Field of Opertaion; packed and ready to go!

Operation New Dawn.  A new dawn.  A new Iraq.  "We remain committed to the stability of the people of the nine southern provinces."  Our focus for Operation New Dawn will be to advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces.' Maj. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Commander, United States Division-South (Army).

This is the latest directive for the field of operation where Dan will be going, not to cook but to protect and serve as a gunner for the unit commander.  During Basic he shot "expert" which means none are getting away!  This will come in handy for sure.  I am proud of his accomplishments and for his forward thinking about where he wants to go in the Army over the next few years.  

Dan has packed his personal belonging to store on base at Ft Riley and is sending home a few items to be shipped to him, they are coming home with Dorothy (like in the Wizard of Oz...he is in Kansas, and his grandmother's name is Dorothy (Loretta's mom).  Big shout to our good friend Yale who will be bringing Dorothy home sometime around Nov 8th.  She will be safe and sound here in SD, and Loretta will enjoy driving her for the next year or so.

If you would like to post a word of encouragement, prayer, scripture verse or comment to Dan please do so and I will forward them to him.  He appreciates all your prayers.  Prayer requests from Dan will be posted along with requests from the guys in his unit.  

Just a reminder, if you have items to donate for the soldier care packages get them to Loretta by Nov 12th. 

Fall is beautiful! November Care Packages.

Dan is headed back to Ft Riley today.  He is so enjoying the beautiful of Fall along the way!  Watch for pics on his FB page.  Here in SD we don't get much of the 4 seasons but the mid-west is beautiful this time of year.  We've been having fall weather, unpredictable, dreary, little wind and rain.  We are so spoiled with 65-75 degree weather with sunshine.

Got my Blue Star Mom's t-shirt...so Veteran's Day Parade in SD on Nov 11th here we come!  Support the troops!  Our next meeting on the 13th, we will be putting together care packages, many of these items can be purchased at the Dollar Store or in bulk at Walmart or Costco.  Contact me to pick up items or make arrangements to drop them off.

Here's the list of items needed for care packages:

FOOD ITEMS

• Coffee creamer and sugar packets
• Pre-sweetened drink mix (gatorade, crystal lite, kool-aid)
• Hot Chocolate, Apple cider (individual packets)
• Tuna/Chicken creations/lunch kits (all the condiments included)
• Cup O Soup
• Trail Mix, Nuts, Microwave Popcorn
• Protein, Granola, Cereal or Breakfast bars, Pop Tarts
• Instant Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat (individual packets)
• Cookies (individual packages)
• Candy (hard, NO chocolate)
• Gum (caffeine gum is huge hit), Breath mints
• Fruit snacks (roll-ups, gushers)

PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS

• shampoo, conditioner
• soap, deodorant
• baby wipes ( it can be a long time between showers)
• toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss
• Q-tips, cotton balls
• Eye drops

FUN THINGS:   INDIVIDUAL and TRAVEL SIZE

• Hand held games, board games
• Puzzles & Word game books
• Playing cards, card games (UNO, Skip Bo, etc)
• Dice games, Boggle, Scrabble, Mississippi marbles 
• Batteries AAA, AA, C & D
• Paddle balls, hacky sacks, Yo-Yo's
• Nerf football, basketball (any small sports ball)
• Velcro darts, squirt guns, squishy balls
• Music CD's, DVD's
• Small tablets paper, pens

OTHER ITEMS

• Flip flops (men's & women's sizes)
• New T-shirts (leave tags on and do not wash)
• Cotton socks (heavy, white & black)
• Ziplock bags (snack, sandwich, quart, & gallon sizes)

More interesting info to come.

-One Proud Army Mom!

Dan goes to Kentucky to see dad

Daniel headed to Ft Knox, KY  Tuesday, no not for the gold but to visit his dad Andy, Linda (step mom), Daniel (step brother...yes 2 Daniels was sometimes difficult, thankfully the last names were different) and Dakota (5 yr old nephew).  Andy is an Army Recruiter, he and Linda have a lovely home.  You can check out Dan's pics of his drive to Kentucky on his FB page.  Some are funny, like a huge order of food from Jack in the Box with the comment "I won't be getting this for another year!"  Oh the things we think we'll miss???  Dan enjoyed looking through the boxes of his belongings he hadn't seen for over a year, "oh the memories!"

Such fun I'm having with the learning curve on this blog, took me a while to figure how to get to the blogging page. But I've got it now!

Coming soon:  lists of items being collected by the Blue Star Moms for gift boxes

First Day Oct 10, 2010

This blog is for family and friends of Daniel Cook while he is deployed.  I am inviting you to come from time to time and see what I post.  No offensive language or comments please.  If you are having a difficult time with Daniel being deployed, contact me direct via email: lorettaforjesus@yahoo.com.

I joined the Blue Star Mom's yesterday, purchased my t-shirt on line "My son's serving, Daniel Cook, U.S. Army," will participate in activities to raise money, send care packages 3 times a year, attend local deployment ceremonies and welcome soldiers home who are based in the San Diego area and much more. 
If you would like to contribute or learn more about this National Non-Profit Organization check them out at www.bluestarmothers.org.  Kinda like PTA for the military.  Every local groups are currently collecting items to send to soldiers for the holidays, give as if you were giving to Daniel and many soldiers will be blessed. 

Daniel finished his training at Ft Polk, Louisiana and has been back at Ft Riley packing and preparing for deployment to Iraq in about 4-5 weeks. No date yet.   

Please join me to be a blessing to Daniel, his family, his unit, and military men and women in your local community.  Pray and participate.  It is truly more blessed to give then to receive. 

One Proud Army Mom!
Loretta