Reprinted below is a thank-you letter that came from the front lines in Afghanistan to The Citadel Family Association, shared by Mrs. Loretta Smith, parent of a current cadet and active volunteer with the "Citadel HEROES" project.

The Citadel Foundation proudly thanks all those who have given so generously of their time and resources. The account below should give you a true sense of the impact your efforts may have on the lives of our cadets and deployed alumni!

Dear Citadel Family Association,

Most of you probably don’t know me so allow me to quickly introduce myself.  My name is James Purgason, I was a member of Hotel Company, The Citadel Class of 2007.  During my final semester at The Citadel I was called onto active duty with the South Carolina National Guard to go to Afghanistan and assist in Operation Enduring Freedom.  This is the reason I am writing you this letter.

When I deployed to Afghanistan around thirty other members of the Corps of Cadets deployed along with me, as well as a multitude of Alumni.  Other than our fellow classmates and some of our professors, not many people were aware of our sudden departure.  We had a duty and we were proud to be able to fulfill our duty.  We said our goodbyes around campus and told everyone that we would be back as soon as possible. 

We ended up in Afghanistan and quickly moved from base to base while the Army figured out what to do with us.  Our own parents had trouble keeping up with our mailing addresses as we moved every few weeks with limited communication abilities.  Around September we were all, for the most part, finally settled in and hard at work. We hadn’t spoken with anyone from The Citadel, other than friends, since we had left and thought that no one even knew where we were.  We weren’t expecting anything and that is what caught us off guard.

I remember Christmas Day, I had been on a border patrol outpost for three months now and only had access to phones and internet roughly once a month, when we would travel to a larger base for supplies.  I woke up Christmas morning sad that I couldn’t call my parents and friends and wish them a Merry Christmas.  We hadn’t received mail in over a month and weren’t expecting any to come in as the weather was pretty bad.  But, that afternoon, the weather cleared up and we received word that a helicopter would be making a special trip to try and get us our Christmas mail.

I wasn’t expecting anything but was glad that the other guys would be able to receive some items to help lift their spirits.  That afternoon two helicopters came in and both were completely full of mail.  We unloaded the mail and quickly began to sort and distribute it.  I was in charge of a distributing the last names beginning with A’s through the M’s so I hadn’t had a chance to see if I had gotten anything.  By the time I had finished my duty I went into my tent to sit down and write some letters.  You wouldn’t believe what I saw!  My cot was completely covered with boxes and letters!  I went to check the names to make sure that it was not a mistake because, like I said, I really wasn’t expecting anything.  Turns out they were all mine!

I proceeded to go through each box, as everyone stood around to see what I had got.  The first box I opened was filled with snacks and letters.  I couldn’t believe it, there must have been 50 letters in there!  I couldn’t believe all these people would take the time to write me.  I then checked the address label and realized it had come from a J. Carter, from the Citadel, someone I had never met before.  I remember thinking, how in the world did anyone from The Citadel get my address, no one knew where I was!  I couldn’t stop smiling as I read each letter, just seeing that someone from The Citadel had taken the time to assemble this for me, I truly couldn’t believe it.  There were letters from people I had never met, cadets, kids, families of cadets, alumni, and various others.  

The next time I got internet access I went to try and figure out who this J. Carter was.  I found him as a professor of Health Education and Sports Sciences and thought I would send him an e-mail to let him know how much the package had meant to me.  It had truly turned  a rather dreary Christmas into a happy one. 

Dr. Carter informed me that this was the work of The Citadel Family Association.  So, I tried to email them as well to let them know how much I had appreciated what they had done.  This is what led me to meeting Mark & Kaye Youngren and Mrs. Loretta Smith.  Some of the finest people I have ever met!  I was glad to be able to tell them how much of an effect their simple package had on me  and that I was especially moved by their relentless efforts to find our addresses and get us these packages.  It wasn’t until receiving these packages that I truly understood what the “Citadel family” was all about.  You didn’t forget about us while we were gone and I wanted to make sure that your efforts didn’t go unnoticed.  That was the least I could do.

Members of The Citadel Family Association, I can’t thank you enough for your love and support while we were deployed.  I wish I could be there to tell you myself but unfortunately I can not.  Your work, through the Heroes Project, has had a tremendous impact.  I think the thing I love most about The Citadel is the people that are involved with it.  It attracts good people, people who take care of each other, look out for each other, and make sure that everyone is taken care of.  I didn’t need, or expect these packages but the thought and troubles you all went through to get them to us was truly amazing! 

I cannot thank you enough and I know that my parents can’t thank you enough.  Not only for your support while I was deployed, but also for all your support while I was a cadet, and since I have returned as a Veteran’s student.  I hope to be able to thank you all personally one day, it has truly been an honor working with such fine people.  Thank you again for all your support and please keep it up, there’s no doubt that you are touching others the way that you touched me.

God Bless,

James D. Purgason

For information about how to support this initiative, please visit
The Citadel Family Association website.

You may also show your support by giving online now at
http://www.citadel.edu/tcf/online.htm. 

Please be sure to specify "Citadel Heroes" project
in the comments section of the contribution form.

Top