02 Nov 2008:
I hope that all are doing very well. I wish to continue to thank each and everyone of you for your great, and most valued, support for all of here in Afghanistan. It has meant so much to everyone here to know all of you there are thinking of us, and care enough about us to bless with gifts and rememberances from home. Everyone appreciates your warm thoughts and wishes, and returns them twice.

I am heading out and so will not be handling the program here any longer. I am hoping that someone else will. I am heading elsewhere incountry, but don't know where yet. If conditions allow for it, then I will re-up for another tour with this fine organization.

Take care to all. Again, our deepest and heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone of you! Thank-you.

27 Sep 2008

To All;
I just want to say hello to all, and to thank everyone that has been so generous and thoughtful to all of us out here in Afghanistan. Everyone here has been very appreciative and thankful for your remembering them with the letters, cards and goodies that you have sent.
I was on leave in August and into September, so that is why I am a little late getting this out; so my apologies. It was good to get back to the States and see family and friends again. Hard to remember to drive normally on the city streets, and to get over the feeling of being so 'exposed' without all of the gear that we normally wear when we are out and about! It was 'liberating' , though. And to be able to not only eat good home-cooking, and to eat out at a real restaurant, was one of the best treats of being home. Sure can't find good Mexican food here, like we have at home! One of the nicest treats is to fly into Dallas-Fort Worth and to be so warmly greeted by the folks there. When the plane approaches the gate, there is a fire truck on each side that shoots a welcoming jet of water over your aircraft. When you walk into the airport, everyone starts to clap and welcome you back to the States in style. Then there is a receiving line of people to shake your hands, Grandma's to give you a hug, and good people to welcome you home. I am not from Texas, but I really do appreciate what they do for all of us when we come back. All is going well here in Afghanistan. The weather is cooling, and we have even had some rain! We are all doing very well, and still working very diligently with the Afghan National Army to get them to a point where they can do more and more on their own. They really do want to do this, and are excited at their progress. These are a proud and determined people, and want their country back, and free. They want investment, and they want jobs. So the sooner they can stabilize it, the faster investment will be able to come here and provide necessary jobs and a growing economy. We have been out visiting the local population, helping them wherever, and whenever, we can. We are assisting our French counterparts in building a bridge over a river in an oultlying district to assist the villagers in getting from their homes across the river and to the roadway on the other side.
All here wish to, again, thank-you for all that you do for us back there; and especially for all of your valued support for all of us here. Thank-you!
I am including some photos of an Afghan barbecue and some of the food that they serve up. This was to celebrate the end of a construction project. The food is as good as it looks, too! We also had a local musician perform for us. His organ is like an over-sized accordian. A rare good times for all.
Take care to you all.

21 Aug 2008
I am currently on leave, so the Aug. message will not be sent until Sep.

V/r;
SKCS/SS Eric Peterson

30 Jun 2008

Hello to All of You Stateside!
Another month has come and gone, here in Afghanistan; and we are so very fortunate to still be remembered by all of you very generous and thoughtful friends back in the U.S.
The summer has been a warm on; but a lot better here at 6000 ft! I received a photo of a thermometer from a base down south with a sun temp. of 139 degrees! But, it was a cool and crisp 124 in the shade.
We, here, are doing very well. We do our job of still training the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police members. They are progressing very well, and are doing a lot more on their own initiative. It is so good to see so many eager and proud faces when you work with these men. Believe it or not, they even have women in the military. That's some progress right there!
Everyone enjoys what it is that they do here; but, of course, are looking to go home someday when their tour is done. We have had good fortune with our resident coalition partners, the French and the Turks. They are good mentors and are working just as hard as we are to help the Afghans get on their feet and work and fight for their country; as was well demonstrated around Kandahar shortly ago.
I wish to thank all of you who have remembered us out here, and we cherish you and your thoughtfulness for all that you have done for us. I am including some photos of our time out and about; as well as a couple of sunsets. Enjoy, and thanks, again!
V/r;

SKCS/SS Eric Peterson

01 Jun 2008

It is getting hot here, finally. The rains are done, and the sun is on full time. In the southern and western regions, temps are up to the 130 degree mark!
Everything here is pretty routine. I have taken on a new
role of working with the 1st Brigade of the Afghan National Army. I am a part of a Logistics Support Unit that works with the ANA, their French advisors and the Turkish advisors that work with the ANA Garrison. We handle the American aspects of running the Camp and funding of various projects.
I want to thank all of you who have written and/or sent packages. All have been warnly received by our service members, who are just glad to be remembered by you at home.
Take care to all of you; and, again, thank-you for your generosity, kindness and warm thoughts.
Sincerely;
Eric Peterson

12 Apr 2008

I am really sorry that this is so late in coming to you. It has been pretty crazy, to say the least! It certainly isn't because we don't appreciate the great boxes of goodies and thoughtfulness that have been sent to us. And we surely do recognize the very generous spirit of those that have thought of us out here. Thank-you very much for everything, and for all of the wonderful, and newsy letters, too! It's great to have an extended family out there thinking, and caring, about us. We have been busy going out and visiting surrounding villages to help them out with their needs. We help to get their roads fixed, have wells dug, and work on refurbishing their schools. We get to meet a lot of really great, and very appreciative, people while we are out. We have also been performing Humanitarian Aid missions to schools and villages.
The kids are always excited to see us, and receive the school supplies, clothes and goodies that we bring them, that are sent by great folks like those in your network.
I am including a couple of shots of our group out in the field, and some of the villagers we get to meet.
Thank-you all, again, for your generosity and thoughtfulness. I will do better at getting you updates!

14 Feb 2008
We live on a base in wooden/concrete buildings. We are not out in the boonies, but are not close to an exchange.
We use 220v/50hz power.
We do our own laundry. Could use laundry items.
We have no cooking ability except for one microwave. Food items should be ready to eat, and really not require cooking (soups, lunch meals, etc.)
This request is for the good of the Camp as a whole, with certain members outstanding that really do not get much. I also will share any non-claimed items with the coalition forces that are billeted here.
We have a few females that probably would like hair care items, shampoos, deodorants. Probably personal, sanitary, hygiene items, as well.
What would be nice to have is: reading materials-books, magazines (no porn please), CD's, pre-packaged snack foods, personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorants, lip balm, sunscreen), games (board and otherwise), ping-pong equipment. No one is picky here, and will be grateful for whatever anyone wishes to send. Thank-you for your consideration and thoughtfulness.