Our American Soldiers





Glancing through the Forum message board, it doesn't take long to realize that some of our fan club members are veterans or active service personnel of the United States military. Many more are spouses, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, or friends of service members, stationed both here at home and abroad. During the last year many Warriors have shared, via the message board, their concerns, their pride, and their love for these friends and family members who serve our nation.

With the change over to the new Forum format in January 2004 many of those posts are gone - posts like Cheryll/cheryie writing about her son, Mike, who was serving during the war last spring. A number of fans emailed Mike to let him and his unit know they were appreciated. And Mike wasn't the only one that got mail from the fan club members, a.k.a. Warriors.

With permission a sampling of message board entries are included below. As indicated these are just since the first of the year and they are only a small number of the exchanges that took place on the Forum.




From: Misty/Keithsxtc
Antlers, OK
Posted: 2-18-2004

I know everyone is praying for our Soliders, please add my sister Staff Sergeant Sunny Siler, who is in the USAF. Sunny is being deployed to somewhere around Afghanistan. Sunny is a single mother, her son will be staying with our parents while she is gone.

I just want to add that I love coming to the forum everyone is so supportive of each other...its just a great place to be.


From: hampsteadfans
Maryland
Posted: 2-18-2004

We will pray for your sister and please keep us posted when she contacts you. Hopefully she will be e-mailing regularly. Let us know if she needs anything because the warriors are great at shipping boxes and cards overseas.


From: Valerie/ValPal
Northern California
Posted: 2-18-2004

Hey girl! Big prayers for your sister and nephew. She's lucky to have you and your parents around her and her son. Will make her doing her job a little better.




From: Toni/howe9
Texas
Posted: 2-22-2004

I found this post on the CMT boards. I know some of you go over there as well, but not everyone does and I felt we all needed to read this.

"Hello all,
Greetings from Baghdad. This song ["American Soldier"] touched me more than most could realize. I was really down and out at a certain point. My wife divorced me and took my kids, up untill that point I had lost 7 of my close friends. I finally went on R&R leave and while home I got Toby's CD. I heard that song and it brought meaning back to a soldier who wanted to pay the ultimate sacrifice. I realized that people did understand a little of our sacrafices. I say this because most dont have a clue what soldiers give up daily. When you hear the words of the song you can honestly see through a soldiers eyes. Not many people have wrote the true side of a soldier. It is a honor to be wearing this uniform. I would do anything to be able to see Toby Keith and thank him for given a lost soldier his life back. I know this sounds sappy and all, but the song is true and means alot to us soldiers fighting in the services. To let the trooper know, crying is not just for the ladies. I have cried many of days over here. I know I still have a few more to go. I have lost many friends over here. Those friends are more my brothers and sisters. We dont care about what sex, color, or religous background you come from. All we care about is bringing each other home. If one of us does pay the ultimate sacrifice we will still bring them home. My unit searched for over a month to bring 2 soldiers who fell in the Tigris river home to their families. We walked up and down and dragged that river. We got shot at and blown up every day. We didnt care about that until we found them. The greatest Christmas present was when we were able to send them back home to their mom and dad. Toby is a great inspiration to me. Thank you all for all of your support."

NOTE: On March 14, 2004 I emailed Staff Sergeant Paul Cornett to get permission to include his letter here and to ask him about his background and status:   "I am currently still deployed to Iraq. I have about 30 more days here and around 20 in Kuwait. Then I will be sent back to Germany where I am stationed. I am active duty, have been for almost 15 years and I have one year reserves. So total time almost 16 years. I am from Lexington, Kentucky. I am stationed in Wiesbaden Germany."




From: Rebecca/rebecca131427
Posted: 3-5-2004

I have a friend over in Iraq that posts every now and then on the CMT site and we have been emailing back and forth now for a couple weeks. And he called me from Iraq today. God it was wonderful to hear his voice. God bless all our people over there.


From: Joyce/outlawmusic1
Bossier City, LA
Posted: 3-5-2004

Rebecca, I am glad your friend got to call you and talk to you, and Smidgen I know your heart is heavy, its hard when you son is over there or in any compromising position, I will pray for both of them as all our troops. We have a prayer wall at the back of our church and people formally gather certain times but they can go in any time. If you dont mind I will write their names on the wall. Hope they get to see Toby if he gets there.




Wendy's son, Micheal, was returning to his unit in Iraq after a family leave to attend his grandmother's funeral. A foul up on his way back to Iraq had Wendy very worried. She logged on to the forum to vent her frustration. The thread went on for pages while other fans typed back and forth with her for over 12 hours. Below are just a few of the entries that helped keep Wendy company during this very tough time.

