Sometimes, what travels the farthest isn’t a supply drop or a mission order—it’s a message from home. Recently, Command Sergeant Major Paul E. Luce of Task Force Chamberlain in Afghanistan shared how one box of letters delivered more than just paper. It delivered strength.
A Surge in Morale, Straight From the Heart
“We received a box full of wonderful cards today from kids from all over the country,” wrote Sgt. Maj. Luce, “basically ‘thanking’ our soldiers for answering the call to duty.” But these weren’t just simple messages. Many of them, he said, were deeply personal and heart-wrenching—filled with wisdom well beyond the years of the children who wrote them. For a unit based 5,000 miles from home, made up largely of soldiers from Maine, the cards made them feel like they had family everywhere.
Connection in the Midst of Sacrifice
The letter speaks candidly about the sacrifices made by both soldiers and their families in the fight against terrorism. “Their collective sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and is deeply appreciated,” he wrote. Still, letters from strangers back home provide a kind of reward no medal can match. “The reward is having our soldiers and families know they are helping the Afghan people realize a dream.”
That dream—a life free from terror, rich with the freedoms many Americans take for granted—gains power when those serving know they’re supported by people they’ve never even met.
Support That Keeps Them Mission-Ready
Sgt. Maj. Luce closed his letter by affirming the purpose of A Million Thanks: “Soldiers need to know that support exists for them on the home front, even from children who may not know the ramifications of war.” That kind of support, he said, helps keep soldiers in the right mindset to stay focused.
It’s a powerful truth: while soldiers fight to protect freedom, your letters help protect their morale.