someone pointed out to me that the other thread might have been skipped over for not directly saying TROOP CIGARS ARE NEEDED. lol so hope this will suffice.

yes. we need donations of cigars, letters and other items! contact me at BBELTRISI at ec.rr.com or Schmitty55 at smitty0128 at yahoo.com for more information, or go to www.geocities.com/tbeltrisi for more information.

YES. you can send these out on your own, too! it doesn't matter how it gets there, just so long as it does get there.

and that leads me to this news flash: *OUR* BOMBS HAVE STARTED LANDING ON OUR MARINES IN FALLUJAH!!

here are a couple of letters, first from our cbid brother, 1stSgtSmoke, and the second is from his wife, who really got this started when she told me that the guys there could really use some "love from home."

thank those of you who have contributed so far for all your efforts. as you can see, it really DOES make a difference:

---------------------------------------------------

FROM 1STSGTSMOKE IN FALLUJAH
TO OPERATION FTH PARTICIPANTS:

I'm writing this email from a dusty little hole in Fallujah Iraq. Yesterday I received the first package from your operation and from Bill and his family. I immediately handed the contents out to my appreciative
Marines. Yesterdays packages went to 1st Platoon and members of HQ's. We had just returned from an operation and your kindness and patriotism
reminded us all of the blessing that it is to be American. We hung the fantastic pictures that Bill's kids had drawn up on the bulletin board and I saw several of my Marines taking the time to read them as they passed by.
As you know we have seen some of the worse combat of the Operation in the last month and many of my Marines including yours truly were in An Nas in 2003, when it was the hot spot. It's honestly the patriotic Americans like yourselves that give us the strength and motivation to carry on. God Bless each and every one of you.

Semper Fi
1stSgt Sprague Michael
D Co. 2nd LAR BN

---------------------------------------------------

MRS. SPRAGUE'S LETTER:

Dear Tony,
How can I begin to express my gratitude for all you're doing/have done? And such a nice and heartfelt letter to boot. I will forward this to my husband who will no doubt, at the very least get a lump in his throat by reading this, he does have a soft spot somewhere. It means so much to him and his Marines to know that there are those out there thinking of them and praying for them.

Mike just lost two of his young Marines to a VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device, basically a suicide bomber in a car) and 6 other injured a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say the morale of Delta company has taken a hit. So now more than ever that "love" from home is needed and will find a welcome home with Delta Company.

So Tony, keep up the good work. I too appreciate it so much. I find sometimes that I don't feel like I can't do enough for the guys over there. I simply run out of ideas. So maybe this way it will feel like Christmas more regularly. Well, maybe that's a stretch but I think you get my drift.

Again, sincere thanks for all your efforts to you and all who are helping make "Operation From the Heart possible,

-(Mrs) Sprague

---------------------------------------------------

well, that about says it all, folks. i'm humbled by the sacrifices they're making and the difficult job these men face everyday. i'm humbled by the strength of the wives and family members and friends here in the states.

and i'm humbled by the extraordinary efforts that the few (but mighty!) here have made as part of OpFTH to send that "love from home" over to these Marines -- many of whom are young men.

i want to give a special thank you to cbidder jim (jrc) for his amazing work most recently. jim collected 200 POUNDS of useful goodies and 600 LETTERS AND CARDS from his fellow students at UofT(ennessee) Martin to send over to the 2D LAR Marines in fallujah.

THANK YOU, JIM!!!

and thank you bigtime to the gentlemen here who have put so, so much into OpFTH in your time and effort as well as the letters, cigars and other items you purchased or collected and sent over.

again, you don't have to mail stuff to me or schmitty -- send it on over directly if you want!

OPFTH is ongoing. packages go out on the 1st and 15th of each month -- provided that we HAVE DONATIONS TO SEND OUT. the next one out goes 1 June, and so far it is EMPTY.

thanks all, and semper fi!
sicilian tony

wow - I printed this for my kids (that was their drawn pictures and letters he speaks of) and will forward this link to those that contributed to that first package. Its great to see they got them and here from them, Thanks!

