01-24-2005, 09:40 PM
09-07-2005, 02:52 PM
09-07-05 - Received this from Lynette, Ben's wife. Please take 5 minutes of your time to read and respond. If you are going to participate, please send your postcard or card within the next 24 hours to 48 hours if possible. Thank you so much. Marion
OPERATION SMILE 
Hello everyone. This email serves 2 purposes: the first one is to
update you on Ben and the second one is to get you to participate in
"OPERATION SMILE".
Ben has been very busy; he works 18 hours a day. He is constantly going
out on missions, and now is the acting platoon sergeant for the next 3
Hello everyone. This email serves 2 purposes: the first one is to
"OPERATION SMILE".
Ben has been very busy; he works 18 hours a day. He is constantly going
out on missions, and now is the acting platoon sergeant for the next 3
weeks. To explain that position to you in a nutshell - he is now in
charge of about 30 soldiers instead of just the 8 in his squad. HUGE
RESPONSIBILITY and lots of STRESS associated with it!!!!!!!
Things seem to be picking up there as far as insurgent activity. But I
am happy to report that the Iraqi police forces ARE STANDING their
ground and fighting back - instead of running like they were before.
Regardless of what you hear or see on TV our soldiers are doing A LOT of
GOOD over there. It's very unfortunate that the media seems to only
choose negative things to report. It's very frustrating to the soldiers
and their families. Every US soldier (all of them) NEEDS OUR SUPPORT and
most of all our PRAYERS. Sometimes in the hustle and commotion of
everyday life, we forget about the unselfish soldiers deployed, giving
us the opportunity to live our lives the way that we do.
Now that brings me into "OPERATION SMILE":
THIS IS A TOP SECRET MISSION, DO NOT tell Ben about "OPERATION SMILE".
It is the home stretch for Ben and the 113th Eng Bn and we are hoping
they will be home for Christmas. It has been a long year and right now
Ben needs more than ever to have his sprits lifted. That is why
"Operation Smile" has become a mission of ours.
I would like for everyone to please take 5 minutes out of your busy
lives and send Ben a note, a card, a letter or just a postcard.
Something like, been thinking about you, thank you and God bless you,
we support your effects, appreciate all the sacrifices that you are
making, you are doing a great job over there, keep your spirits up,
keep your head up but remember to duck when you need too, be careful and
stay safe.
Just send him SOMETHING. He could really use a smile right now. Please
DON'T email it. I am looking for an old fashioned hand written note that
you would stamp and mail.
Ben has NEVER, not even once, mentioned a little that he didn't want to
go over there. When his deployment began, he left as a PROUD SOLDIER
who was protecting his family's freedom, his friend's freedom and the
freedom of the United States and all of its citizens. So please take
just a few minutes out of your day to send him a card that will make him
smile.
So here is the mission's plan. Everyone write him a quick hey how ya
doing? And mail them starting .........WEDNESDAY, September 7th. So
between now and Wednesday put it in the mail. Believe me when I say, he
could use the cheering up right now. If you are REALLY up for a
challenge: have other people send him a quick hi. Your friends,
co-workers, anybody you know. Mail call over there makes or breaks a
soldier's day. Morale drops in individual soldiers when they receive no
mail. That came from Ben's mouth. We have a big enough family, and
extended family, and friends that he shouldn't have to go for long
without mail. They have approximately (and hopefully) about 4 months
left. So sharpen up those pencils and let's make this mission a
success.
Ben's address is as follows:
SSG Benjamin Joy
Co B 113th EN BN
APO, AE 09334
So please WRITE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More to follow.................eventually : )
Thank you for your support.
Lynette, Brittney, Bailey & Brooklynn
Some quotes to think about:
We enjoy freedom and the rule of law on which it depends,
not because we deserve it, but because others before us
put their lives on the line to defend it.
* Thomas Sowell