I received my copy of May No Soldier Go Unloved by Jeff Bader in the mail this week. The thing is, I never ordered this book. It just...showed up.
Upon opening it, I found out it was a book from the husband of the founder of Soldier's Angels, Patti Patton-Bader. I'd never heard of Soldier's Angels when I was in Iraq, I didn't hear of them when I got back, and it wasn't for two years that I would find out about them.
It's amazing the coincidences, call it karma or a divine anointment. But somehow, an anonymous Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran with mild blogging skill met a bored girl who was supposed to be working who just happened to be the sister-in-law of the soon-to-be-wounded-in-action soldier who would be the inspiration for Project Valour-IT. Fate, maybe?
I figure it was sent to me because I donated far more money than I really should've during the ensuing pledge drive to start the project. I just wanted the Army to win (what with the loyalty for 16 years of service), so I threw a few bucks in and got us to the finish line. And by "few" I mean "a lot."
Determined to review the book, I started going through it and...well...started reading it. This is important to note, as I have this problem with "reading" -- if God intended us to read books, he would've made words look more like pictures. And have car chases and explosions. Suffice it to say, I don't like reading.
Imagine my surprise when, upon opening it, I found a hand-written note from both Jeff and Patti, thanking me and the troops. Humbled, to say the least. It gets worse from there, as the book starts with the origin of Soldier's Angels, and then abruptly pauses for letters from service members in Iraq.
Reading them, I kept thinking to myself, "wow, I wish we had blankets. Wow, I wish we had people sending us cooling vest...things." As somebody who's been there and done that (sorry, cliché haters), but I relieved a lot of those years in the letters. I could still feel the sand in my hair, the dust on my boots.
After the letters, the book continues with the projects they've started, including Operation Valour-IT. Then there's the commendations, with enough paper in there to fill up three "I love me" walls. The point of printing the all wasn't to show off, but to just let people know the breadth of the service they've provided, and just how many of the military they've helped.
It's a fascinating read for people who are actually into supporting the troops. By that, I mean with donations and volunteering, not just getting rid of that evil Bush and his oil-mongering cronies.
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Comments (5)
Cue the trolls. 3...2...</... (Below threshold)1. Posted by JimK | August 25, 2007 2:46 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Cue the trolls. 3...2...
Excellent post. Time for me to donate to SA again, I think.
1. Posted by JimK | August 25, 2007 2:46 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 25, 2007 02:46
2. Posted by Oyster | August 25, 2007 6:12 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Yep, me too, JimK.
2. Posted by Oyster | August 25, 2007 6:12 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 25, 2007 06:12
3. Posted by al | August 25, 2007 10:41 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Payday is a few days away. Time to order the book and donate again.
3. Posted by al | August 25, 2007 10:41 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 25, 2007 10:41
4. Posted by LAB | August 25, 2007 12:24 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
This is a great website! I had just found it yesterday! :)
4. Posted by LAB | August 25, 2007 12:24 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 25, 2007 12:24
5. Posted by pudge | August 27, 2007 1:34 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Then there's the commendations, with enough paper in there to fill up three "I love me" walls."
Maybe I'm just a bit too cynical, but isn't this guy taking a big old left handed swipe at the book/SA ? For that, I'll call your (back)hand and raise the point that you are as selfserving as you seem to indicate the book you are reviewing is. If people get a little puffed up about their work supporting the troops, why hold it against them ? Does their, percieved by you, self puffery result in any harm ? I know you've had to live with "the sand in your hair and the dust on your boots" w/o ever having heard of SA, but does that make them any less significant to the many who appreciate their work ?
You have the air of bitterness about you sir. One would think that you might reserve that for the murthas, kerrys, kennedys, turbins etc. who have actually brought the face of death into yours and your brother soldiers' lives more prominently, through their open encouragement of the enemy, who would surely melt from the heat of a united America determined to slaughter them to the last man.
Those are the ones, the ones with blood on their hands, who deserve your disdain. Have you paid a bigger price than those erecting "love me" walls ? Of course you have. Could you use a little gratitude and humility ? I'll let you answer that one.
5. Posted by pudge | August 27, 2007 1:34 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2007 01:34