George,
The following release is from the 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - BAGHDAD
Media Release
HQ-MND Baghdad
Camp Liberty
Baghdad, Iraq
APO AE 09344
Commercial: (914) 822-8174
IRAQNA 011-964-790-192-4675
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070124-01
January 24, 2007
These mats are made for walkin'
America responds to Camp Taji Soldier's Plight
By Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A Soldier based here received a negative e-mail response from a stateside company after he inquired about purchasing mats from the business.
Sgt. Jason Hess, an engineer with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Brigade Combat Team, had e-mailed discount-mats.com Jan. 16 to inquire whether or not the company would ship floor mats to military addresses and to Iraq.
The response to the e-mailed inquiry read, "We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."
Subsequent media coverage of the correspondence incorrectly attributed the purpose of Hess' request was for sleeping mats, or mattresses.
According to Hess, who works doing construction - painting as well as repair-type jobs involving work orders for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the purpose of the mats was to prevent wear and tear on office furniture and keep dust down in the brigade's buildings.
The interest shown by the American public over this matter shows care and concern for deployed Soldiers, a command spokesman said.
"This is a great example of the American people supporting their Soldiers," said Maj. Randall Baucom, public affairs officer for the 1st Cav. Div.'s 1st Brigade. "We understand that people are lining up back home to send our troops sleeping mattresses. That's great, but we don't need them."
Hess said he has since found another company which will ship the floor mats to the brigade.
-30-
v/r
LTC Scott R. Bleichwehl
Public Affairs Officer
Multi-National Division-Baghdad
Camp Liberty, Iraq
Click Here for the FIRST TEAM Website
<http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/>
First Team!
Dennis