August 2011
Dear Kristin:
The packages arrived and were a HUGE hit - all of our local team fans were thrilled with the t-shirts and hats. Our baseball team got the chance to use the gloves and balls in our final practices and game (we lost) - all of the equipment, movies and everything you guys have done for us is amazing. We arrived in Wisconsin yesterday, we are going through our re-intergration process now and will be home in about a week.

I cannot thank you enough for all of the support you, your family and your organization have provided, way more than I or anyone else could have imagined. Thank you again for all you've done, if there is anything we can do for you please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
Donald King

October 2007
I received several more boxes from you today. I distributed most of the snacks and movies to my soldiers who were once again very grateful for your support. I did, however, hold on to a few things for myself. The newspapers from RI were nice, it was interesting to see what was going on close to home, as well as how the media there was publicizing the war. I also kept the other gift in the small black case. Thank you very much. I hope the race this weekend goes well and I hope I will be able to be there next year for it.  Thank you again.
1 LT Matt Offiler

June 2007
I received your most recent package last night when I came back in from a patrol. My soldiers have had a rough couple weeks and we finally got an easy week to recover, so when they saw all the sports gear- the Frisbees, basketball and footballs.. they were pretty happy, to put it lightly. The movies you sent over were a big hit too. I didn't expect to see that many DVDs. Some of us, to include myself, have been reading some Tom Clancy books ( I just finished Rainbow Six the other day), so the Jack Ryan box set was a big hit too. We set up a TV in the tent so we could all watch them.
Thanks again,
1LT Matt Offiler

October 2006
Words cannot express the gratitude the Marines of Fox Company have for your generosity. Yesterday, we received the first two boxes of goodies you sent and thought wow.

Then today we were floored to receive 2 more boxes of goodies from you.  You are truly the spirit of American generosity and pride. You support for our Marines is far above anything that could have been expected.

I was expecting small care packages with the basic supplies to hand out to the Marines. Your thoughtfulness and unselfish giving have touched not only my heart but the heart of all the Marines here at Firm Base Barawanah. It was like a touch of America was received in this distant country amongst foreigners. I only hope you know how much we appreciate your thoughts, prayers and deeds.
Captain Chris Krahulec
USMC

November 2005
Thank you for thinking of my son, Brett, and for taking the time and effort to send him something. He, and all the troops so appreciate ANY mail from home. Knowing that people are thinking of them really helps their morale. I just spoke with him yesterday --- and he and his buddies are especially homesick now with the holidays coming up. Hopefully, his Division will be coming home in late January. It's been a L O N G year for all of us.
I can't even tell you how grateful we are for your thoughts.
Regards,
Dawn Carrier

April 2005
The packages arrived in what appears to be record time. I had help in the mail room opening them up and sorting through them. It was like Christmas. You did an excellent job. The shirts were a big hit...nice to have something other than desert tan. The footballs were also a big hit. I have to say there wasn't anything that won't go to good use. The funny thing about the nail polish...us girls were dying to give ourselves a pedicure. The colors are great and I grabbed a bottle of pink for myself. As soon as I get a day (or afternoon) off...I am painting my toenails!

As I was putting the cameras on the shelf a soldier came in and asked "can I have one" and I was very happy to have made his day and gave him one. Thanks for everything! We are going to take a picture of us to send off to you! Maybe the guys will get one of them throwing the football around. Take care!
Laurie
CPT Laurie Ludovici

p.s. The Mother's Day cards are almost all gone.....very good idea.

June 2005
Hi there.

Good news, we received your package. I personally sorted the cards and put them on display in the mail room. I picked out a few (one for my dad and one for my hubby). The magazines are always welcome. And of course, any kind of candy and sweets are always a BIG hit. The sunscreen is already gone.

Thanks for everything! I really appreciate all that you are doing to make our tour here more bearable.

Laurie
CPT Laurie Ludovici

December 2005
Dear Kristin,

I received your holiday packages over the past couple of days, and the first word that comes to mind is overwhelmed. This is truly amazing and beyond anything I could have possibly imagined. I am not nearly smart enough to put into words my expressions of gratitude. With each box that I opened, my excitement (I am a little embarrassed to reveal) grew and those of my whole office for that matter. We truly were like kids on Christmas morning.

I have to tell you that the Athletic Equipment and Movies were a huge success. When I pulled out the Soccer Ball a couple of guys actually yelled out “YES!” and the footballs were being tossed around the office for most of the afternoon. The movies were going like hotcakes. People were commenting with statements like “this is one of my favorites, I have got to see this”. My intent with those is to use them like a library, people can borrow them and return them for others to use.

