A Way To Thank Them For Their Service

Her care packages let deployed service members know they are appreciated.

- Patricia Mertz Esswein​​​​​​​

What inspired you?

In November 2010, I toured the destroyer USS Stout with my niece, a naval officer. I learned that many of her shipmates wouldn’t receive any mail while they were deployed. I struggled with that. Young people in the military sacrifice so much. They don’t make a lot of money, and they are away from family, friends and creature comforts. I needed to do something, so I e-mailed everyone I knew, shared my experience and asked them to write a note of gratitude to my niece’s shipmates.

What was the response?

I received many beautiful notes and, unexpectedly, a lot of sugary treats. My niece distributed everything. Word spread and I got other requests. I asked around to find out what people really need during deployment, and we began fulfilling requests at our website, www.operationturbo.org, with one box per person.