Operation Cookie Box was Mission Success for 25th CAB

By Spc. Bryanna Poulin

The Warrior Ethos forms the basis of an American Soldier's spirit and total commitment to success in peace and war, always exemplifying ethical behavior and Army values, according to the Department of Defense.

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade hold their boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that were donated by Junior Girl Scout Troop no. 1105. The cookies were donated as part of the Operation Cookie Box, a fundraiser where cookies are donated to deployed service members. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin

Always placing the mission first is part of the Warrior Ethos that's instilled in Soldiers on day zero of basic training and continues throughout a Soldiers Army career.

For the Soldiers with 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, placing the mission first was an easy feat when the operation involved munching on a scrumptious Girl Scout cookie.

On March 21, Junior Girl Scout Troop no. 1105, based out of Melbourne, Fla., packed and mailed 1,575 boxes of cookies to military units stationed throughout Iraq.

Spc. Ada Hughes an administration clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and Pfc. Paul Kim also with Headquarters and Headquarters Company compare boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that were given out at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, April 22. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin

"The project of sending Girl Scout cookies to deployed Solders began in 2005 with the shipment of 356 boxes," Jill Barton a troop leader for 1105 wrote in an email.

"We shipped 721 boxes in 2006 and exceeded all expectations this year with 1,575 boxes to be shipped."

The inspiration behind Operation Cookie Box began about three years ago when the Girl Scouts received donations from people who didn't want the cookies but still wanted to contribute to the fundraiser.

1st Sgt. Trefus E. Lee, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade receives a box of Girl Scout Cookies that were given to Soldiers in Iraq. Operation Cookie Box was a fundraiser by Junior Girl Scout Troop no. 1105 from Melbourne, Fla. Photo by Spc. Bryanna Poulin

The troop also receives fifty cents for every box of cookies sold, money that typically goes to troop excursions. However, the 4th grade Junior Girl Scouts turned their troop profit back into purchasing additional cookies for the soldiers

"The Junior Girl Scouts wanted to use the donations and send cookies to Soldiers overseas," Brenda Hacking, a Harris Corporation employee and sister-in-law of retired Brig. Gen. E.J Sinclair.

Soldiers from 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, enjoy the Girl Scout Cookies that were given to Soldiers of the 25th CAB at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. Operation Cookie Box started by Girl Scout Troop 1105 from Melbourne, Fla., is a fundraiser in which cookies are donated to Soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Courtesy Photo

The Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company that serves government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries, paid for the shipment of all the care packages of cookies that have been sent in the last four years.

"We were fortunate to have Harris Corporation handle all of the shipping logistics for our Operation Cookie Box project," Susan Sinclair, a lifelong friend of Col. A.T. Ball 25th CAB commander, said. "We are so glad the Soldiers received the cookies and bringing a smile to the Soldiers faces ... giving them a little taste of home."

judythpiazza@gmail.com

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