent is 100%
better then the one I deployed with. It allows for more ventilation and has
less material then the kind the Army buys. The one I was given is made out
of a bulky plastic material and covers my dog almost from head to toe. Which
can cause overheating once the cool packs lose their coolness. One of the
handlers here received a cool vest from someone who found him on
Americasupportsyou.com and it was the same style you sent and he loves it.
As for the toy my dog absolutely loves it, of course he just turned 3 so
he is still a puppy and loves playing with toys. I am sure that the other
dogs here will enjoy playing with it as much as my dog does. So far we have
gotten a lot of stuff for our MWD's, unfortunately most of what we were
given we cannot give our dogs, most toys we were given were designed for
small house pets.
I think there are some Marine dog handlers in country, but I will have to
talk to my boss to find out where they are so I can pass your info to them.
I will let you know one way or the other. I will try to get you some
pictures of our dogs here in the near future, right now we don't have any so
I can't include any in the email.
Again thank you for the cool vest and the toy it was by far the best
package I have received since I arrived in country.
************************************************
4/3/07 From: - SGT Kevin Cameron & MWD Ramo
Dear Ms. Miller and all your supporters;
Thank you for your support to the Military Working Dogs in this war. They
are often over looked and your kindness is greatly appreciated. Thank you
for your thoughts and prayers and most of all the cool-vest, boots, tug toy
and doggles. I have enclosed a couple of pictures of Ramo (my dog) "utter-ly"
enjoying that tug toy and using some of the stuff you sent. Your support has
only improved Ramo's ability to stay in the fight and continue keeping
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines safe outside the wire. Thank you for all your
support.
*********************************************************************************************
Hello,
My name
is SGT Garry Mattingly. I am also a K-9 handler with SGT Ryan Thurber. I am
writing for all the handlers here at
Balad,
Iraq.
We want to thank you so much for all that you have sent. It is much
appreciated. Ryan can’t write back to you right now because he is in
Germany
with his dog Amigo. Amigo is a little ill but is making a fast recovery and
should be back shortly. We are all doing very well and would like to thank you
again for everything you do to support the troops. This is the reason we fight
is for friends and family like you. I have enclosed some pictures of myself
with my dog Mattias. He is a 2yr old Dutch Shepard and is full of spunk and is
great to be around. Hope you enjoy. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
SGT Garry Mattingly
*********************************************************************************************
4/3/07 From: Sgt Richard Keller
Hi,
Got the package from you today and thank you so much. The gear that
you sent will really make a huge difference for my dog when the temperature
starts to go up. A lot of what we do is searching vehicles on hot
pavement and Crock can heat up really fast and the tar gets so hot in the
summer that you sink right into it. Crock is a patrol and an
explosives detector dog and a really good one at that. We have worked
together for almost 3 years and when we are not deployed our job is mostly
law enforcement at our home base. Thanks again we all appreciate the
support from you folks back home.
*********************************************************************************************
Contact Mikel at
mikel@helpingudders.com to submit a name of a handler who needs a vest.
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