The Twelfth Man on the Field

You hear that term every Sunday during football season: "the twelfth man in the field." Despite that the game is played with only elleven men, sometimes it's that twelfth man that's given the kudos for a team's victory. That twelfth man is, of course, the crowd. The fans that are there not just to take in a game, but to support their team. To that team on the field, fighting and scratching for every inch, the twelfth man is inspiring. Whether it's a first and ten or a third and twenty, when that team hears the roar of the crowd, that twelfth man, they get fired up. That team gets just that much more courageous, just that much more hopeful, just that much more inspired, just that much closer to victory. It is amazing what encouragement and support mean to the human spirit.

It's time for you to be that twelfth man.

Not too long ago, Blackfive readers, joined by thousands of readers from other blogs, sent over 30,000 emails of support to Marines in Iraq. The Marines had to shut down the email address because you all were causing bandwidth issues with the support we were sending.

Now, as if the Taliban and Al Qaeda, bad weather, and lack of support here at home weren't bad enough, the New York Times has published a one-sided view of the paratroopers tour in Afghanistan.

And so now we have cause to band together again and send massive support down range.

Those are our men and women over there, giving their all and making incredible sacrifices. They arent over there to garner bragging rights or win us a trophy. They are over their in service to their country, you and me, putting it all on the line and under the most deplorable of conditions, to protect our way of life:

This winter has been particularly harsh. Many of the Soldiers are living in mud huts and tents with little or no heat, no running water, intermittent use of generators, supply drops via air to drop zones that require a hike of up to 40 minutes each way in order to retrieve the supplies, 30+ days out on missions at the firebases without showers or daily hot meals before rotating back to the KOP or Camp Blessing for hot showers, hot meals and the ability to communicate with their families and friends.

The Sky Soldiers have trudged through up to seven feet of snow on patrols day in and day out often at altitudes of 7,000 feet and higher. Each Soldier carries between 60 and 100 pounds of gear on these patrols. They Soldier-On each day despite the loss of many friends and comrades and substantially high numbers of wounded.

It's time to do the wave for our guys out on the field. It's time to let them know we're behind them 100%. It's time to thank them for those sacrifices and let them know we got their backs:

Let's show these Soldiers how much support they have from home to help them through the spring and the remainder of this long and dangerous deployment.

Americaatroopers are in the fight of their lives and they need to hear that America loves them.

Please send an email of support to skysoldiers173rd@gmail.com

Or you can mail cards to:

Leta Carruth
P O Box 100
Cordova, TN 38088

Due to security reasons in Afghanistan please do not put addresses or phone numbers on any correspondence. All emails will be printed out here in the US and mailed to Afghanistan as they do not have the resources to receive a large number of emails. All letters and emails will be vetted to make sure there are no negative comments. These are letters of support, so please keep them positive and uplifting.

Folks, please take a few minutes of your day to send our men and women in Afghanistan a few words of support and solidarity. Be that twelfth man that gives them the hope and encouragement to keep going. Let them know their sacrifices are appreciated.

Posted by Val Prieto at February 29, 2008 08:33 AM

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Posted by: Ziva at February 29, 2008 08:51 AM

Posted by: beaniehampton at February 29, 2008 11:47 AM

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