I receive a request by my website visitors for someone in the military with whom to exchange emails, send care packages, etc. I usually give them the contact information of Ms. Vicky Lee at Fort Bragg, NC. She usually has a waiting list of people that want to adopt a deployed soldier. The last time I sent her an email she said she had a long waiting list, and that she had stumbled upon a reputable organization that she could recommend.

She provided me with a link to the Soldiers Angels WebSite, and I clicked on it to see a nice home page with links to Join or Adopt a soldier, Submit a Soldier and some others. I clicked on the Join or Adopt link, and it opened up to a page that outlines the options available. I selected them one at a time, and found out that the membership fee for a lifetime membership is only $30, and the soldiers (Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Army and Coast Guard are included) pay no dues, but can simply sign up. Membership requires a periodic "Care" Package be sent to deployed service men and women. The recommended list includes small toiletries, candies, and other small items. They provide a list of recommended items suitable for the care package.

I thought that was pretty good. The most important policy is that service men and women don't have to pay to join. After wandering around the WebSite for a while, I decided that it passes all of my concerns with flying colors.
So, I joined as a "Lifetime Member" for only $30 (most organizations want hundreds of dollars for a lifetime membership). I used their online payment system and my credit card. About three weeks later, I received a small package from them that contained a lifetime membership card, a Soldiers Angel pin and coin. The items came in a nice small Black Box. I gave the coin and the pin to my wife, and she wears the pin for her weekly volunteer position at a nearby military base.

I suppose that is a long way of saying that:

I am favorably impressed, and heartily recommend "Soldiers Angels".

Charles Mitchell
Webmaster USAFNS.com

Review of Thunder in the Night
A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam
by Raymond S. Kopp

READING THUNDER IN THE NIGHT SHOOK ME TO THE BONE
March 16, 2005

"As Second Division Officer so many years ago (1967), one of my responsibilities aboard Thunder included the 8" guns and ammo as well as the men who manned the turrets and magazines. Your description in Chapter 20, "Chaos and Calm" and in Chapter 21, "The Dead and the Demoralized" which describes in detail your personal memories of the explosion in Turret No. 2 which killed 20 shipmates shook me to the bone. Although I had left NN 4 years prior to the accident, I knew only in brief terms what had transpired. Your well written account gave me, for the first time in all these years, the opportunity to read in detail about what actually happened. What a horrible experience you lived through but were able to write about!

As a result of that accident, the names of the NN dead are now engraved on the Vietnam memorial wall (dedicated to USN and USCG killed) which was recently completed and is located next to COMNAVSURFPAC HQs, U.S. Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA. Due to my present San Diego navy ship repair related work, I have visited the memorial on several occasions and have read the names of the Newport News souls who died aboard our ship on that fateful day in 1972.

I have recommended your book to both ex-navy and civilian friends as well as to members of my family. I realize your writing the book was mentally tough and I can personally ID with the nightmares you experienced after leaving Newport News and the navy. You have written a fine book which, I believe, will be remembered as an important historical account of the naval battles in which the Newport News was engaged. I state with sincerity.......well done!"

CHARLIE HURD