Letters from my hero In Iraq.

I thought some might be interested in a simple dialog between a female soldier in the Iraq and myself. We met through Twitter and have a shared love of drag racing. I am letting you pick it up from the beginning…. In a message dated 1/5/2010 11:52:27 P.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes: How are ya? This is kel from twitter and this is my regular email. I wanted to say thank you for supporting us like you do.. It seems to me that Iraq is going a little unnoticed due to hightened threats in Afghanistan. People still dont realize were in danger here too LOL. Anywho..... Its very nice to meet you. Im from Colorado and i just turned XX on dec 25th....so i spent christmas here with my military family. I have been drag racing since i was in 7th grade, but i had to put it on the back burner because i joined the Army. That really sucks that they keep bumping you off the list to come over here.....It would be awesome to see you during a USO tour! It means alot to us that ya'll would risk coming over here just to boost our morale. We love seeing people from home/ the states....its kinda a feeling that has no words to describe. But im sure you will get put on a tour soon! How long have you been racing? I guess i would like to learn more about ya, i love meeting new people. I hope to hear from you soon! take it easy ~kels From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 9:30:01 AM Subject: Re: hey Tina Kels, Thanks for writing. Your right, that Iraq has fallen off the map. But I think it is a political play to avoid the truth that this country is at war. Not much can be done on the media level but trust me the majority of people totally disagree with the way the media is acting. That is cool that you have raced for so long I have only been racing about 6 years. I guess the way the USO works is they go with people who are requested. So maybe eventually I will get on that list. Did you race at Bandimere in Morris? I love it there, last season I spent almost a month in Colorado racing. I have two websites www.tinastullracing.com and www.teamtroops.com that have lots of pics if you’re interested. It is late and I have an early day but please keep in touch. And I mean it about the care package, I'll send whatever I can fit in the box, race stuff, magazines, munchies. Just let me know. Tina hey! oh yea no prob, thanks for writing back. your totally right that this is all in politics. i would like someone to come over here and say that were not at war, when just a few months ago i was saluting a fallen NCO in our unit. They wouldn’t have that opinion if they were over here experiencing all this. but oh well, we appreciate the support we get. I have only raced junior dragsters...Its like my dream to someday race a full scale dragster. how do you request people from the USO? yea i sure did race at Bandimere! i LOVE that track! oh really you were there for a month?! i love colorado. I checked out your websites, great job! wow you have done so much! you should be proud of yourself. awesome, if i can think of anything i'll let you know. thank you...Take it easy!! ~kel From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 8:58:49 PM Subject: Re: hey tina As far as requesting. I think if you let your commander know about me and that I would like to come visit they frequently get asked for suggestions. Or write the USO and request. Even contacting someone Bill O'Reilly (fox news) and stating that You want me to come does he have any suggestions. I know he and Toby Keith send groups over. If I get over there I will make sure to get you in the car. and when I you get back I will let you take pass in my car. We'll have to find out what the rules are on that. I think if we say you are licensing there is no issue. I can send you a packet of stuff for your commander, articles and stuff like that. If you'd like. Just let me know where to send. Tina Tina, that would be awesome! i will also talk to our MWR they are like the USOs right hand man. and are always getting the people on USO tours to come as well...so i will go talk with them tommorrow. i made a pass once in one of my friends grandpas dragster..i dont remember what the process was, or what he told them but i only made one pass and its a small track so they had no problem with it LOL. it was such a great experience! your so thoughtful! heck yea if you would that would be great, and i can take some articles and stuff over to the MWR to give them an idea and stuff. my address is (edited). Kels that would make my tour lol. does your aol acct accept attached pictures? i would like to attach a couple that i took over here.. i know were kinda on opposite schedules...so have a great day at wrk...its 935 right now so i'm gonna get some sleep for an early morning! take it easy From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 11:45:31 PM Subject: Re: hey tina That's great I will send a package today. Definitely send pics I am so curious about what is going on and what it is like for women in a daily routine. Tina In a message dated 1/8/2010 11:20:35 A.