Finally, and on the personal side, I want to especially thank you, I am not normally a “Christmas Spirit” kind of guy, even back home. However, through your good will and allowing me to act as you representative, I have seen you bring a lot of smiles and joy to the soldiers here, and even if it is a little on the corny side, it really has made me feel good to do it. So, thank you, it may have been an unintended gift you have given me, but it is one that I will never forget.

Merry Christmas to you and all of yours, and I wish you a joyful and wondrous New Year.

CW2 Dan Curran

 

January 2011
Hey Kristen,
You guys really over did your selves on Christmas. Thank you so much for everything. My guys were so excited when we got those packages from you. Yesterday all we did was eat candy, play with the footballs and watch movies. They had a pretty good Christmas dinner for us here so we got fat and happy. LOL! I hope your Christmas was as good as ours. Yes we
were all away from our families, but we were still with the people we care about the. Sgt Salas said to tell you that he is so thankful to have received that IPOD, and he really didn't expect to get one. When I gave it to him, he just gave me a big hug and told me to tell you that you have an extraordinary group. You have been a blessing to me and my
guys here. I really believe that meeting you was a God thing and that there is a bigger plan behind all of this. Well anyways Thank you again from the Marines of W/C 670 in Afghanistan and we will keep you and your family in our prayers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

LCPL GLENN PAUL KENNEDY JR


August 2008
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that Jonah got his PSP and game in the mail today and it was a big surprise. He didn't expect to get that in the mail. So Thank you so much for getting this for him.  I just appreciate you guys doing this so much. You have really made Jonah feel appreciated.

Thank You,
Kim Carpenter
wife of  Pack It Up contact Jonah Carpenter

May 2007
I would like to thank you for the packages that you send me every month. It helps raise the spirits of myself and those whom I share the contents with. Thank you for your continuing support of me, and all of the soldiers overseas. Thanks again.
SPC Sanchez, Christopher

April 2007
On behalf of Apache Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry Regiment, I want to thank you for what your organization has done for the soldiers of my company. We have had numerous organizations send us individual boxes and care packages for soldiers including The Salvation Army, Anysoldier.com, and Soldier's Angels. I am certainly not downplaying what anyone does for our troops deployed here and around the world, but your organization has certainly been the best. Every time I receive your packages to distribute to the soldiers of Apache Company, I hear from the soldiers long before I make my way to the company to retrieve my mail. They know what the big boxes from Kristin Struck at Packitup.org contain.
Once again, thank you for your support
V/R
1LT Christopher Manion

December 2005
Pack It Up is amazing. Those that are helping you with this are amazing. For the last few days, your packages have been arriving. The contents of the packages are fantastic but the effort behind them is just overwhelming. Beyond our most heartfelt THANK YOU, I don't even know what to say anymore.

I passed out the first box of goodies Friday night in Kirkuk and four people called us on the radio to say thank you.  I have a feeling by Christmas morning, many of America's finest will be offering you their thanks as well.

Your efforts provide us with a great reminder that it is actually Christmas.

I'll finish by saying thank you on behalf of everyone here. Please pass that on to everyone involved with this project. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Merry Christmas,
Art
Lt Col Art Floru

January 2005
The movie and game library continues to be a hit. I am getting a far better understanding of young people by being here with them for so long. These kids stay up all night and play these Play Station games. They run wires from room to room and play against each other and that seems to be all they ever do.

Thanks again for all you have done.
Larry  
Lawrence P. Gallogly, COL, RIANG
143 Operations Group Commander

January 2005
Your package has arrived and was very well received. Us Red Sox/Pat’s fans are outnumbered but vocal! I know the guys look forward to sporting the colors around campus. We have a team B-B-Q coming up on 16 Feb and we are going to award the gag t-shirts you sent at that time so your timing is impeccable. The Pat’s shirts I awarded to our “Top Performer” on the day shift and on the night shift. Cards will be delivered today at meal times.

Thanks so much for your continued concern.
Larry
Lawrence P. Gallogly, COL, RIANG
143 Operations Group Commander

November 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for all you have done for us....you will always been remembered for your generosity and kindness.

Hope to meet you after we return,
Amy
SSG Amy Litman

March 2005
Kristin,
Wow. All I can say is Thank You. They called me today from the mailroom to tell me I had received a package. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This is way over above and beyond.
The gang was very happy and your selection of treats was perfect. I promise you every ounce of this is greatly appreciated.

Thank You again.
Major Art Floru

March 2005
Kristin,
You, your family and your friends have certainly gone to great lengths to ease the separation pain and make us all feel appreciated. It means a lot to me personally and I can not begin to explain how much it means to the guys.
See you soon,
Larry
Lawrence P. Gallogly, COL, RIANG
143 Operations Group Commander

 

December 2010
Hi Kristin,
My shop and I would like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the dvd players. That was an awesome idea and it worked out great for us. That was one of the biggest gifts this shop has ever seen.
Thank you so much for your support OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) of the Afghanistan campaign. Without supporters like you this would be a miserable tour of duty. It is very cold here now as we make our way into the winter months and we are preparing for Christmas and we wish you and all of those involved a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Thank You so much.

