Mail-call

Army mom offers up son's unit for adoption

Kim Jones, Army mom extraordinaire, needs a small volunteer army to honor Veterans Day by adopting today's soldiers.

Jones is the mother of soldier Todd Jones and recently launched a mission to make mail call joyful for all 200 members of her son's Army infantry unit during their 15-month deployment in Kalsu, Iraq.

She needs about 140 more people to ensure no one returns to the tent empty-handed day after day.

When word first circulated on the Internet about her mission, Jones found out she had hit the bull's-eye. She got a phone call from a soldier in Georgia who had just returned from Iraq.

"He said it's the most important thing you can do for us," she said. "They want you to know you're thinking about them."

Jones, of Bigfork, shared her quest Tuesday with Kate Butts' fifth-grade class at Swan River School. She began by having them locate Kalsu on a map.

"It's south and east of Baghdad," she explained. "Karbala is the biggest city near them."

Jones described the arduous trip taken by Todd's unit, including a nine-hour flight to Germany followed by a five- to six-hour final flight to Kuwait. They were cramped together in full gear with their rifles between their legs.

Todd and the others got a helicopter ride for the final trip to what he described as "the middle of nowhere." Instead of finding barracks waiting for them, the soldiers found tents in Kalsu that they will call home at least until spring.

It's all part of life in a forward-operating base.

SWAN RIVER students were excited when their teacher reached in Jones' plastic bag of names and drew the name of the soldier they would adopt - Chief Warrant Officer Lance Loeffler.

"You guys and gals can start writing right away," Jones told the class.

For safety, she told the youngsters to sign just their name and the initial of their last name. All letters go to their teacher for forwarding to Iraq.

She suggested that they tell their soldier about Bigfork, the Flathead Valley or maybe a funny joke. Just a card or postcard has a positive impact when soldiers go to mail call after a stressful day in the desert.

She asked the class if they looked at cards and letters they receive again and again, eliciting a positive response. She said the soldiers do the same thing as a reminder of the homeland they serve but miss.

Jones told the fifth-graders about her phone call from the soldier in Georgia who couldn't stress enough the importance of letters and packages.

"He said 'We don't care if it's a package of gum or a pair of socks. It means someone is thinking about us.'"

She told the youngsters to think creatively about items for their class care packages. Military members have time on their hands off-duty so they appreciate fun things such as harmonicas, yo-yos or hacky sacks.

"Are some of you from hunting families?" she asked, triggering many hands in the air. "They love homemade jerky."

The students became particularly animated when she suggested that they send small stuffed animals for the soldiers to pass out to Iraqi children.

Jones displayed flat-rate postal boxes that she said people can stuff with up to 20 pounds and mail to Iraq for $8.95. A regular 41 cent stamp suffices to mail a letter.

Post offices offer these boxes and other shipping supplies for shipments to members of the military as part of its CareKit No. 4.

DURING AN interview after her class presentation, Jones said her 22-year-old son graduated from Bigfork High School in 2004. She and her husband Tim, who works for Flathead Bank, also have two daughters.

According to Jones, Todd decided to join the Army about a year and a half ago after a short stint in college. She said college wasn't a good fit for her son so he explored other options.

"He had a very good friend in the Army," she said.

She and her husband helped Todd research the military before he signed up. He hopes to move into flying helicopters for the Army if he can get his slightly less than perfect vision surgically corrected.

Jones said Todd liked basic training and his military experiences afterward, and he enjoys the regimen.

He serves as a member of HHC 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Battalion: 4-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion at Fort Stewart, Ga.

"This is his first deployment," Jones said.

Just before her son left for Iraq, she, Tim, their two daughters and Jones' extended family traveled to Georgia to surprise him with a massive show of support.

"There were 20 of us," she said with a smile. "That was a little overwhelming for Todd."

Jones flew in a few days ahead of the family to follow up on her plan for mail-call support. She had proposed the idea to Beth Bernardoni, who heads up the unit's Family Readiness Group.

"God put this on my heart," Jones said.

PRIOR TO her visit to Fort Stewart, Bernardoni passed around a sign-up sheet. When Jones arrived, she was invited to address the soldiers during formation about her plan to ask people in the Flathead to adopt them.

"After I spoke, more signed up," she said. "They were really excited."

Jones returned home with a pink sweatshirt emblazoned with U.S. Army and a pin featuring the unit's striped logo with the word mother engraved on a small plaque dangling beneath.

"I wear my pin every day," she said.

She also carries her plastic bag full of names every day as she circulates around the valley, hoping to adopt out all 200 men and women by early this week so they receive mail for Thanksgiving.

Jones was touched when five residents at Lake View Care Center drew names. Although these seniors may not have the means to send packages, she said the soldiers will appreciate a personal letter at mail call.

She said she prefers that people reach in and draw their own names.

"I think it's providential," Jones said.

She will draw the name for those who can only reach her by phone (406) 837-1088 or at her e-mail address - Bigforkjones@montanasky.net.

Jones supplies all the information volunteers need to comply with military rules. She urges people not to worry about not knowing what to write.

"God will show you what to do," she said.

Jones has never forgotten the story she heard about a soldier, raised as a foster child, who wrote in a blog about never receiving anything at mail call. He ended up taking his own life.

She asks others to join her mail-call mission by reaching into her bag to make one soldier know that someone cares.

"God put this on my heart," she said. "But I can't do it alone."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com

The public is invited to Kalispell's Veterans Day observance at 11 a.m. today at Depot Park.

After the National Anthem and an opening prayer, guest speaker Col. Michael Stone will give a presentation.

After the ceremony, people are invited to the VFW Club, 330 First Ave. W., in Kalispell.