"DAD" - Charles Wilkins, Jr. - who contacted us with this special request

1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III

Maj. John Winters with Army Unit, Iraq; Maj. Winters top center with leg holster

1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, Army National Guard

 In 2005, not long after Payson Supply Line was established, we were honored to receive a very special request from Charles Wilkins Jr. of Mesa, Arizona.  Mr. Wilkins is the father of 1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, U.S. Army National Guard, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq.

  1ST LT CHARLES L. WILKINS III
U.S. Army National Guard
38 years old, of Columbus, Ohio
Assigned to the 216th Engineer Battalion, Ohio Army National Guard, Hamilton, Ohio.
Killed August 20, 2004 when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle near Samarra, Iaq

The family of 1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III donated his European configured television to the Payson Supply Line for shipment to other military personnel stationed in Iraq.  They wanted this done in memory of their son.

The Payson Supply Line received the following letter from “DAD,” Charles Wilkins Jr., along with the television, satalite dish and other parts:

 To whom it may concern:
This television was returned to me as part of my son’s personal effects.  It is a European configured television.  Please give this television to a soldier or unit in Iraq or Afghanistan or that are mobilizing to go.  I know my son cared for his troops and would have wanted them to get use from this TV.  If there is anything else we can do, my wife, Gail, and I can be reached at (address in Mesa, AZ).
Thanks,
Charles Wilkins, Jr.
p.s. – Please send this information so the receiver knows where this television came from.

 We had mailing information for Major John Winters whose Army Unit was stationed in Camp Victory, Iraq.  In contacting Major Winters, we determined that this unit had the facilities that would allow for a television.  Major Winters had already received one of our standard 35 lb. boxes of items, and further expressed a need for clothing (adult and children sizes) and toys for the troops stationed there to distribute to the Iraqi people.

In a matter of days the television with all it’s parts (mailed in 3 separate boxes), along with the requested clothes and toys, were shipped to Major Winters at his Army base in Camp Victory, Iraq.  (See photo above of Major John Winters with his Army unit.)

A short time later, the following letter was received from Major Winters:

Dear Butch,
I received the three boxes of clothes and toys and the television from Mr. Wilkins.  Thank you!  I found a home for donations to the Iraqis.  The 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade goes to the villages throughout Iraq and donates these items.  Captain Kyle of the 322nd told me the items you donated would go to a village in Mosul and a school in Baghdad.  He promised to take pictures of soldiers donating the clothes and toys.  Captain Kyle said items like these help break the ice with the Iraqi people and open the door for us to help.  I recently left the 319th MI Battalion and they will be returning home next month, but I will be staying with the XVIII Airborn Corps Artillery Headquarters.  My new address is:  (address).  Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
John Winters

(See e-mails and photos from Captain Donald Kyle under our “Letters” page.)

Major Winters then requested the mailing address for Charles Wilkins, Jr., which we supplied.  A short time later, we received the following email from Major Winters:

December 13, 2005
Butch,
Thank you for Chuck’s address.  I was worried he would not get a thank you note from me.  I dontated the TV to our replacement unit, 302nd MI Battalion.  They put the TV in their Day Room, along with 1st Lt. Wilkins’ picture and his bio.  Over 300 soldiers will get to share this gift everyday.  I enjoyed getting the flags for you guys.  I was overwhelmed by your generosity.  By the way, I am flying home tomorrow.
Merry Christmas!
John

THE PAYSON SUPPLY LINE WAS ABLE TO FULFILL THIS VERY SPECIAL REQUEST BECAUSE OF YOUR DONATIONS!  WE THANK YOU!

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For more information regarding 1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, refer to the following website:

 http://militarytimes.com/valor/army-1st-lt-charles-l-wilkins-iii/317482/