Another Happy Camper!

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Ron,

Received on of your pens today.  Great quality, really impressive; thankyou!

Have a great American Day!

One Mission - Many Nations!

Stephen R. Bate
MAJ, SC
CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve, CJ6 FWD

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I received a pen from you today and I wanted to say Thank You very much.  I immediately put it in my pen pocket.  Thanks again for your support, we certainly appreciate it!  Take care.

Mark S. Haynes
CPT, IN
HSC Commander
Erbil, Iraq

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Morning,

Thank you for the Pens for Patriots gifts that we opened today in the Middle East. We are grateful for your support and our Soldiers will love them!

V/R,

1LT Brittany Jeanice
HSC XO,HHBN, 1ID
LSA Danger

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Just got a hold of one of your pens and wanted to say how much everyone loves these. I was lucky to grab one before the colonels, majors, and generals came through. Just wanted to thank everyone for doing this and thank you for your support.

SGT Lowe

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Sir,

Thank you for the awesome pen!  I will put this to great use.. God bless!

V/R,

Kalapu Fasavalu III
1LT, SC
C Co 39 BEB
SHHC, SWIFT
BDE S6 BATTLE CPT
2BCT, TF STRIKE
101st ABN DIV (AA)
kalapu.fasavalu2.mil@mail.mil
Kalapu.fasavalu@2bct101ab.army.smil.mil

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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Tony,
My name is Master Sergeant Miguel Vazquez from the 101st Infantry Division Ft. Campbell, KY. We are currently in Baghdad as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Today my Soldiers and I received a care package that included one of the pens made by you. I just wanted to thank you for the token of appreciation for our service.      

Very respectfully,

MSG Miguel A. Vazquez
J4 Supply & Services / Movement NCO
Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command Operation Inherent Resolve

DSN: 318-239-1423
SVOIP: 308-239-1154
NIPR: miguel.a.vazquez.mil@mail.mil

"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership."

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Mr. Don,

We received your box and (PEN) .. What a boost of morale.
We are located in a semi-remote area near the front lines and we don't have access to a whole lot. So it means more to us than you may realize.

It's good to know that we have your support.
It can feel like we're alone here being around the other side of the world.
Your gifts were used up and passed out quickly. We can't thank you enough. Really.

Half of us around here are military full-time and the other half are Reservist/National Guard.
I fall into the latter. For many of us, we not only miss our way of life and friends/family... we also wonder about our jobs and coworkers. That's part of life that we accept.

Oh how I would love to be in Illinois again this time of year!

As the one that was able to write you back, A little about me.
I am a husband of one and a father of five. Oldest three are girls. All ages 5-13. I miss them all immensely. My girls are into music, art, and reading while the boys are still young and they enjoy wrestling with each other and playing outside.

I can't really say that we "need" anything specific but we welcome your gifts. We sleep on cots in large tents all together if that gives you an idea of living situation. I can't be any more specific with regards to much else except that we'll be here until next year sometime.

Just know your support is much appreciated and NOT taken for granted.

Thank you and thank you some more,

From all of us west of Erbil, Iraq,

Josh Williams
FLE
APO, AE 09316

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To:  COL (RET) David Draeger, Members of the Wood Turners, and Cadets of the Auburn High School ROTC

I just wanted to write and thank you for such a thoughtful gift to all  of us here in the CJFLCC-OIR.  I had the privilege and honor to help Chaplain Bowlus, and MSG Murphy in passing out your all's work of art to the Soldiers here in the Command HQ.   I wish I could describe the look on the Soldiers faces when receiving such beautiful crafted pens.  I must say in my 15yrs of service, I have never seen a community come together and put so much time , effort, and such a  thought-out gift for Soldiers.  Communities like Rockford, IL make me very proud to serve our country!

Thank You Once Again!

MAJ Mark Orlandi
CJFLCC-OIR, KMO

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Sir, 

I am writing from the Coalition Forces Headquarters for Operation Inherent Resolve, in Baghdad, Iraq. You will notice from my signature block below, that I am not American! The Headquarters here is manned by personnel from 18 nations - I am blessed to share my office with 3 personnel from the 101st Airborne Division, United States Army.



I have received on my desk the most beautiful pen, which has been created by the Northern Illinois Wood Turners, and I wanted to write to thank you/them so much. The USA public are so very supportive of their military, and I hope you will not mind too much, that this particular pen has been gifted to a non-US national. Our Motto here is "One Team - One Fight" and we very much work together in that spirit.



I will use my pen with pride and be grateful for the thoughts and prayers of all of those each one of us here, from whichever nation, has left behind. Your support means so much, and translates into each of our languages.



With thanks. 

