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To Commemorate Sir Tom’s Birthday, Please Help This Fan By Donating To Her Most Worthy Cause
Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Sgt. Deborah Galen is on active duty in Afghanistan. We met her via this website (as we’ve met so many terrific people) when she responded to a May 9 editorial we wrote about ticket prices and the state of entertainment here in Las Vegas these days.
As we do every time we receive a post from someone new, we wrote to Deborah and that began a dialogue. Of course, part of it was about her life in Baghram, Afghanistan. She works in personnel and has introduced a lot of the people she works with to the music of Tom Jones. As she wrote, in a birthday wish for Tom: “To Tom Jones: Thank you for your incredible musical contributions. For your wonderful voice which lulls me to sleep on a sleepless night and has given me peace on even the toughest days I have had to face on this deployment. A happy birthday to you, Tom Jones. I hope you spend it doing exactly what you enjoy.”
Deborah, a Selena impersonator, whose hometown is now Las Vegas, also writes: “It is an honor to do what I do for my country. I feel I can’t do enough. On my off-duty hours I am very involved with folks back home to encourage them to send donated clothing for infants and orphans in the surrounding areas. It would be very difficult to be here and not get involved. So this has been one of the most rewarding times of my life.”
Through Operation Care, the local organization that service members put together, toys, clothes and other items are distributed to children in Afghanistan. She says that things for girls, especially, are needed. And, of course, people can send gently used clothing. Also needed are school supplies and, if you wish, personal articles for soldiers.
But, to honor Tom on his birthday, we are asking you to send some clothing and/or toys to Deborah for the children. Let her know your donation is to commemorate Sir Tom’s birthday, too.
Deborah promises to acknowledge every package with a personal letter, email (if you include your address) and, perhaps, some photos.
Sgt. Deborah P. Galen
382nd MP Detachment Law & Order
Bagram APO AE09354
deborah.p.galan@afghan.swa.army.mil
We’re told that, because you will be mailing to a military post, the cost to send the package to Deborah in Afghanistan via US mail is the same as it would be if you were mailing a package to a destination in the US.
Deborah will be back in the US in August and will then be going to Iraq. We might not like this war, but we love our soldiers. Let’s show this one, and the other caring people with whom she works, that we do.
Thanks in advance to all of you who respond.
And, happy birthday, Sir Tom. Long may you thrive!
Ellen & Ursula
The photos at left were sent to us by Deborah. On the top is — obviously — her picture; next is the Operation Care group; the third photo is of the group loading toys for delivery and, the bottom photo is of Deborah with a girl named Hamida and her mother in the hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
In a column she writes for local website vegascommunityonline.com, Deborah writes of an ICU visit she made recently:
“Rommie is a three year old boy who has been burned on about fifty percent of his body. Another three year old, a girl, I visited with for a while was suffering from a serious onset of pneumonia. There are lots of Afghan children in the wards taken care of by our service men and women in the medical field. Theirs is a very difficult job. Even I could not stay with Rommie as they started to change the dressings on his legs. It was too painful for me.
“I met a young girl named Hamida there. With the assistance of one of our interpreters who often accompanies me on these visits I was able to have conversations with Hamida and her mother. I learned that she is about 13 years old but far more mature is her nature and is very humble and sweet. Six months ago she was burned so severely that even now she is challenged so many medical issues as a result of the trauma her body suffered. That Saturday she was not feeling too well. Physicians had to remove her ear because it would not heal. I have visited with Hamida everyday since then. I brought her snacks and a DVD player which she was so happy and thankful for. Hamida is dealing with a lot and now and she has been released from the hospital to go home where she lives in Kabul. I asked her to make me a wish list. She was reluctant but I convinced her that I wanted to make her recovery a little easier to cope with.”
June 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
WOW! WHAT A CLASSY LADY AND A GREAT WAY TO RECOGNIZE SIR TOMS B-DAY. I PROMISE TO SEND A CARE PKG. TO EACH GROUP REPRESENTED THERE NO MATTER HOW SMALL. MY SON JUST STARTED BOOT CAMP 2 WKS AGO…BUT I STILL WOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS REQUEST. HOW COULD YOU NOT?! I’M SURE ONCE SIR TOM HEARS OF THIS HE WILL FEEL SO HONORED. KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH AND YOUR HEAD DOWN! DEBORA COME HOME SAFE THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU! I SAY A PRAYER FOR YOU ALL EVERY NITE! P.S. WAY TO REPRESENT THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
June 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
What a great idea; how many of us realize the suffering the civilians of these countries in battle endure!! Hopefully, we will all join in this cause. What better way than to honor Tom for his birthday. Thanks to Deborah for her suggestions, and we wish her well in her journey. Our birthday wish for you is you will come home soon and see Tom Jones Live!!!!
Also, thanks to the Moderators who keep this forum updated and full of good causes!!
