I am Master Sgt. Harry Miller, battalion operations NCO for the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, Hawai'i Army National Guard, out of Wahiawa.

I just had to drop you a line to let you know that we received our shipment of Girl Scout cookies for the "Hiki No" Battalion. Let me tell you it was a real surprise for our soldiers and, yes, pretty cool also to have received these sweets from home. Some of the soldiers immediately started opening the many boxes of cookies and began "sampling" them, if you know what I mean.

It is so wonderful of the Girl Scouts to provide the cookies for us, and to remind us of our beautiful homeland of Hawai'i, all its hospitality and generosity, and of the loved ones that await our return. We really do miss our homes and families, and are grateful for all the support from everyone in the Islands.

In closing, please extend our heartfelt aloha and mahalo to all the people of Hawai'i, the Hawai'i Girl Scout troops, and their volunteers and supporters. We would like to especially recognize the following: Aime'e Fisbee, Mililani; Alexandra Makk, Star of the Sea student; and Maj. Chuck Anthony, Hawai'i Army National Guard, for their continuous coordinated efforts in support of Operation Girl Scout Cookies for all the soldiers in the country.

We at the battalion also offer our sincerest gratitude, appreciation, admiration, and respect to Theresa Inouye, the mother of our fallen comrade in arms, Sgt. Deyson Cariaga, for her generous contributions and support.

Well, it's cookie time. Again, our thanks for supporting us, "your soldiers" of the 29th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq, and the 1-487th Field Artillery "Hiki No" Battalion here in sunny Kuwait.