Yours Aye,


Lindsey


Lindsey Waudby

Lieutenant-Commander (UK - ROYAL NAVY)
Deputy Public Affairs Officer CJFLCC-OIR Baghdad, Iraq

UNCLASSIFIED

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To the members of the Northern Illinois Woodturners Club. Thank you.
Today as I was walking with my team mates a gentle stopped us and gave
us these beautifully made pens. All of us took one and mine is currently
being used at my desk when I get a chance to sit for a while. I thank
you for you do and for what you have done for our country. The pen is
much appreciated and again, Thank you

V/r

Richard Blackstone, MSGT, USAF
439 AEAS/SF Supt/Advisor, Kabul
VOIP 318-237-5718
Cell: 0705188377

UNCLASSIFIED 

Who Makes The Pens?
Freedom Pens are being made by individual woodworkers everywhere, from small towns to our largest cities, amateur woodworkers are donating their time, talent and personal funds to create custom pens as a symbol of their support for our military men and women.
Our program is sponsored by Northern Illinois Woodturners.

What are Our Goals for the Freedom Pen Program?
We believe we can ship over 500 pens each year. Our target number is relative to the number of woodworkers who are willing to participate. Financial support will be necessary but we can produce hand crafted pens at a very low cost since all of our labor is a volunteer effort.

The men and women in our military forces serve and protect many nations all over the world. They are provided the very best equipment and technology by our Government but they need moral support from home, positive assurance that the people of our country are behind them every minute of every day. When one of our hand made writing instruments is used to write a letter home it is a symbol of our support and physical evidence that the people of America care deeply about their safety and are praying for their safe return home.

It is a privilege for the members of Northern Illinois Woodturners Club to develop and provide continued support for the Freedom Pen program. Our members are responding to our call for help and are excited about getting involved with such an honorable project that will touch the hearts of our sons and daughters in harms way.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Sir,
   I wanted to send you a quick note and thank you for the pen.  I just got it today and its great.  I appreciate your effort and will keep it in my uniform. I am sure it will get plenty of use.  Thank you for your support, we will do our best to live up to your expectations.  

DERRICK DRAPER
MAJ, IN
TF WIDOWMAKER X3 (OIR)

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

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To whom it concerns,

 I just received a beautifully crafted pen from our unit Chaplain, whom was very excited about to passing them out.  I just wanted to extend my gratitude for the kind gesture.  Thank you for your support to the nations service members.

v/r

MAJ Robert J. Schaffling
Chief of Plans
TF Strike, 2/101 ABN DIV (AA)
Camp Swift, Iraq

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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Northern Illinois Wood Turners and Auburn High School ROTC,

Thank you so very much for your donation of the beautifully created wood pens. A little background on our team: We are members of the 101st Airborne Division, Headquarters Battalion Operations Planning Team (J5) located in Iraq supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. As a Coalition we are comprised of many service members from all over the world working together as one team. In our particular section we have US, Australians, Danish, French, and Italian Soldiers. Currently we are all doing very well here, work has been very busy. Thank you again for your gifts; we all enjoy a little bit of home over here. Attached is a picture of all of us.

Thank you again for your love and support. God Bless.

v/r,

Francisco J. Osorio
SFC, USA
CJFLCC-OIR (101st Airborne Division AASLT)
J5 NCOIC, Civil Military Operations Planner

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To the Northern Illinois Woodturners Club,



Thank you very much for the pens that you sent out here to Iraq.  They are really nice and are already being used by many of us here.  The Chaplain for the 101st Division came around passing them out.  I just wanted to send an e-mail to you to let you know that we received them and sincerely appreciate the pens and the thoughts and prayers behind them.


Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful),

BGen Bill Mullen, USMC

Deputy Commanding General - Operations

Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command - Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq

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To whom it may concern,


I am currently deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. I received a spectacular pen today, please allow me to thank each and everyone involved for taking the time and effort to support the troops.

Thank You,



EDISON RIVAS

CW2, FA

101st Divarty, Targeting Officer

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Pens for Patriots
I just wanted to send a quick thank you note for the beautiful pen I was able to receive that was made by your group. The quality and workmanship is fantastic. I truly appreciate the time and effort that you put in towards making the pen. It is my go-to pen during my shift and will surely be coming home with me once I am done on my deployement.
Thanks again!

V/r,

Sarah Leatherman, Capt, USAF, NC
Aromedical Evacuation Operations Officer
455 EAES/OPS
Bagram Airfield , AF
DSN: 318-447-6749
VOSIP: 308-447-3201
NIPR: sarah.leatherman@bgab.afcent.af.mil
SIPR: sarah.leatherman@bgab.afcent.af.smil.mil

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Dear Northern Illinois Woodturners Club,

   I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the awesome pens that your club made for the Soldiers who are deployed. Keep up the good work and please do not forget that we as Soldier's are very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Very Respectfully,
SSG Richard L. Swartz Jr

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