June 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Reading Deborah’s account of the plight of children in Afghanistan puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? I was very moved by her words: she is remarkable.
I hope as many of Sir Tom’s fans as possible will feel able to help by sending a parcel in honour of his birthday. Tom is so greatly loved by his countless loyal fans and surely there is no better way to channel our respect and admiration for him than to support such a worthwhile cause and the wonderful work that Deborah is doing.
It’s great to “meet” you, Deborah: take care….. and best wishes for all that you do.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I agree - what a great way to honor Sir Tom on his birthday. I’ll definitely be sending a care package. Stay safe, Deborah, and God Bless You!
June 7th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Beautiful idea–I’ll get a package in the mail too. Deborah, keep safe.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Deborah - keep safe and keep up the good work. The children are the ones who suffer the most! I will have a package ready next week with many Beanie Babies who love to be cuddled
When I was walking my dog tonite my only fear was when I came back that my living room is crowed by kids from the neighborhood because my son has a new X-box game and they all join in and attack my fridge 
Well, what i want to say is: I love what you do, I pray for you and the children and sleep tight tonite - Love BeBe
June 7th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Hi Deborah. What a woman you are and a person who dearly cares for others. God bless you, and Operation Care service members.
To commenmorate Sir Toms 68th birthday, packages will be sent to you for the children and for our soldiers.
Thank You, Deborah, With love to all of you, Dorothy Jean C.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I “met” Deborah in January, when I received a plea from her for baby blankets. Last winter was one of the coldest recorded winters there, and there were children freezing wrapped in rags. I sent several boxes of blankets and got friends to do the same. It is summer now, but the cold will return. These American men and women are doing this at almost every outpost where they are serving. They support schools, hospitals and orphanages. About 90 percent of the school supplies in Afghanistan comes through donations through our military. If you wish to make a difference, help them help the children. Through this, we can make this a better world on child at a time.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Deborah, God bless you. Although I do not have children myself I will put a package together to send on
June 9th, 2008 at 9:42 am
FYI - I checked with the Post Office this morning. You can send an 11.5″x11.5″x6″ priority box box for a flat rate of $10.95 no matter what the weight.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
The $10.95 flat rate is for/from a United States Post Office (for those reading overseas). Also, you must request and make sure the box is for the military and use a military address (like “APO”). A number of postal employees don’t know about these and the military flat rate box looks just like the Priority Mail box - so there are alot of mix ups. Stand your ground and demand the free box and $10.95 flat rate!! What’s neat about these are.. no matter how heavy they are, it is only $10.95 to send. Again, to military addresses only. They went into effect to ease the cost burden of people sending care packages to military personnel overseas. Also, there is a customs form you have to fill out stating what is in the box so make a list or fill out the form before you seal it.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Thanks, Dana. A Customs form is easy, as is the rest of it. We’re confident that plenty of fans will send something and, in the next day or so, we’re announcing a drawing for those who do participate.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Thanks Dana for your information - the military flat rate is new to me!! I do a lot of parcels to south america but not to military - thank you again
BeBe
June 9th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
And, thanks, Susanne
June 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Since I just sent two boxes to my nephew in Iraq, I found the option of the $10.95 flat rate Priority Mail after much questioning and calling the main post office. Unfortunately, the largest flat rate box is not at all large enough to hold clothing, blankets, school supplies, etc. A larger box (not flat rate) will cost approximately $25, weighing 22 pounds. For such an urgent cause, mine will be at the post office this week!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Hi Marian: You must be very proud of your nephew. I have a lot of respect for my fellow comrades serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or Stateside. Every mission is very important. The president would not spend so much on our training and equipment if it were not.
Thanks to all of you who are answering this request and I appreciate anyone who has compassion for the innocent ones trapped in this war and suffering the consequences of it. Although, things will change for them now and many of them tell me how much better things have become for so many of them, especially the young women, ever since the Soldiers arrived. And I know things have improved for service members ever since the Soldiers arrived as well.
Remember, anyone that has questions or comments is always free to email me.
Thank you all, thank you Moderators, and thank you Sir Tom Jones… for bringing us all together.
Sergeant Deborah P Galan of Las Vegas Nevada. Now serving in Bagram.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Yes, Deborah, We are very proud of our nephew. He sent an e-mail today, am relieved he is okay, and am always praying he will be safe, as well as all our people over there. Like you, I also feel so badly for the citizens of those countries, who are suffering through all of this. How very much we appreciate your efforts on behalf of them. I am about to seal the box to send to you, but need some advice about what the women and children are allowed to wear. I will also private e-mail you in this regard….just in case you haven’t rechecked this site.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
[...] on this site. A fan, she had posted a comment in April and we began corresponding with her. For Tom’s June 7 birthday, we asked you to send donations to Operation Care, the charity our soldiers in Afghanistan started [...]