Special Gifts from the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

I thought I would share something with all of you.
On October 7th, 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom begins in Afghanistan. I had notified the various ships after some lengthy research how to contact them. I told them that I wanted to support our troops on this important mission for our country and the world. I explained I was no one of importance just a grateful American that would like to send care packages and letters of support.
It was a special time, we were answering back to the terrorists after their attack on 9-11 and the world other then Muslim countries were in full support of the mission. It was the first time in my life there was a feeling of unity among the good vs. a pure evil. People were enlisting that had never even thought about it before they wanted to be a part of going after the terrorists. Many other re-enlisted as well and there was an awakening in our country that spread to every city and town, big and small. Flags were flying from shops and business’s and homes and cars that had never been there before. Flag stickers were seen on vehicles proudly displayed showing support of our country. A pride in America like I have never seen in my lifetime.
As time went by Nicholas and I sent numerous packages, letters asking for requests for special items and needs. Friendships being made that will always be special just as those have been from the Gulf War and the Vietnam War.
One of the main ships we were in contact with was the USS Bataan. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed aboard the USS Bataan. The unit went to Spain, then participated in the Operation Bright Star exercises in Egypt. It looked like it might be a normal cruise. He said there was a lot of supposition that the 26th would be going into Afghanistan, but it didn’t become official until after the Marines exercised in Albania.
The 26th MEU followed the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit into Camp Rhino, near Kandahar, Afghanistan. The unit then took, secured and protected Kandahar International Airport. It was the longest amphibious landing in history. The Navy placed the Marines more than 500 miles from their ships.
Once they got there we continued to stay in touch. Much of the news we kept to ourselves so as not to put our troops in more danger, other news we would share.
A giant U.S. flag that flew over New York’s ground zero and was scrawled with the names of victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks was raised by Marines at their base at Kandahar airport. The flag was given to the Marines by the New York Police Department in the hopes that it would be flown over Afghanistan, said Col. Andrew W. Frick of Task Force 58.
In the white stars of the flag’s blue field were written the names of the police officers who died in the World Trade Center attack, as well as those of 17 sailors killed in an October 2000 suicide bombing against the Navy ship USS Cole in Yemen.
Two weeks after the terror attacks, the flag was draped across a building near the World Trade Center. Later, it was taken to an emergency services office in Manhattan, where it became a memorial cloth.
It was flown to the USS Bataan, a Navy warship in the northern Arabian Sea, and then went with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, N.C., which seized this international airport.
Remember John Walker, the American that joined the terrorists to kill Americans? When the Marines were coming back from Afghanistan aboard the USS Bataan, they had John Walker on board with them. They wrote me about it and said they kept him locked up and away from the others they had taken prisoner. They also said the stench from him was almost unbearable. They had to clean him up just to bring him back. But they had to do it once he was already on the ship.
One day to my complete surprise a large, box arrived from Afghanistan. There was special wrapping paper folded neatly inside it was a red background with the USMC emblem on it in gold and a card. A bottle of wine with the map of Afghanistan, a small glass bottle with sand from Afghanistan, a set of 12 cups and saucers with the USMC emblem on them in gold, a Screaming Eagles Zippo lighter, a mug, and cap.
I sat there so surprised and tears running down my cheeks. I was so proud of them and so grateful and they didn’t have to give me anything. Their service and the service or our soldiers, Airmen and Sailors was MORE then one could ask for.
Over the years these items, these gifts sit on a special shelf for others to see. I have never posted about this and thought you might like to see them. The sand in the little bottle being from Afghanistan when thinking about it can you imagine what that sand has been through. The history of that sand, amazing.
One of the Marines called us and told us how we could open the bottle of wine and still manage to save the thin gold thread wrapped along it from the top. LOL He said that is what they all were doing. I laughed and said NO way. That wine will never be drunk, it is too valuable to me and I will cherish it and all the things always.

The Cap from the USS Bataan and the small bottle of sand from Afghanistan

The Mug

The cup and saucer

The bottle of wine with the map of Afghanistan and it says Operation Enduring Freedom over the map and Bataan ARG….LOL I left it pretty big so you can see the image detail better.