(March 15 - June 15, 2006) AFGHANISTAN CAPTAIN:

The following is a copy of email correspondence between Rich Lane of Treats and Letters, and a Captain in the U.S. Army identified as G. J., for security reasons.

Here is the banner that I was talking about. These banners are designed to boost morale in a spectacular way. We have each banner personalized and professionally printed. Each banner is sponsored by a Treats and Letters supporter and signed by numerous American Patriots. We would be happy to customize one for your unit. Please click the pictures under the message to view the banners as displayed last November at Camp Phoenix. Let me know if you are interested? God Bless and protect each of you. Sincerely, Rich Lane G. J. wrote: Mr. Lane: I, we, would be very much interested. What is it that I need to provide you? Thank you for all that you do for the soldiers. G. G. J. CPT RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   G, All I need from you is the name of your unit as you would like it written on the banner. We are about to expand our service to reach more troops with our Jerky and personalized letters. Please let me know if there are many in your group who are interested in our service. Rich.   (Message below is coded for security reasons) G. J. wrote: My unit and the overall Headquarters is the 1XXth XX BDE. However, we have XX and LTF personnel from the XX BDE and we have XX personnel. I hate to exclude anyone, but not sure how you would handle putting all these folks on a banner. Thanks again for all your support. G. G. J. CPT, RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Guy, We have an enthusiastic sponsor for the tribute banner that we are getting ready to send to you. The Sponsor is a large family owned and operated company from Chicago, IL. called Dutch Farms Inc. The owner is interested in having his employees write the letters to you and your fellow service members, themselves. Please forward a list of names of troops who would like their own personalized letters from the people of Dutch Farms. Wait until you see the banner, it will be a real morale booster. Sincerely, Rich   Richard: That is great and exciting news. I look forward to seeing the banner and us taking a picture with it. I will work on the list of names and get it back to you ASAP. One, because we are due to ship out in late June and two. because our mail delivery is exceedingly slow. Thank you for all the hard work in getting a sponsor for our banner and thank you for all that you are doing for soldiers. It really means a lot!!! God Bless – Guy Guy J. CPT RECON TM Chief   Afghanistan Hello Guy, I haven't heard back from you in a while. I hope all is well with you. Your tribute banner and jerky will be sent out next week. Please write back when you are able. You are admired, loved and respected by many. May God continue to bless and protect you. In Christ, Rich.   Richard: I am sorry for the delay in responding. It is two-fold. One, I scratched the cornea of my left eye and have been out for the count since Sunday. Today is actually able to open my eyes without pain, though my vision is still blurry in that eye until the new cornea finishes growing and the old, damaged cornea sloughs off. Two, I am still waiting for the OK from my chain of command to release names – it is a security thing. I have sent them a gentle reminder with your previous email letting me know that the banner should be sent in a few days to the sponsor for signatures. That is great news!!! I will work diligently on my chain of command to get those names to you. Thank you again for all your support of us and all the troops around the world. God Bless Guy “Guy J.” CPT. RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Hey Guy, I was thinking of using our communications regarding the banner as a tool for generating interest by Americans here, back home, in sponsoring our banner program. I have attached a Word document with the basic content of our back and forth communications. I have coded or deleted what I thought would be a potential compromise of privacy or security. Would I be asking too much if I were to ask you to have the Chain of Command look at and critique the attached document? Rich:   Rich: The contents that you provided have nothing in it that the chain of command is worried about, but thank you for checking with them. They also suggested that the donors write to the commands of each of the groups of ETTs under the 196th. I also asked a few guys as well. We all have the basic same address: (names withheld for security reasons) They can of course also write me. Thank you again for all that you have done and for your patience. With Blessings – Guy “Guy J.” CPT. RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Guy, I deeply appreciate your efforts on behalf of Treats and Letters. I know the folks at Dutch Farms will be delighted to have an opportunity to write letters to you and your fellow Soldiers of the 196th. Also Guy, I am not