LCPL GLENN PAUL KENNEDY JR
AVIONICS W/C 670
AWP EXPEDITOR
"THROUGH PAIN COMES DISCIPLINE"

April 2011
Hello Pack It Up,

I received the package you sent yesterday, Thank You very much. The movies immediately went into the "rotation", the Kindles are going to be either gifted or prizes to deserving Soldiers (people much smarter than me will figure that out).
Many of us here are very excited about the baseball season starting - we are mostly Red Sox fans with a few Yankee and at least one Tiger fan (that would be me!) We are also closely watching the basketball and hockey playoffs; they provide a nice distraction from our day to day operations.
The weather here is heating up, we have broken 100 a couple times in the last week so we have that to look forward to.
The way it looks right now we should be home around the middle of August, of course that is subject to change.

Thank you again, the kindness and generosity of your family and organization is amazing.

Happy Easter to all of you.

Sincerely,
Donald King


September 2006
Dear Kristin,
We received what is to be our last care package! Once again, you and your organization have overwhelmed us with your thoughtfulness and generosity.

In the enclosed photo is Brigadier General Kevin R. McBride, the Brigade Commander, and myself.

He was truly amazed and impressed with all that you have done and with the items that you have provided us during our deployment. (Also, I am pretty sure he snatched a couple of the Ms Fields, Chocolate Chip Cookies).

I have to tell you the General has a pretty awesome responsibility over here, and for him to take the time out of his very busy schedule, shows you how much he along with all of the soldiers of this brigade appreciate what you and your organization have done and continue to do for us.

I will close this now, with again my personal thanks, and with the fondest wish of meeting you very soon at the Road Race.

CW2 Dan Curran

January 2006
Good Morning,
First off I want to thank you for all the support that you show to our soldiers in Iraq. My husband Dan is now serving in Iraq and he is one of your points of contact. Dan has told me about all the wonderful items that you have sent to his unit and how much joy it gets out of sharing them with his troops.

Thanks again for all your support.
Kathie A. Curran

February 2006
Hey Kristin, I just returned from leave. We got the boxes. Thanks alot. I put it all out on the tables in my office, and people are swarming in like vultures. We greatly appreciate it.
CPT John Cassetta

August 2005
Hi there,
Well we were three for three in the last three days. I received one box a day for three days straight and it was BIG fun opening them. One of my mail clerks and I enjoyed laying out the goodies like we worked in the local convenience store. He told me it was "all about presentation." The snacks were a big hit and I can safely say that the majority of them have already been eaten and enjoyed (except for the private stash we saved for our office). The ring dings and the yodels were a bit melted, but still edible. WOW....I never knew so many people liked Twinkies!

Thanks again, from the soldiers of the 1-126th Aviation!
CPT Laurie Ludovici

September 2005
Hi,
It's so great that people like yourself are so interested in doing your part, which by the way, is so important and visible to the Soldiers currently deployed.  Keep up the good work. 

Take Care,
SSG Amy Litman

October 2005
Amy tells me that we have recently received about 7 packages. She said they were well received and almost all of the goodies are gone. (I know we still have some of the peanut granola like bars in our office....they are yummy and some of the dried fruit, too!).

Really, Kristin, it was the highlight of our year here to get your boxes and see what kind of goodies we got (like Christmas)! So keep up the good work.
Thanks again,
Laurie
CPT Laurie Ludovici

November 2005
Hello,
I'm still here, will be here until end of DEC.  Thanks for everything you do for the troops out here… GOD bless you and your family….

Take care,
MAJOR JUAN ROSAS

November 2005
Hi,
Your work with this project can only be described as remarkable.
Thank you again for all you do. Your work matters.
See you soon.
Lt Col Art Floru

December 2005
Hi.
I just got another package. Everything is great and is very much appreciated. You send a lot of snacks so I had to share with everybody who wanted something. There is no way I could finish all this before I get to come home in a few weeks. What my buddies and I didn't finish from the first package I will give out to the Iraqi kids cause they are always begging us for chocolate. Thanks again for all your support.
PFC Brett Dreyer

March 2005
Hello,
The world is balanced. I did have a cup of coffee Sunday night in Bucharest, Romania and then fish & chips in Prestwick, Scotland on Monday night but I must say dinner in Middletown, RI on Tuesday night was the best.
 
Thank you again for everything. That is a great family and group of friends you have. Thank everyone for me.  Talk to you soon.
 
You're the best.
Art
Major Art Floru