Support Our Soldier (SOS) Program:

How the Program Works:

Starting in 2003, the Association of the Century's Support Our Soldiers (SOS) program is our way of saying thanks to deployed 100 th Division Soldiers and recognizing their selfless service in support of the Global War on Terrorism. A 'Letter or Box from Home"is sometimes the best medicine when you are deployed far from home and family. Depending on the time of year, "Pickle Packing" events conducted by Association of the Century volunteers involve packing and shipping boxes with everything from food and personal hygiene items to PX gift cards at Christmas and phone cards used to call home. Often personal notes from AOC volunteers are also included. One of our more recent "Pickle Packing" session occurred during this year's AOC Convention when a group of thirty-five AOC volunteers met in the lobby of the Bowling Green Holiday Inn Convention Center . Before the morning was finished, forty-five (45) boxes of food stuff and personal hygiene items were boxed, addressed, and mailed to 100 th Division soldiers who are serving in harms way in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Pickle Packing" Hits Record Level:

To date, over $ 23,000.00 has been contributed to the SOS fund and over 700 individual packages or cards have been shipped to 100 th Division Soldiers mobilized around the world. Usually four mailings are scheduled during the year and cost for each mailing range from a low of $1,200.00 to a high of $2,500.00 depending how many packages are sent and what is contained in each package. The generosity of all who have helped in our "Pickle Packing" endeavor over the last five years has been both humbling and gratifying. The loyalty and patriotism of 100 th Division members, past and present, continue to demonstrate that the Division and the AOC are serving our nation and the 100 th Division soldiers.

How You Can Help:

You can help in two ways. First plan to attend one or more of the four "Pickle Packing" sessions scheduled for 2009. Tentative dates include Tuesday, April 7, 2009, Saturday, September 26; 2009 as part of the AOC/100 th Infantry Division Annual Meeting; Tuesday, November 10, 2009 for Thanksgiving and Tuesday, December 8 for our Christmas mailing. If you cannot be there in person consider sending a TAX DEDUCTIBLE check marked for "SOS" to the Association of the Century, P.O. Box 34393 , Louisville , Kentucky 40232. Many thanks to all who either participated by their presence at "Pickle Packing" sessions, or by sending a check to help defray the cost of this most worthwhile.

Soldier Comments:

I am stationed at Besmaya Range Complex at Besmaya , Iraq . I joined the 100th in 1973, and have served with the division since that time with the exception of a tour at the 81st RRC as a CSM and returned to the 100th in Oct 04, as CSM at Hopkinsville , Ky.   I have been with 2-398th/3/98th Div until July of 2008 when deployed to Iraq . I know this is a long way around to saying Thank You for the care package but I wanted you to know that it was still received by someone with close ties to the 100th.  God Bless you and Thank You.