Survivor Outreach Services: Operation Love Letters
Operation Love Letters was created to commemorate our Fallen Soldier’s "Love for Country," by paying tribute to our love for them. It is a day to celebrate with Survivors through their expressions of love for their Fallen Soldier.
Click here find images and articles from Operation Love Letters 2015 from around the command.
Reflections
Soldier: 1LT Tabitha Gilchrease, Auto Accident, 18 Aug 2012
Submitter: Gilchrease Family
Reflections: In dealing with Tabitha’s loss, the healing process has been slow and reflective. Tabitha Gilchrease was a woman of valor, class and grace. She had aspired to serve as a psychologist to soldiers affected by the stressors of war. Her life was built around servitude. As I reflect on our family today, all I can say is that our lives will forever be touched by the life she lived. And though our hearts still ache, we are reminded by her indomitable spirit to continue living, and to continue aspiring to make change in the world. The memory of Tab gives our family a fighting chance. We all looked at her as the ambassador for not only our family, but for the city of Atlanta, and the State of Georgia.
Soldier: SSG Clinton T. Newman, KIA 13 Feb 2006
Submitter: Debbie Agnew
Reflections: As you can imagine, in 2006, my life has changed forever since that day, but a few things have stayed the same. My love for my son is as strong now as it was the day he died, and so is the pride I feel for the man he was. I know that the Army Reserve played a part in helping him become that special man, and so did his fellow Reservist. Although I would give everything I own if he were still here safe and sound, I do find comfort in the knowledge that he died doing what he loved, and doing something that he truly believed in. And in the end, maybe that’s what matters most.
Soldier: SPC Ioane V. Ofagalilo, Accident 24 Nov 2001
Submitter: Mrs. Taunese Ofagalilo
(Transcribed from the Samoan Language by SC Foifua)
Reflections: My granddaughter Charity can barely remember her Father today because she was only an infant when he was taken away from us while on active duty in Germany. My children and I have raised Charity to never forget her Father with the photos and many Family stories we share. My husband, blind and disabled died after Ioane completed high school. Of my two sons, Ioane decided to take on two jobs while attending the American Samoa Community College so he could help us make ends meet for our Family. He worked at the fish canneries during the evenings and his second employment was as a Reserve Soldier drilling once a month. Eventually he came home and shared that he had decided to go active duty with the Army. It was a scary confrontation but Ioane convinced us he would help us better. The Army Reserve and the Active Army provided well for his daughter Charity and me as her caregiver. None of these valuable benefits can replace having Ioane here with us. I still miss my son for myself and for his daughter. She has grown up to be a beautiful and smart young student. My heart aches and wonders if he had stayed in the Army Reserve he’d still be here today.
Soldier: LTC Juanita Warman, Fort Hood Shooting, 5 Nov 2009
Submitter: Philip Warman
Reflections: Army Reserve Officer LTC Juanita L Warman, had always regarded her civilian life as a sort of temporary leave from full time Army services. She was an outstanding MEDCOM Soldier. In her desire to prevent long term psychological problems with Soldiers by addressing them in the field, she volunteered for deployment to Iraq. After a month’s training, she flew to link up with the 1908th Medical Detachment and moved with them by bus to Fort Hood for processing. Within hours of her arrival on 5 Nov, she was shot and killed. The irony of her death is that, in other circumstances, she would have stayed and cared for the very man who shot her, true to the creed to never leave a fallen comrade. Juanita had the same devotion to her roles as mother, wife, and grandmother. Her gentle strength and loving nature that affected all who knew her also made her particularly effective in dealing with both civilian and military patients. There was never a more gentle and loving companion. Juanita’s last words expressed her realization that she was not going to make it when she said to tell her Family that she loved us. Juanita Warman is a good example of the nation’s finest. Appropriately, she rests today in Arlington among other Heroes.
Operation Love Letter events have concluded for this year, click here to see the events that were held.
Click here for images and articles from Operation Love Letters 2015 from around the command.
If you have any questions regarding Operation Love Letters please feel free to email SOS here.