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes: ok well these are just a few pictures i had to send. the first 3 are at a palace called the ******** palace. (you can see where we hit it with a bomb because there is debris everywhere. the 4th one with the palace in the background is of one of saddams palaces called the ******** palace...its SOOOO BEAUTIFUL! then of course i had to add the sunset....i took that before chow one day..and the guy just walked into it on accident, but it set up a great picture..if this place is good for one thing its the sunsets! and then me sitting on top of a 5 ton in the gunners Turrit. that was a typical day moving supplies from here to another camp. some days are sooo long and tiring! i hope your having a good day take care ~kels From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Tue, January 12, 2010 1:23:48 AM Subject: Re: (no subject) Kels, I love the pics thanks. I haven't mailed your package yet I wanted to make it a fun package. Are there a group of girls over there in your unit? is there anything you guys miss? Let me know I want to mail this asap. In a message dated 1/11/2010 11:25:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, writes: oh good, i was afraid they didnt go through. yup there's a group of girls here. shoot anything from cosmo magazines to oreos and jelley beans lol....we appreciate anything over here! down to running water and a hot shower =) we like to put gatorade packets in our water because the bottles of water are so big that if its not flavored its kinda hard to drink it all. and over here you have to drink alot of water over here or you will pass out soo....LOL. they have shampooh but no conditioner over here. i hope that helps a little. thank you so much! have a great day! ~kels ________________________________________ From: tina To: kels Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 12:58:05 AM Subject: Re: (no subject) OK I am sending what I have. You'll get a laugh out of the mix of stuff that's coming. Next box will have more of the stuff you actually need. Probable get there all at the same time. Tina awesome thank you so much! lol i will have to take some pictures when we open the boxes so you can see everyones faces! it usually takes about a week so we will see! im so excited! thank you! ~kels In a message dated 1/18/2010 4:43:29 A.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes: i just wanted to let you know i got your box today!! I CANT TELL HOW HOW AWESOME IT IS! all of us girls now have matching robes and we hung your picture on our office cork board. I cant thank you enough for the socks, i was actually forgot em. that candy disappeared almost as soon as i opened the box! i cant thank you enough, it really did make our day! ~kels From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:26:03 PM Subject: Re: hey!! Glad you gals enjoyed. Sounds like you might have another box coming, I sent a total of three. Things grew after we bought them. My Daughter helped me pick stuff out she's 16 so much closer to your age, and told me what stuff was lame. Keep in touch. Tina we did very much so. wow 3, well tell your daughter thank you for us, we really do appreciate it. take it easy! ~kels In a message dated 1/19/2010 4:45:24 A.M. Central Standard Time, Kels writes: hey there! I just got thoes other two boxes about 30 minutes ago! as soon as i opened them my friends were like dang....kelsey gets spoiled....i said we all do and started giving out candy and hats and what not. i will see if we can get everyone to put a hat on and take a picture, its kinda hard if its not during lunch because for the most part we all have different schedules. i really cant thank you enough for everything. its like christmas in january! Im gonna go over to the MWR today after work and take a few of your signed posters. I will ask them if they could help get you over here on a USO tour sometime. hopefully they can help! so i have a question...it seems so impossible to do what you and others do as far as professional drag racing, how did you get to this point? you are very blessed. ________________________________________ From: "Tina To: Kels Sent: Tue, January 19, 2010 10:35:01 PM Subject: Re: =) Kels, I agree it seems impossible. And everyday I look at what's ahead and say I can't make this happen but here I am and I somehow manage to make it one race at a time. When I had Interstate Batteries as a sponsor the simple supplied me with a set amount of money then I raced off that. That is when I started going to bases and doing appearances because I could bury the cost of doing all that in the racing budget. When I lost IB as a sponsor I thought my program was doomed and I couldn't see how I was going to race but I had already promised ticket to the military and so I cut back my schedule to those races where I had made promises, And somehow we made it through another season, Goodyear helped some with transportation costs and gave me some product that I was able to sale to make ends meet my parents helped with some of the racing costs. (my dad has a pro stock car that He sponsors) and the Lord provided. This year I have been promised help from Goodyear, Valvoline is giving product, my teammate/ crew chief is helping me by under charging me, and some other sponsors are trying to help me find a main sponsor. I trust that if this is what I am supposed to be doing that the money will be there when I need it. I have thought many of times that maybe I should give-up and quit racing( because of the cost) but then I get a call to visit a base or something and I realize that for what ever reason God wants me doing what I am doing. Probable a lot like, why are you risking your life in a foreign country when you could be home in a cushy bed sleeping safely like I do every night? Because you have a purpose and a reason to be there. And if God is your leader he will do great things through your presence there. The greatest impact I have had by following God's leading has usually come through what at the time seemed like a very incidental contact. God is working through the willing all the time, the trail we leave behind has imprints on lives far beyond what we will ever know. To me that is the greatest honor one have bestowed on them. I am so appreciative of what sacrifices you all are making I can not express enough gratitude through words. The military and it's members are the pride of this country and I will never forget it. