As you know, boxes go out every week at least once and sometimes two or three times. Here are some responses to the "Support Boxes" sent out a few weeks ago. I'm guessing "Chris" does or did a lot of texting. It took a little while, but I love his letter. I'm looking for a small vac to send to 2nd Lt Tran that will handle the fine dust. Any ideas? I appreciate all the help I can get and our MARINES love getting mail from home, so cards and letters are always wanted.....

Enjoy the letters, without your support, the boxes wouldn't be going out.
Semper Fi,
Momma Marine,
Jodi



From: Chris Mack
Subject: thank you
Date: October 27, 2008 1:29:20 AM CDT
To: Jodi McClellan

Dear Mrs. McClellen

my name is christopher mack i am a marine on deployment to iraq with 1 battalion 3rd marines bravo campany and i recevied some of the items u sent us. thank you for the love and support that u show to the troops over here we need more people like u that have good hearts! ;)

Dear Chris,
How wonderful to hear from someone who has received from me. WHAT would you like to have in the next box? I send out boxes EVERY week at least once and when time and supplies allow, more than that. I sent the boxes to SgtMaj Lewallen but from here on out, I will make sure you get your own package.

I mailed boxes to a MARINE Helicopter Pilot in Afghanistan until he got to go home and he called me, "Momma Marine" I love the name! I have decided to keep it. You guys are deep in my heart and if the Corps didn't have that stupid AGE CUT OFF thing, I'd be out there with my "boys". I tried to enlist with our youngest. The Recruiter said, "Well, ma'am, there's an age limit to enlisting." I honestly think Andrew breathed a sigh of relief. Probably a good thing, that age limit, they'd probably have killed me. I have a bad habit of listening to the voices in my head instead of my "body". My head seems to think I can still do anything I put my mind to. My body KNOWS that ain't so, and will let me know to just what extent I have misbelieved by yelling loudly through every muscle and joint in it. So, I'll let the Corps have that one. ANYWAY, this Momma Marine has been given a super name and I will use it proudly by serving YOU and YOUR BROTHERS & SISTERS with love.

I have two sons serving right now. In August our middle son was recalled from the inactive ready reserve while trying to re-enlist into the Army Warrant Officer Program. So, now, he is a Vehicle Commander in a Stryker Brigade. He loves it. He will deploy right after the first of the year.

Last Dec our youngest entered the USMC. OORAH! Following Daddy's footsteps.... He is 0811 and when I asked why that instead of, oh how about, AVIONICS? Know what he said? Go ahead, guess.... His reply, my sweet baby, the song in my heart, the holder of my breath, my adorable little boy, my precious son said, "MOM! I GET TO BLOW @#$% UP! " Oh, how proud I must have been of him. A couple of days later, we're sitting at the airport and his biggest brother asks what his MOS is and Andrew tells him and my oldest says, "COOL ! YOU GET TO BLOW @#$% UP!" Chris, it was at that very moment I realized, 0811, it's a GUY THING! Should've realized that early on, my husband, USMC, 0811.... go figure.

Well, puddin' you take care of yourself and let me know what you can use and I'll do my best to get it to you. In the meantime, know that you are very important and in my eyes, thoughts and heart, YOU ARE A CHAMPION, YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND YOU ARE ONE OF MY HEROES.

With lots of prayers and love,
Momma Marine
Jodi



From:Chris Mack
Subject: Re: thank you
Date: October 28, 2008 2:14:38 AM CDT
To: Jodi McClellan

Dear Momma Marine(lol)

first off i think that is a perfect name for u you i think anyone who shows as much support as u do deserves that title but i think i'll let u hold that title for me if thats ok with u? if yes then good! ;) lol anywho yeah 0811 is definetly a guy thing...i mean think about it when we were young we were destructive so when we get older what else would we want to do lol! but now with everything you've told me i see why u have so much support for us heck just about every man of importance in ur life has or is serving time in the military...which i know has to be hard for u but just know that ur strength and ur kind heartedness give us strength to deal with the distance and hard times that we indure here so the more support the better ;) as in regards to sendin me individual packages u don't have to do that what ur doin already is good enough for me really! so just keep doin what ur doin...lol and on a lighter note yeah its probably a good thing u didn't join with ur soon cause that would have been rough for him in bootcamp lol but it would have mad one heck of a headline in the marine times lol

much love and thanks
-chris
p.s.
i don't know if i told u this in the last e-mail but i'm from Texas also...random i know but i saw u were from there so i guess i figured u'd like to know u were talkin to a fellow Texan!


From: 2nd Lt Lenny Tran
Subject: Care package
Date: October 30, 2008 12:35:59 PM CDT
To: Jodi McClellan

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Jodi,
It was so good to get your package and read your letter. I appreciate the time and effort you spent to get the package here. Life is hard over here sometimes but you’re generosity and care will make it better. I’ll be sure to spread the candy around so that I’m not the only one getting cavities. I’m originally from San Jose, CA, went to school at UC San Diego, and am stationed at 29 Palms. We were recently able to get some pillows and mats, so we’re good on those, but of course, anything you send will be utilized and appreciated. The only thing I would request right now is a small vacuum cleaner powerful enough to suck up fine sand and dust. As you know, it’s really sandy here; the sand is really fine and once you disturb it, it puffs up in the air, lingers, and then settles on whatever it touches. We call it “moon dust” and it gets everywhere. We have plenty of brooms and brushes, but they just spread the moon dust from one place onto another. Anyway, I figure the best way to combat it is to suck it off of our clothes and sheets. So a small, powerful vacuum would all I ask for to make daily life a little better. Other than that, everything is fine. The weather is starting to turn cold so we’ll be switching from our heat prevention gear to our cold protection gear. I hope everything is going well with you. I’m certain that all the Marines who have benefited from your work are most appreciative of all your care and support. Thanks again.

Your Friend,
Lenny