HispanicBusiness

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Lynch knows what it's like to be away from home during the holidays because he has been deployed overseas for several Thanksgivings and Christmas 2010.

This past December he was on leave and felt very fortunate to be able to spend time with wife Ann (Ollier) Lynch and children David, 5, and Emma, 4, which was "the best Christmas present I've had in years," the Batesville resident says.

However, he realizes that he will soon be away from the comforts of home once again. That's why he appreciates the many care packages he and his comrades have received from not only family and friends, but complete strangers.

These gifts are always welcome, and Lynch particularly likes the little drink mixes that can be added to water, double and triple A batteries, coffee and cups of soup.

He is also thankful for toiletries "because you never know when the store is going to run out of shaving cream or other things.

"We never turn down anything," and when packages are received, "everything in my office stops" while everyone looks through the box. Each person usually has a certain item he or she is on the lookout for. "For one of my soldiers it was peanut M and M's. For others, it's movies, books, crossword puzzles or hand sanitizer."

Tim Kieffer, Indiana Patriot Guard southeast region senior ride captain, believes "it's a big morale booster" for the troops to receive these packages.

The accommodations for the men and women in the armed forces "aren't great .... (and) there's a lot of things we have access to here that they don't there."