A little taste of home
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on June 27, 2004 2:04 AM
For the soldiers risking their lives in Iraq, the simple things from home can mean so much.
Sgt. James T. Crawford has been in Iraq since February and often e-mails his parents, J.T. and Carolyn Crawford of Goldsboro.
In those e-mails he writes of his work in the ammo platoon of the 701st Bravo Company near Tikrit. The 30-year-old soldier is married with three children.
His platoon's job is to deliver ammunition to conflict sites. Thirteen of the men in the platoon have died, and two of his close friends were recently killed. They have been hit by ground bombs three times already, said Mrs. Crawford.
The Crawfords received an e-mail from him two weeks ago stating their prayers must have been working because he was within five minutes of going through a checkpoint where a truck had just been blown up.
To keep up their morale, the soldiers often talk about the things they miss back home. Their thoughts drift to loved ones waiting and worrying.
And other times, it's the little things they crave.
Sometimes in his e-mails back home he will request various items for himself and his 25 fellow platoon members.
His parents have sent him things like "bear claws" and Red Bull Energy Drink when he asked.
On Wednesday, they got another e-mail, one that sent the Crawfords to the doughnut shop.
"They were really wanting some sugar," Mrs. Crawford said. More specifically, they really missed doughnuts.
They contacted Tracey Cole, store manager of the Krispy Kreme on Ash Street, who said they would happily donate the doughnuts and some coffee.
"We do whatever we can for the troops," said Cole.
So on Friday, Cole and another Krispy Kreme employee, Danny Carter, spent the afternoon getting the doughnuts and coffee packed in cardboard boxes and sealed tight.
As soon as they were ready, they were taken to the post office on Cashwell Drive in Goldsboro. The 15 dozen doughnuts and two pounds of coffee should take a day or two to get to Sgt. Crawford and his platoon.
Sending the package gives the Crawfords some sense of comfort while their son is in harm's way during his 14-month deployment.
They constantly pray for him and all of the other men and women serving their country.
"My heart goes out to them," Mrs. Crawford said.
She hopes that others will continue to send things overseas to give the troops a little taste of home.
"It lifts their spirits so much," she said.