Dear Rod - CPT Stevens and I received two large boxes this week from Operation Shoebox New Jersey. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting the NJ Army National Guard. We are in the 9th month of our deployment and are looking forward to the end of May when we will begin the long trek home to be reunited with our families and to resume our careers. I am proud to say that the performance of the 3,000 NJ Guardsmen and women currently serving in Iraq has been exemplary. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve among and to lead such fine men and women. The items that CPT Stevens and I received were turned over to our Chaplain for dissemination to the approximately 170 NJ soldiers who are living and working in the Green Zone in Baghdad (as officers, we try to make sure that enlisted soldiers who are lower in rank than we are and accordingly earn less have first crack at donated items). The boxes came at a perfect time, as our main PX was recently closed (we returned the property to the Government of Iraq). Toiletries are sometimes hard to come by and are very expensive. Thank you again for your support. Please extend my gratitude to your volunteers and contributors. I'm looking forward to thanking you in person upon my return home in June. Sincerely, Chris Lazas CPT Christopher Lazas Deputy Command Judge Advocate Joint Area Support Group - Central (P) Multi-National Force - Iraq