sure what the “ETT” signifies? I am not a military guy so I am hoping that you can teach me a little something here, lol. Lastly, please do a very large favor for me. Please tell the replacement unit coming in behind you about Treats and Letters. I have also attached an order form for jerky, letters and pocket Bibles, please copy and share. We have cut the jerky menu down to the two most popular flavors on this revised form, (Spicy Peppered and Lightly Sweetened Teriyaki.) We just had to simplify things to maximize our production equipment and keep up with the demand from troops. I know that our deliveries have been less than dependable not withstanding the mail problems that you have had. I apologize for that. What is encouraging is that we are gaining more support every day. One day, hopefully soon, we will be able to make consistent twice-monthly deliveries to all American troops who request our service. Forever Grateful, Rich Lane.   Richard: ETT stands for Embedded Tactical Trainer – we work closely with an Afghan National Army unit and teach them tactics, go with them on missions, and advise and evaluate them. Roger, will pass your information off to the 5.0 folks that will be coming to replace us. These are the names that were given to me from the G1 (Personnel) folks and I assume talked to the chain of command. If you would like more names I can start asking folks around camp if they would mind the people from Dutch Farms contacting them. About how many folks are they wanting? Thanks again for the great support of the troops. God Bless – Guy Guy J. CPT. RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Hello Guy, Just dropping a message to see if your banner had arrived yet? We sent it out nearly three weeks ago. I hope you get it or have gotten it already. Well you really are a short timer now aren't you? I pray that you will have a great reunion with family and friends later this month. Checkout the web site for the upgrades. www.treatsandletters.org. I will be heading out of town next week to a Graduation in the Great state of Maine. My nephew graduates high school in Portland, ME. So if I do not hear back from you before next Tuesday, let me just say it has been a real pleasure working on this banner project with you for the men and women of you're unit. Keep in touch and may God continue to bless you. Your friend in Christ, Rich.   Rich: No sir, the banner has not made it yet. I did receive your box of jerky and gum, with the CDs from Independence Junior High yesterday though. I do hope it arrives before we depart. Sir, it has been my pleasure working with you. You are what make America great. Americans that love America and her people. That is a strength and love that can only come from God. As long as America holds on to that relationship she will be strong. Thank you again and safe travels to Maine. Guy Guy J. CPT, FA/AR RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Guy, I sincerely hope that your banner arrives soon. Thanks again for all of your help in coordinating the banner project for your unit. Please message me if it comes. Also send pictures if possible. Guy, one other thing. We are posting some e-mail messages from the troops on our web site. We would like to post some of your messages. We would protect your privacy by abbreviating your name and we would not disclose your mailing address or e-mail address. We just want to let America know what it means to the troops to receive treats and letters of encouragement from the people back home. Guy, I cannot thank you enough for your service to America and what it means to the future of the world. We are grateful and forever in your debt. Please accept my prayers for a safe journey home and a spirited reunion with family and loved ones. Please c.c. your reply to unclerich@treatsandletters.org Your Brother In Christ, Rich Lane.   Rich: Again, an honor working with you. My part is minimal compared to the hard work and dedication of you and your staff. What you do for so many of the soldiers around the world is vastly more important. You are more than welcome to use whatever communiqué we have had on your website and in your mailings. Thank you again for all your support and many blessings for your future success. Guy Guy J. CPT. RECON TM Chief Afghanistan   Hello Guy, My family and I are back from a rain drenched five day visit to Maine. I was hoping that your banner had arrived by now? It would be a real shame if you did not get it. Rich.   Rich: I sent you an email 2 days ago stating that the banner had arrived that day. Am getting with the chain of command (COC) when we can get everyone together for a photo-shoot. The banner is awesome. You guys included everyone that is represented here at Camp Mike Spann. That is a fitting tribute. Please send me a POC and the address of sponsors so that I can have the COC write a letter. Thanks again Rich and I will send you the pictures once we have taken them. Guy Guy J. CPT, RECON TM Chief Afghanistan