Wendy/smidgen
Middleton, PA
Posted: 3-7-2004, 01:47 PM

Oh crap. I don't know what to do. They screwed his ticket up. He is stuck in Dubai which in only a 45 min flight from Kuwait. They say he does not have the right ticket. They want him to buy a new ticket. He does not have the money for a new ticket. His Lt. called me yesterday and gave me his email in case there was a problem. So I sent him a email and it was sent back to me as email failed. I must have wrote in down wrong. I don't know what to do. We gave him a 1 800 number he does not have much time left on his phone card. I hope they can get this straightend out.....I feel so helpless. I knew something bad was going to happen when he got the one day extension on his leave instead of leaving when he was originally supposed to.

Sorry I really need to vent.


Bridget/Pepsirose, 02:49 PM
New Jersey
Posted: Mar 7 2004

Oh Wendy, I'm sorry you are going through this stress right now. We are all praying for him on his whole tour and hoping things work out. Keep listening to Toby to try to be as calm as possible- I'm sure they won't leave him stranded for long and as soon as he gets to where he needs to be- he will let you know.


Judy/Narduccikst
Pennsylvania
Posted: Mar 7 2004, 07:02 PM

My heart hurts after hearing your story. I will be thinking about your Michael. Please keep us posted on the progress! God Bless you and your family!


Scott/cappy718
Hampton, VA
Posted: Mar 7 2004, 08:30 PM   [posted from Iraq]

Alright, here's what you do. I dont know if you've gotten the solution from anyone else yet, but you know where your son is stationed at home base right? Well, you have to call the base there. If you tell me where it is, I can find you the base information number for you. Next, after you get the number. Call there and tell the operator that you need to get in touch with your son's unit that's left there. Once you do that, they'll get you to someone and tell them the situation. They'll be able to get things straightened out. And if you email me...I can give you another phone card number that's got time on it that your son could use.


Eileen/leen369
New Jersey Posted: Mar 7 2004, 09:15 PM

I don't know about everyone else but I find it a little surreal that Michael is most likely gonna get all this straightened out due to the "Toby Keith Fan Club Forum". Will wonders never cease?


Scott/cappy718
Hampton, VA
Posted: Mar 7 2004, 09:38 PM   [posted from Iraq]

[In reply to several other posts...]
Well, see Wendy, I've got inside info. And instead of a worried mother calling I went ahead and called the number that's a 24 hour emergency number that helps out soldiers and whatnot in this very kind of situation. They have your sons information and they are going to give me a call. They said they had just got a good contact number for the 40th QM that's out here. So things are looking up! So no worries! I'll let you know as soon as I can when I hear something from them!


Chris/CMRoman
Colfax, CA Posted: Mar 7 2004, 09:47 PM

QUOTE (leen369 @ Mar 7 2004, 09:15 PM)
I don't know about everyone else but I find it a little surreal that Michael is most likely gonna get all this straightened out due to the "Toby Keith Fan Club Forum". Will wonders never cease?
Eileen

Wow! I'm completely blown away! It's an amazing world we live in and what a WONDERFUL group of people watching out for each other. I'm sure everything will turn out fine and this will be one of those great stories you tell your grandkids!


Rick/SteelHorseCowboy
Gloucester County, NJ
Posted:Mar 7 2004, 11:35 PM

Hang in there Mom, you are doing fine under the circumstances.
It's getting there.


Beth/Tootie
Oil City, PA
Posted: Mar 8 2004, 12:11 AM

I'm still here Wendy, reading a book and came back to check on you.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Wendy}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Hugging you tight, it will all be ok.


Wendy/smidgen
Middleton, PA
Posted: Mar 8 2004, 01:21 AM

I HAVE GREAT NEWS The American Embasy found him. I am so happy. He will call me agin when he gets to the next place. I want to thank you Scott from the bottom of my heart.

I would also like to thank all of you that have supported and helped me through this night. I could not have made it without you all.

I was told when I joined the club how supportive you all are of each other. You have been so supportive of this Newbee Toby fan from the day I joined. I want to thank you all so much.

BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL. Now it's time to cry.

  Michael   My American Soldier


We met Staff Sgt. Paul Cornett through Toni/howe9's post. One of his emails reminds us of a very important point - the impact of public opinion on our troops.

From: Paul Cornett
Bagdad, Iraq
Emailed: 3-14-2004

Just to let you know the three soldiers on the cover of Time magazine are from my division. It was so cool to find out that we were the person of the year. Then to know our soldiers were on the cover was awesome. Time magazine sent issues for every soldier in our division.

