Emails From Iraq

ATTN: Pagan Soldiers Need Your Assistance!

On March 20th, 2007, SGT Keith Roberts, cofounder of Pagans United,
was deployed as part of the troop surge to Baghdad, Iraq. We've
recently received word from Keith and he has asked that the Pagan
community consider sending care packages, letters and cards to bolster
the spirits of the troops currently stationed in Iraq.

Here is what he had to say about a group of Pagans where he is stationed:

"...just on my base that I saw at a pagan Circle here were 20 of our
bravest
attending. Interesting watching 20 pagans together for a Circle ...
all with guns and ammo heh heh heh. But they are in need friends.
A lot of them don't have access to basic ritual tools or items so any
donations would be of help. That probably can be coordinated through
Laura as she knows the group I belong too. Basic things like
candles, incense, herbs (big one) easy to come by stones, any base
line practitioner books ... you get the idea. Its a small price to
pay to keep our pagan soldiers in a spiritual comfort zone to make
there daily grind a little easier. Further more, these military
pagans are quite earnest in seeking knowledge and attunement. The
group holds weekly classes on a wide variety of subject matter in
the pagan world. They work and walk their paths one step at a time.
Its with great pride that I can say I've seen a real high energy
group. BUT, supplies are always in need, especially for those
solitaires out there on the outlying bases who don't have the same
access to group and fellowship. They need your help. So when
possible please if you can, send a little support to these fine
young pagans, they fight for us every day and get little recognition
especially as pagans." Received from Keith Roberts on Fri Apr 13, 2007
by Pagans United yahoo group

Pagans United, under the tutelage of Keith's wife and Pagans United
cofounder, Laura, as well as other Pagan groups across the nation,
would like to encourage the Pagan community to join us in a massive
care package campaign to show our support for our troops.

Keith has requested that items such as basic Pagan books, herbs,
incense, candles, and stones be sent to the Pagan soldiers. In
addition, we would like to send basic every day items that all
soldiers can use; deodorant, sunglasses, toothpaste, magazines,
newspapers, blank greeting cards they can send home, prepaid phone
cards, lip balm, toilet paper, razors, instant coffee, chips, snack
cakes, gum, candy, breakfast bars, instant soup mixes, etc.

Care packages can be sent directly to Keith at:

SGT Keith Roberts
HHOC STB 3ID
Unit 42-167
Camp Victory Iraq
APO AE 09342

They will then be distributed to soldiers at his base and in outlying
posts. If you would like to send letters and cards, Keith has promised
to ensure they make it to soldiers who get no mail from home.

Laura has informed us that the most economical way of sending packages
is to opt for flat rate packaging and shipping; this method of
shipping costs the same, $8.95, no matter where you ship or how much
the package weighs and the post office has informed us that shipping
does include APO/AE addresses. Flat rate boxes are available at any
Post Office and packages are usually received in Iraq in 10 days.

The post office is no longer accepting packages addressed to "Any
Soldier" so it is vital that any packages shipped be addressed to SGT
Keith Roberts to ensure delivery and distribution.

We will send out a wish list of specific requests as soon as one can
be collected! In the meantime, we encourage you to send the basics!

If you need any further information, please contact Laura Roberts at
moonpanther2004@yahoo.com or 912-545-2319

As of March 20th, 2007 Winterwolf was redeployed to Iraq for yet another tour in the sand pit. As of this writing, internet access and phone is limited, but should be better shortly. Stay tuned for the latest on being Pagan and Military, while serving his country.

Keith aka Winterwolf is finally through his tour in Iraq and yet another Brother Eric aka Medicyne Eagle is beginning his tour in Iraq. he will be taking over the "Emails from Iraq" with his thoughts and articles about his tour in Iraq. We hope you will continue to support our troops that are serving in the Mid East by helping out in one of the programs we have in the works. Below are Keith's final thoughts on his tour as he turns the column over to Medicyne Eagle

So ends my tour from Iraq. My final months there were spent working with specifically the Iraqis. I worked at that time more or less as a liaison assistant. Far more exciting than sitting in an office doing admin work. During those months I lived near the US Embassy where things were much improved in the aspects of the living conditions. Mostly I worked throughout the night doing my job which though challenging cannot be really discussed here on the open forum. I can tell you that I had the opportunity to engage in a variety of nationalities.

I come away from this tour with different feelings. My first tour in Iraq back in 03 was as an infantry soldier and we had a clear and defined mission. This time, well things were more ambiguous. There is a reason for this. In this rotation we were tasked to help reconstruct and stabilize a nation that had suffered the brunt of a war. So I found it a challenge to change the psychology of what I had been previously trained to do. I had and always will carry the training and the psyche of a warrior. While some may detract from the whole warrior ethos, I am reminded most of an ancient and respected warrior culture.....the Samurai. In it, the word itself translates as "to serve". And so it is with that note that I justify any and all actions I have done in Iraq and in the future as long as I am a soldier. It is the ethos of "Serving" our nation that I hold in highest regard. It is no easy task even in the best of times, but in times where public opinion is mixed in our involvement or in the motives of our involvement of Iraq it is most difficult.

I want people to know that while I could never even remotely consider myself associated with the samurai, my willingness to serve the nation with my whole heart regardless of what I may have to do in the process is in the foremost of my thoughts. If the people here in the finest nation in the world want change, they must stand up and do it. I see the spark of that in Iraq, so now I say to America, if you seek changes or you do not agree with the political system as it stands or if you do agree, then get out there and vote. Too many Americans take for granted their rights and they simply do not exercise them. I saw Iraqis proudly display died thumbs and fingers because in the first time in their lives, they had a say in their destiny. It isn't perfect and will take a lot to run smoothly. But to see the true joy in a person's eyes because they could say their peace without fear is priceless.

Perhaps the reasons that we were told were wrong, but you cant deny that what we do out there is meaningful. I received the accolades from my officers and received a very high award for my services, but the knowledge and the memory of helping a nation move towards self determination is something to take pride in. The point is, enjoy your freedoms, enjoy your rights, but take responsibility and go beyond rhetoric, live the American way and set the example by exercising your rights and showing the world just what a fine thing we have in democracy.

So with these thoughts and experiences I hand my tour over to all others to look at. My friend Eric will be taking over here for Letters from Iraq as he continues his tours. I wish luck and peace to all who must continue to serve. And for a moment, I want everyone to think and contemplate on the freedoms they have that are bought in the blood of those who didn't return home. We remember them at my base by planting a tree for every fallen comrade around our parade field. Each one is labeled with the fallen one's name. I saw a lot of newly planted trees when I came home, and I took the time to read their names. I hope those trees grow tall and strong in a country that still maintains its freedom so that maybe 100 or 200 years from now, people will read those inscriptions and remember our brothers and sisters who gave everything.

Keith aka Winterwolf is a soldier in the US Army recently redeployed back to Iraq. Even while overseas, he finds time to serve as the Vice President of Pagans United, http://www.pagansunited.com via long distance and has been great help with other pagans serving overseas.