CAMP ADDER, Iraq - Members of Bravo Company from the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment of the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, got a big morale boost last month when they received care packages put together by last year's fourth-graders at Albany Christian School.

The Albany soldiers had visited the class during the last school year. They gave gifts and answered questions from the students before leaving for their deployment to Iraq.

The students were able to return the favor, thanks to some patriotic citizens from Albany.

Funds were raised through a school auction and Jeremy and Lydia Kudlo of Albany donated money to help make the project happen. Teacher Stephanie Looney arranged for her students to put the packages together.

The soldiers were full of praise for Looney, the Kudlos and the fourth-grade students as they opened their care packages Aug. 18.

When asked if he was excited to receive a care package, Pvt. Tyler Scholander said, "Are you kidding me? This is great! It's definitely nice to know people back home care. This is the kind of stuff that gets us through the deployment. We just want to say thank you."

There were nothing but smiles on the soldiers' faces when they saw the items inside the packages, and Pfc. Sam Wagner's face lit up when he saw microwaveable popcorn.

"I can finally put my microwave to use with this popcorn; I love popcorn and I haven't found a use for my microwave yet. So I'm very thankful for this," he said.

Staff Sgt. Brian Chytka, the convoy commander for the group, said, "It is great that this could be arranged to give some of my younger soldiers the opportunity to connect with the kids, because a lot of people who come over here are focused on the Army and they forget about everybody back home supporting us."

Bravo Company is based out of Corvallis and is currently serving on a convoy security and force protection mission until spring 2010.

Spc. Cory Grogan is with the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.

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