Muskego Seniors Pack Treats for Troops

Ms. Wiedenkeller:

I wanted to thank you for the box.  My friends and I really enjoyed the treats.  It is always great knowing that there are people back home supporting us.  Please tell Terri that I said thank you for the name drop.  I have attached the only pic I have of myself over here.  I am on the left receiving a coin from our General.  Again, thank you for the morale boost.  It is greatly appreciated.  I hope your Thanksgiving was happy, and have a Merry Christmas.

Some of the troops call her 'Grandma Judy,' and we caught up with her Wednesday night at Steeple View Senior Community along Janesville Road, bustling about a sea of bins and boxes, all with a list to fill and a soldier waiting on the other end. Her table set up inside first introduced us to her efforts to help soldiers feel a little more of home, far away from home.

"It started out with sending a big box of cookies that my friend and I had baked out to Pendleton for some wounded Fox Co. Marines," Wiedenkeller recalled.  "Didn't even know ANY other soldiers then - just that somehow, reaching out to them was something I had to become involved in."

Nearly eight years later, 35 boxes of various treats, including candy and beef jerky, along with socks, hand warmers and caps, were prepped for shipping overseas to 'adopted' soldiers, which number nearly 200. Special requests by each soldier are often granted, and are purchased through donations.

"For Christmas, we are making sure that each individual soldier or Marine receives at least two signed Christmas cards and we also wrap special little toiletries for the females and games for the guys" Wiedenkeller explained. "That gives them some presents to put under their trees or where ever they can do a makeshift center for their celebration." 

Two gentlemen on hand who helped raise money for shipping and purchasing of items were themselves soldiers in World War II.  Tony Agneta was a tank driver in Patton's army, arriving three days after the D-Day invasion.  He said his age, 89, prevents him from doing much packing, but says organizations like this deserve support, as nothing like it existed 65 years ago.

"We had the USO and the Salvation Army, but they were behind the lines with us, and generally they provided an occasional treat of coffee and donuts," Agneta explained. He said he was disappointed that more wasn't taken care of for the troops by the government - some requests include items like bed sheets and flea powder - but he's happy to assist however he can.

Also on hand for support was veteran Howard Traeder, who flew 24 bombing missions over Germany in a B-17 in 1944 and 1945. His last was on Friday the 13th, 1945. It was the day after President Roosevelt died, but the superstitious date proved to be lucky for Traeder, as his plane had to crash land, but no one on board perished. He was picked up by American forces shortly after and taken to a nearby field hospital that was just built as Allied Forces marched through just days earlier.

Wiedenkeller called the evening's work crazy, but said it's always rewarding. The worst part?

"Figuring out the customs forms for shipping. It's a nightmare!" she said.

If you would like more information on Treats for Troops, please email Judy at judyhib@yahoo.com.