I have been in 16 years almost. Besides being in desert storm no one has really cared about service members. Then Sept 11 hit, then Afghanistan, and then Iraq. Now almost everyone has realized that we are the ones that are doing this. SO it is amazing. And you are very welcome from all of us. This is truely our honor and privilege. We have made a family out of 34,000 soldiers and civilians.....it is our honor to be here for you. I hope you know that.


The Forum message board got to know Scott/cappy718 very well over the course of his time in Iraq. Scott developed a lot of friends here. Here are just a few of the many entries which celebrated his return home.

From: Pam/PJlovesTK
West Virginia
Posted: 3-14-2004

Just in case you are not paying attention to his countdown thread, Cappy just emailed a bunch of us. He's leaving today.

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scott, have a safe flight home and let us know when you get stateside. remember WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


From: Amanda/TnTobyFan
USA
Posted: 3-14-2004

GREAT NEWS!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE AND FAST TRIP HOME



From: Scott/cappy718
Hampton, VA
Posted: 3-16-2004    [posted from the U.S. of A.]

Hey there yall!! Wanted to let you know that I am sitting here right now enjoying a nice redbull and vodka and I am home!!!! I finally made it after two days of traveling! I told yall I'd let ya know when I made it. Thanks again for all that you all have done for me!!!


From: CarolynSigs
Elyria, OH
Posted: 3-14-2004

Welcome home Scott! In the (edited!) words of George M. Cohen ~ My father thanks you, my mother thanks you, my brother thanks you, I thank you and we all thank you!


From: Joanna/Giovanna
Melrose, MA
Posted: 3-16-2004

WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!   WELCOME HOME SCOTT !!!!
 Man, you must be so very relieved. We are too. Savor every second.


From: Sharon/wynotts
San Diego area, CA
Posted: 3-16-2004

Well, Scott, I hope you didn't waste a lot of water by taking longer than a 3 minute shower! Just kidding. WELCOME HOME!!!! So glad you made it safe and sound.


Thread: "Moral Support For Military Families"


From: hampsteadsfan
Maryland
Posted: 3-15-2004

Well, we have all had the honor of having so many soldiers be part of our warrior family. I treasure having the opportunity to post with them. I also just had the opportunity to meet and welcome home my e-mail pen pal and he is a fine upstanding gentle young man. It was such a pleasure to meet him and welcome him home. He was in Iraq from the beginning and he is now able to spend time with his family and friends before going back to work on his base. He is a Toby fan and KayJ. helped me coordinate a little special gift for him. He (and I) will always have Kay and Toby close to his (our) heart. The special gift arrived on one of his down moments and helped to lift his spirits while he was so far from home.

Also Terri [aka "itsme"] helped me with a very special package for him that I gave to him yesterday. He was very touched and looked forward to using it. I will always have him and all the soldiers and those fighting for our freedom from Terror close to my heart. God Bless them all!


From: Cheryie
Altoona, PA
Posted: 3-18-2004

I guess I was one of the lucky ones , my son fought the war and came home. I feel for the parents that have lost their son or daughter. I did lose a brother in the Viet Nam War over 34 years ago this March 29th. He was only 18 years old and I never forget what we went through.

My son Mike is now living in Kingsville Texas until he retires, in 21 months. He enjoyed all the emails from the warriors and talks about them all the time. He was so appreciative that you would take time out of your day to write to him. I am proud of my son and what he has made of himself. I am also proud of each man and woman that is serving our counrty! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

I LOVE YOU ALL !


From: Monica/momfoss
Posted: 3-19-2004

Hi - My son spent 10 months over there. I guess I don't understand the parents who protest. My son signed up for this job and I hope he always serves proudly. I know that the way things are going he is going to end up back there. I found the Fan Club during the war late at night. I used to go on the CMT board to post and somebody mentioned how much better it was here. Well it was and is. Coming here and being with Toby friends was such a great support system for this Mom. I continue to pray for the safety of those still there. I know that if you know someone who is there and sees what went on in that country you know how good they feel about what they do.




These are just a fraction of the posts which fans have shared with each other trying to help family members and friends during this difficult time. With humor and with caring, fan club Warriors continue to reach out to one another.






This portion of the Heart2Heart website --- which shares posts about military family and friends --- is dedicated to the memory of Army Sgt. Keith Smette, and to all the men and women who have served or are serving our country. Our prayers and heartfelt appreciation goes to each of them and their families.



For More Fan Stories Visit:

Word of Mouth




View the Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook



Click to return to Toby Keith Heart2Heart Web Site

Back to Main Page


rule