Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | Sgt. Marissa Balicat, a human resource specialist and mail clerk assigned to Company...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — The unit mail orderly brings in the mail and Soldiers gather around with hope of a letter or a package from a loved one. It's like Christmas — you never know what you are going to get.
Those responsible for raising these hopes are Soldiers performing the additional duty of mail orderly within Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, making sure the mail gets to where it needs to go.
"We try to get it out as soon as possible," said Spc. Chase Mixon, a Minden, La., native. Mixon's primary duty is as a saxophone player for the 1st Armored Division Band.
The first thing he is asked when he comes back from the mailroom is, "Did I get any mail?"
Finding the answer to that question starts early and can take all day.
Soldiers performing as mail orderlies meet in the morning and travel across Victory Base Complex to the Joint Military Mail Terminal, where they pick up packages and letters six days per week.
Large crates containing mail are carted out so the DSTB mail orderlies can sort the mail before loading it into their vehicles. Even though the orderlies are assigned to different units they work together, to get the job done.
Chicago native, Spc. Patrick Thompson, a chemical operations specialist and mail orderly assigned to Company A, DSTB, 1st Armd. Div., said what he likes is the responsibility and organization of being a unit mail orderly. He also enjoys working with other units' mail handlers.
"The teamwork with the other unit [mail] orderlies builds camaraderie, and we know the importance of what we do," said Thompson. "We have a great cast of individuals."
The teamwork could be seen as they helped each other find, sort and load over 400 boxes that arrived the morning of April 14.
Once the packages were loaded, the mail orderlies headed back to their units, to unload the vehicle and wait for Soldiers to come and claim their mail.
"It is great when they come back from long missions and find mail waiting for them. Their faces light up. It's like their motivation," said Spc. Boyd Weilbacher, chemical operations specialist and mail orderly assigned to 501st Military Police Company, DSTB, 1st Armd. Div. "Except when they get bills, then they are not so happy," he said, laughing.
Whether bills or care packages, the DSTB mail orderlies will still strive to bring Soldiers their mail and, with hope, put a smile on their faces.
Sgt. Anthony Lewis, a Goldsboro, N.C., native, and computer technician assigned to 146th Signal Company, DSTB, 1st Armd. Div., said he feels that mail helps Soldiers' morale — even if the Soldier does not know it's coming.
"Some Soldiers forget mail is coming to them. It makes their day better," said Lewis. "An unexpected package can change someone's bad mood, especially on deployments."
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2010 23:49 |
| Story ID: | 48202 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 131 |
This work, Neither rain, nor sandstorm, nor heat ...DSTB mail orderlies deliver hope, by SFC Phillip Valentine, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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