Strykehorse mail room piles full of packages during holiday season

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis | Piles of boxes wait for sorting and delivery in the Company B "Hammer," 52nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, mailroom at Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Approximately 100 parcels a day arrive for Soldiers. This is an increase from approximately 30 parcels a day before the holiday season.  

TAJI, IRAQ

12.23.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers see an influx of mail as a welcome sign the holidays have arrived.

The parcel load 2nd Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment, "Strykehorse," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad has reached max capacity as packages flow in for the second holiday season in Iraq for these Soldiers.

Playing the role of Santa Claus is mail room clerk, Pfc. Juan Torres, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, who is assigned to Company B "Hammer," 52nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the Strykehorse squadron.

He said he has definitely seen a change in the amount of mail arriving in recent weeks.

"The mail is just stacking up. I've never seen so many [packages]," Torres said. "These boxes are filled with love and during the holidays, regardless if you believe it or not, you need this love to get you through."

The influx of mail brings a smile to the faces of those who receive them and keeps the morale high. Due to the fact that Co. B, 52nd Inf. Regt. is located at Joint Security Station Hor al Bosh which is a coordinated convoy away from Camp Taji, Torres is the only Soldier to pick up mail. He says the influx can be a bit of a headache, but it also has its rewards.

"On average, I usually pick up 30 pieces of parcel a day and now that number has reached close to 100 a day." Torres said. "Occasionally some of the boxes are for me and that sort of cancels out the added work."

Though extra work is piled on him, Torres has a bit of help. Spc Kenneth Mylenek, a native of Detroit, and personnel administrations clerk helps Torres in the mailroom and said he knows the importance of daily mail pickups and deliveries. Those simple daily duties really affect the morale of the Soldiers, Mylenek said.

"The volume of mail has quadrupled since Thanksgiving," Mylenek said. "Soldiers are receiving wrapped presents, Christmas trees, and all the things that help bring a little bit of home to Iraq which is making our second holiday season away from home a little more bearable."

• Date Taken: 12.23.2008
• Date Posted: 12.23.2008 14:31
• Story ID: 28064
• Location: TAJI, IQ