Bill

"smitty"

Tony,
When my boxpass makes it back, I will send a bunch for the cause. I am working with a pastor, who is trying to get donations, letters, candy, beef jerky,etc. I'll let you know, when the collecting is complete.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Tony,

E-mail sent.

thank you, gentlemen! that's excellent! emails will be headed to you here shortly.

schmitty: i was so happy to hear that the packages are starting to arrive. 🙂 let me know what your family says when they read mike's reply?

Tony,
I have a feeling that June 1st box isn't going to stay empty.

Randy

kids and wife were very emotional. My 6 year old daughter drew some pictures of her and our pet cat and american flags etc. Those are the ones he is talking about. She immediately went back to the art center and already has 4 more for this next box 🙂

Wife was tearing up. I forwarded the reply to many around me that contributed or not to that first package. It has already sparked more interest in filling this next one. Those that failed to get anything for the first box is talking about getting involved with the june box 🙂

I think knowing that someone actually got the box is a great motivator to those that were on the fence to contribute or not.

Keep the truck moving~

only thing i am shy of for next box is gars. I got the goods covered but have depleated my stash a bit in the last 2 shipments. but think a few friends might come thru later

hey, randy! good to see you here. welcome to cbid, and i hope your feeling about the june box is right. 🙂

folks, this gentleman is one righteous BOTL i know from the toraño board. 🙂

you know, though, i really can't complain about the box for june being empty if it means that people are continuing to send things out directly to the 1stSgt (instead of sending them here and then me forwarding it on -- essentially mailing stuff out twice unnecessarily). either way works for me; i just wanna make sure we keep it heading over to these guys. how it gets there isn't important in the least.

schmitty, that's great (the more interest thing), and i'm so glad your family and the others got to read mike's message too. 🙂

thank you, all!

I could use some sticks for this next shipment :/

I got everything else covered and actually box ready. Only 4 sticks in it at this time. I sent about 1/2 my personal stash last box and can not afford to give the rest this time.

If you have anything. Drop me a line please

i want to thank cbidder La10870 for contributing to the OpFTH effort. he will be sending out a letter of support and "50-100 cigars" as well.

WAY TO GO, La10870 (Michael)!!!!

i also want to thank puskarich (Rich) for his offer to send both cigars and cutters to the 2D Marines.

THANK YOU, RICH!!!

you guys are great, and i can't thank you enough for taking part in OpFTH. OUTSTANDING!

^

^topsville

the next package (still empty!) is slated to go out on 1 JUNE. if you have anything you'd like to send over -- or if you'd like to send something yourself -- please get in touch! BBELTRISI at ec.rr.com

thank you La and Puskarich for sending out packages to the Marines of 2D LAR in fallujah! it's very much appreciated, both by OpFTH and by the troops who will receive and benefit so much from them. god bless!

The package was sent out today with a few letters from people at my company, 125 cigars, 3 cutters, and 5 packs of CIGARBID MATCHES. Simper Fi. As I mentioned to you, Tony, I can do this one more time toward the end of next month.

Thanks for organizing the mailing.

thank you so much, michael!

i was just getting on here to let folks know about the big ol' bomb you're sending over to fallujah for the marines. WOO HOO!! there are gonna be some happy herfers over there! again, thanks bigtime!

Hey Cavallo,
I have some smokes, on the way, from my boxpass. Shoot me some coordinates, and I'll fire some your way.
homebrew at centurytel dot net
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

thank you, homie! email comin' atcha!

also a big thanks to cbid new guy (but a true BOTL), RANBOH for his contribution.

that UT martin effort just blows me away. i'd love to see the look on mike's (FirstSgtSmoke's) face when that arrives! woo hoo! thanks so much for all you've done to make that happen. that is OUTSTANDING!

the 1 june box is no longer empty!! thank you very much, gentlemen. the wife is out picking up a few non-tobacco items to include, and i'll enclose some cartoons, jokes and notes as well.

thanks again, all, for making OpFTH an ongoing success!

god bless each of you.

NICE!

my 15th box is only 1/3 full and 0 smokes 😞

but i got 2 weeks i guess. If anyone has anyhthing let me know. smitty0128forums-cigars at yahoo.com for details

^ thank your troops for service and shake a vets hand this weekend!

^

bang