Read Solider Feedback from the SFS 2003 Holiday Trip

Judy,

I have been remiss in emailing you for far too long. After seven months, we are beginning to wind down on this deployment. I found your business card (right where I put it so that I wouldn't lose it!) and wanted to write to you and say thanks again for bringing Craig and Jolie and a little bit of home to our soldiers at Christmas. On a personal note, thanks for trying to make me feel like a part of your team while you visited us. I thought that I was supposed to try to make you comfortable, but I think you worked harder to make me feel welcome! :-) In all seriousness, you guys were great and set the standard that I have come to use as a benchmark for other events. I really wish that I could have continued the trip with you when I dropped you off at BIAP. Somehow I don't think the boss would have approved, though. I hope that the rest of your trip went well.

I often think of you and wonder if you or any of the others who come to visit ever really realized how many lives you touch on these trips. When I travel around the base camps, people associate me with different visitors (even when I'm out doing other missions) and ask who's coming next. Invariably, the conversations turn to "remember when's," almost as though the tours formed a calendar unto themselves. In some respect, I guess they are a calendar of memoires. I will never forget watching the interaction between Craig, Jolie, and our soldiers.

Wherever and whenever this finds you, I sincerely hope that you are having a great time and are enjoying your day. Please pass my warmest regards to Jolie and ask her to thank her family for letting us borrow her for a while.

Speaking of Jolie, do you have a CD release date for her yet? I made a promise to buy a copy - a promise I am looking forward to keeping.

Sincerely,
Stew
All the way!

STEWART L. STEPHENSON, JR.
MAJ, GS
Deputy G1



I recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was able to catch your show at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. Thank you so much for taking the time to come visit with and entertain us. As a soldier it means alot that someone does something like that, it lets us know that we do have support from the folks back home. I can't wait to start hearing your music on the radio so I can say I saw her in Kuwait. Once again thank you so much.

1LT Larry Grannemann
1139th MP Company

Home: Moberly, MO



Judy, Hi! Just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to you, Jolie, Craig and the band for putting on a super show in the Stars for Stripes tour. I had the opportunity to see the show in Kuwait on the last stop. I know y'all were tired and still put on an outstanding show. I had just gotten in country and only just beginning a one year tour. I am a guitar player and I love country music, so the show was a little piece of heaven. I have talked to several young soldiers who saw the show when y'all were up north. I know they appreciated it . Once again, a sincere thanks for everybodies efforts in support of our troops. Jolie is great and I know she will go far in the business.

V/R
J.E. Forsyth (Jay)
LTC, AD
CFLCC-FWD
Kuwait
Home: Huntsville, AL



Miss Jude,
Again thanks for coming to visit. The soldiers talked about how great the show was for at least a week! I am glad the rest of your trip was uneventful. Please know that we all appreciate the support, prayers, and gratitude. Not to be rude, but if you should return with another tour I really hope I am not still in Iraq! However if you return within the next few months you will always have coffee and such in Baghdad! Hope to catch up with everybody in Tennessee.

Take Care,
Russ Heidel
Captain, U.S. Army (Blackhawk Helicopters)



Jude, although travelling is always "fun", your commitment to do more is indeed appreciated. Bringing entertainment to troops all around the world (Korea, Iraq, etc) is more uplifting and inspirational than you will ever know...you are doing great things for the military. Thanks!!!! Tim

TIMOTHY A. BYERS, Colonel, USAF
Hickam AFB HI 96853-5412



Ladies,
This is just to once again thank you for myself and on behalf of all the soldiers here that had the pleasure of your presence over the holidays. I wanted to share this thought with you if you will indulge me. At Camp Udairi, I was eating lunch next to Jolie when one of the soldiers at the table asked her who the people were. While conversing Jolie mentioned to the soldier that she spent two weeks living in "these conditions" to which the soldier responded, "try it for ten months!" She was of course commenting that she understood how difficult it must be to live like this for an extended period of time. More importantly, we are soldiers. We are trained continually for times such as these. We have the means to defend ourselves and we get paid to do this job. We all volunteered. You guys are civilians. You did not have to leave your families during this important time of the year and your records will still sell well based solely on your talent. You are not trained, nor paid to live like this. Even though Craig is in the military, his only weapon now is his guitar. He is not deployed here with his unit. Yet, you guys never complained nor acted like you were too good to be with us. What a fantastic sacrifice! Yes we are heroes, but even heroes have/need heroes. Not everyone here, given a choice, would come and do what you all did. I obviously cannot find the words to express my true feelings so I assault you with a multitude of words that still prove inadequate. Thank you is not enough. I love you is not enough. I will always buy and encourage my friends to support your careers, but even that does not seem like enough, but I guess it will have to do. Thanks for being who you are, and doing what you do. Take care and keep up the great work.
Sincerely,

SFC Allen Jefferson



greetings from iraq and a happy new year .
wish you had a nice trip back home ,
i just want you to know that you gave us a great time we will never forget . yours

NAJIB.A.JADIR
(Former Iraqi Attorney)



On behalf of the "seldom entertained" soldiers of Camp Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq, I would like to thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to see the show yesterday! It was great. I had never heard of Jolie before, but will buy her album as soon as it hits shelves this year. I would love to get some of her music before then if possible. I love Craig's song Paradise, which was a hit before I left the states back in March, 2003. I really like his new single Almost Home as well. They were both first class entertainers with a sincere love for what they are doing. Please pass on our regards, and we welcome anything else you guys have to offer!! Thanks a bunch, and God bless you all for what you are doing to support us!!
VR,

Christopher M. Guillory
CPT, OD
4th Brigade Fleet Manager
MMO, DISCOM, 4ID(M)
Operation Iraqi Freedom
DNVT: (302) 534-4065/4016



Judy
My husband called today to tell me what a wonderful show it was!! I wanted to thank you!He said that everyone was so nice and that you were one of the nicest people he has ever met! So, I just want to thank you for making all of our soldiers day ay camp Speicher!! I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your tour! God Bless! And Happy New Year!

Jaime McKenzie



Just wanted to send you a note to tell you that the soldiers stationed with me in Iraq truly enjoyed the show today provided by Jolie Edwards and Craig Morgan. We do not get many forms of entertainment here, so this was a real treat. Appreciate all of the support you provide to make our stay in Iraq just a little better.

LTC Jan Hooper



Judy, I'm one of the many soldiers stationed in Iraq that were privileged to have seen one of the show you guys are responsible for. Jolie Edwards and Craig Morgan made an appearance on New Years Eve in our location. Although not a large crowd of soldiers were able to attend it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Any entertainment is greatly appreciated. Whatever you can do to continue to bring this to the soldiers would be a great morale booster.
Thank you again.

CSM Don Harris
553rd CSB
Leopard 7
Ask...We Do!!



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