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the packages. We had a blast putting them together, We want to send some more What else can you use? I have 100's of pictures I can sign if you have people to give them out to. I tried to find race stuff for you, BTW that was my ticket and Lanyard from a race, thought you'd get why I sent something used. Do you have a unit patch t-shirt to trade or can I send cash and buy one? I would love anything from your end Even stupid stuff. I collect militaria. I have maps from First desert storm, leaflets, random stuff, I can use it for public awareness of what you are really living over there. It is winter right now, right? Other wise I am sending stuff for the wrong season. Let me know. Stay safe, Tina Ms. Tina, your right i guess god does make what seems like the impossible, possible. When i was racing i had a hard time finding sponsors, because i'm from such a small town, so people are very picky. I loved doin the Jr. Drag racing and im tryin to save up to get a big dragster like the one you have. Maybe if i went to denver i could find a few sponsors...i think its awesome what you do. well for me thats an easy answer im over here doing what i do because i love helping people, and this is one way i can reach the most at one time. And just knowing that doing my job lets everyone do what they want, spend time with the people they love, and enjoy life...its the best feeling in the world. I would gladly give up my time for others to have theirs. although i do miss it, im a "mommas girl" and my moms on the other side of the world right now LOL. I will see if my dream comes true one day, god is my leader and im sure if its in his will then it will happen. we will see if we can make one of yours come true, ive gotten an email of the USO director of entertainment recruiting...i will email him today. his name is bernie and his email address is XXXXXX@uso.org. if you would like to email him too. I also went to my MWR yesterday and gave them a few of your posters, she said she would hang them up around the MWR and then she gave me a mans email over on another Airforce base across the street, he is in charge of the USO tours that come to our VBC. so i will also get in touch with him today. We loved the boxes!! uhmm lets see, we could use....anything from socks to white Tshirts ( we like to sleep in em) its pretty much the only time were not in some sort of military uniform. Oh heck yea i could get you a bunch of stuff...i work in supply--u asked the right person lol. In fact, if you tell me your daughters name and 2 of ya'lls favorite colors i will go ask this guy (a local national) to make ya'll these bracelets. he works at our gym and to pass time he makes these really cool bracelets. and i can send em to ya. plus i can get yall a couple of our unit patches and a shirt that i got before we deployed for our unit. i have 2 so i'll just send ya one. dont worry bout $$....what you do for us is more than enough. I will also look around and see if i could find some random stuff. In fact....after a while our ACU/ FRAQ-Us ( fire resistant uniform) get a lil worn out...if you want i can send you my jacket or sumthin, the hajis wash em for us but they dont ever get "clean like home" so you would just prolly have to wash it once. but you could see on the back that our weapons wear it out and turn it black. heck yea im sending you a box!!! IM EXCITED! im gonna hook u up! yeah i did see your pass and lanyard, i thought that was really really cool! and yup its winter right now, but it will be gettin warm in about a month or 2. well this is getting to be a long letter so i will let ya go. take it easy!! ~kels ________________________________________ From: Tina To: Kels Sent: Tue, January 19, 2010 10:43:34 PM Subject: Re: =) I also have a blog do you mind if post our correspondance back and forth I think it would be interesting for people to see how easy it is to be involved? I of course would Censor anything that would identify you personally or unit. Activity, Timelines, negative comments etc. I think your writing is so honest and uplifting I really think it would encourage more people to strike out on their own and try to connect with those over seas. I am very sensitive to the security of our soldiers and value the trust you have given me just by allow me to send a package but I think that there is great value to be shared through educating others. Either way is fine with me. Tina The Bottom address is my home address if you google earth it you can even see my house. Link to my blog: http://tinyurl.com/ykyjgz3 Direct link to blog. Title Just an average day. If any of the other soldiers want to connect with me feel free to share my contact information but I would like to run things through you since I feel like you got this started, Unless of course you to me otherwise. Tina Stull "Feel the fear then do it anyway!" www.tinastullracing.com www.teamtroops.com www.twitter.com www.myspace.com www.facebook.com oh yeah, i dont mind...i think it would be a great idea. i have always been told that honesty is the best way to go about things, and people learn so much from it. with everything that i have seen you do for us i trust that you wouldnt do anything to harm us, which is why i trust you enough to send pics, stories, etc. And i agree with you, there is a great value to be shared by educating others..I have do have one story however that probably wouldnt be a good idea to post.... im not sure if i have told you this story yet but if i havent here ya go.... i apologise because its a little long.. [Story removed} there ya go, thats my story. but everything else you can put up no problem. If its something that you shouldnt post i will let you know. take it easy! ~kels End of transcript