Life Skills Center | Press Room | Supporting Our Troops

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

At Life Skills Centers and White Hat Management, we fully support our troops. For example, our Life Skills Center of Middletown has enacted an Adopt a Platoon program, which allows students here to support our soldiers overseas in Iraq by sending care packages, including letters and miscellaneous goodies. Regardless of political views, we are proud to support our troops and help morale any way we can.

A Message from the Front

Dear Mr. Brennan

Things on my end are fine. We're just hunting down these terrorists and now training the Iraqis to do the same. Since the turnover of authority a couple of weeks ago, it's been interesting to witness a mass change in mindset among the Iraqi citizens. It's almost as if the turnover served as a giant wake-up call.

Suddenly, the locals have realized that the future of a free Iraq falls largely in their own hands. They are beginning to understand that freedom & democracy don't coincide with masked gunmen and roadside bombs. What a novel concept!

My spirits are high and my body is in one piece, so there's really nothing more I could ask for. I'm fortunate to be here with a great group of Marines and we've all become brothers. Our unit's been on the move quite a bit, so we've seen a lot of this land. Our OPS have taken us east to Fallujah, west to the Syrian border and many points in between. Everywhere we go I feel more and more proud and privileged to be fighting under our flag.

I so respect our commander-in-chief for staying the course. The only language these terrorists understand is strong and persistent force. It's really the only way to fight this ongoing war on terrorism and I'm proud we have a leader who gets it. I'm sure the liberal media is beating the crap out of him, but I'm confident that the American people believe in his resolve.

CPL JOSHUA A. MANDEL

August 2, 2004

Dear Josh,

Ann and I enjoyed receiving your letter. We are particularly encouraged at the upbeat tone that you have given to this extremely difficult Iraq situation.

I am old enough and have lived long enough to have lived through more wars and police actions than I care to count. In each and every one, including the great WWII, there have always been dissenting voices criticizing our government for the decisions being made in support of our troops. It is the nature of a democracy to permit such descent to take place and it is healthier by far than not permitting such comments. Do not be distracted by that, it is clear that you are not. On behalf of everyone I can think of, we offer you our unqualified support, encouragement and most of all, our prayers.

I am going to take a portion of your letter and reprint it on the website for our schools. We now are instructing over 16,000 students, and our staff is 1,300 people. Several of those staff members have already served in Iraq and have come home. I think our people would be very interested in the comments you have made.

When you return, I would love to show you what we are doing with our schools. It is very exciting. We are fighting for the hearts, minds and souls of our youth, and you are fighting for all of us.

Keep in touch, and I will keep you informed as to what is happening on the home front. We are all behind you, and please know that.

Warmest regards,
David L. Brennan