By Spc. Juliana Morrison
425th BSTB Public Affairs Representative, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
KALSU, Iraq –Paratroopers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division received a special gift from a complete stranger.
Mark Thompson, a civilian from Cape Cod, Mass., generously donated $5,000 to the paratroopers of HHC, BSTB after reading an article published in The Cape Cod Times.
The article focused on Nancy Allen, a 5th grade teacher at Horace Mann Charter, whose son, Sgt. Matthew Allen, is deployed to Iraq with the 425th BSTB.
"This gift was an unexpected surprise, especially coming from a total stranger in a small town like Cape Cod where there isn't much military life," said Allen.
Thompson decided he wanted to do something for Soldiers in Iraq and saw Nancy as a link. He contacted her immediately and set up a fund for the donation.
Allen and HHC 1st Sgt. Terwan Crawley put their heads together and decided how the money should be spent.
"We decided to get company T-shirts made because it's something all of our troopers can use," said Crawley.
Allen came up with a logo to go on the shirts and Crawley found someone to do the embroidery.
A friend of Crawley's, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Cravis Taybron, owns Taybron's Sweaters Unlimited in Fayetteville N.C. Taybron was more than happy to make a deal and do the embroidery for the T-shirts.
"It does great things for paratroopers' morale when the American people take the time to do something like this for us," said Crawley.
In an effort to say thank you, paratroopers in HHC came together and took a company picture with the shirts to show their gratitude.
Spc. Stephanie Colomer says she is touched that someone would take the time to be so generous.
"It makes me feel like people actually care about us, not many people would take the time to do something like that," said Colomer.
With the money left over from the donation, the company purchased two X-Boxes for Soldiers to enjoy in their free time.
Along with sending the company picture to Thompson, HHC is providing an American flag that was flown over Forward Operating Base Kalsu.
Crawley is reminded of the act of kindness every time he sees the shirt. "We're so grateful for Mr. Thompson and his gesture, and now when we see our company T-shirt we'll know it came from an act of kindness."