Soldier support team seeking volunteers

With her grandson and greatnephew serving overseas, Sue Bohannon knows the importance of writing letters and sending packages to encourage troops.

That concern has motivated her to join Soldiers Angels, an organization of volunteers who correspond with troops who do not have family members to contact them.

"I hate to hear of our soldiers over there without mail," Mrs. Bohannon said.

She is trying to recruit volunteers for Soldiers Angels, which has identified 23 soldiers the group would like to "adopt."

The organization accepts monetary donations and encourages volunteers to send at least one care package a month and one letter per week. All donations are tax-deductible.

Mrs. Bohannon sends afghans, canteens, cards, DVDs, letters and a variety of food items to her adopted soldier, Sam, a medical helicopter pilot stationed in Iraq's Diyala Province northeast of Baghdad.

At Christmas she gave Sam's company 12 boxes, which included a Christmas tree, lights and decorations.

Although troops cannot always write back immediately, Mrs. Bohannon knows they appreciate receiving letters.

"They just live for the mail," she said.

Mrs. Bohannon has been corresponding regularly with Sam and hopes to meet him this month, as he plans to visit San Antonio during his mid-tour leave.

Soldiers Angels seeks volunteers to welcome troops back to the United States as part of homecoming events.

In addition, the group sends supplies to combat and support hospitals that treat wounded troops, has provided level III Kevlar armor blankets and is raising funds for voice-activated laptop computers for troops with hand and arm injuries.

Soldiers Angels also sends members e-mails to inform them of ways they can help wounded troops.

For more information about Soldiers Angels, phone Mrs. Bohannon at 556-5717.

"It's something the schools and the whole community and everybody can get involved in," she said.