It’s never easy for those serving their country overseas (or their families Stateside) to spend the holidays separated from loved ones. To help spread holiday cheer, the Sun Journal asked readers to send in photos and military addresses for area servicemen and servicewomen who won’t be home in December. We urge readers to write to them. Share a kind word. A Christmas card, perhaps. Let them know they are missed and thought of “back home.” If you send a care package, know that they especially appreciate flea collars (worn on ankles to ward off sand fleas), unscented sunscreen, lip balm, books, films on DVD, Visine, magazines and ready-to-eat snacks. If you send baked goods, it’s best to put them in sealable, plastic containers; decorative tins aren’t advised because packages will be screened by security and the metal might set off an alarm. Definite no-nos: glass, anything breakable and chocolate.

Ian G. Cowett

Sfc./E-7 Ian Cowett of Hartford has been a member of the Maine National Guard since 1993. He is a platoon sergeant with the 152nd Field Artillery unit out of Waterville and has been in Iraq since February. He has a 19-year history of service in the U.S. Army and National Guard, joining as a high-school senior in 1985. From 1985 to 1993, he served with A Company, 57th Signal Battalion, 3rd Signal Brigade out of Fort Hood, Texas. During 1990-91, he served in Iraq in Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

SFC Cowett, Ian G.

391st MP Battalion

152nd FA Forward

APO AE 09342

Greg L. Vaillancourt

Spc. Greg Vaillancourt of the 133rd has been in the U.S. Army National Guard for 10 years. He grew up in Lewiston and married his wife, Amy, Oct. 7 of this year. The couple have a 3 year-old son, Trent. Vaillancourt has been stationed in Iraq since March.

SPC Greg L. Vaillancourt

Co. C 133D ECB (H)

APO AE 09334

Daniel A. Waite

Sgt. Daniel A. Waite, who grew up in Canton, is serving with the U.S. Army as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is stationed with the 25th Infantry Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is an Airborne Ranger but is currently serving with a reconnaissance task force. He is a 2000 graduate of Dirigo High School. One of his brothers, Michael, is serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. His parentes are Daniel and Victoria and Waite of Canton. His other brother, Matthew, attends the University of Southern Maine.

Sgt. Daniel A. Waite

Taskforce 2-35 HHC, 3rd Brigade 25th ID

APO AE 09355-9998

Michael Waite

Spc. Michael Waite is in the Army Reserves, serving with the 619th Transportation Company in Iraq. He has been in the Army for 3 1/2 years. He grew up in Canton. His his parents are Daniel and Victoria Waite. He married Shira Hanmer July 5 in Cape Elizabeth while on a two-week leave; the couple have been together for nearly five years. He has been overseas for nine months and is expected to return home in February. His older brother, Danny, is serving his country in Afghanistan.

Spc. Michael Waite

3rd PLT. 619th Transportation Company

APO AE 09331

Brian R. Bolduc

Spc. Brian R. Bolduc of Auburn has been in the Army National Guard for four years. He is currently stationed in Iraq. His parents are Joan and Ronald Bolduc.

Spc. Brian R. Bolduc

C Company 133rd ECB (H)

APO AE 09334

Julie and Patrick Rand

Spc. Julie Trask Rand and Sgt. Patrick J. Rand, husband and wife, are serving in the Army National Guard. They are stationed in Iraq with the HSC 133rd Engineer Batalion Equipment Platoon. Julie has been in the service for three years, Patrick for eight. She is a heavy equipment operator; he is a heavy equipment operator with the asphalt section. Julie is the daughter of Joe and Nancy Smith of Livermore Falls and Gene Trask of Jay. Patrick is the son of Debbie and Bob Catterson of Raymond and Thomas Rand of Portland.

Spc. Rand, Julie R.

Sgt. Rand, Patrick J.

HSC 133rd ENG. BN.

EQUIP PLT.

APO AE 09334

Melissa Anne Zadakis

Sgt. Melissa Anne Zadakis of Mexico joined the Army National Guard in November of 2001. She was 16 when she joined Company C 133rd out of Norway. Currently stationed in Iraq, the engineering company has been busy building a chapel, schoos and a clinic. She was attending the University of Presque Isle when her unit was activated. She was studying to become an elementary school teacher. Her parents are John and Linda Zdakis. She has two sisters and two brothers.

Sgt. Zadakis, Melissa

Company C 133rd ECB (H)

APO AE 09334

Rita M. Picard

Sgt. E-5 Rita M. Picard of Bangor, formerly of Litchfield, has been in the U.S. Army National Guard for seven years. She is currently stationed in Mosol, Iraq with the HSC 133rd Equipment Platoon out of Portland. Her parents are Richard and Verna Picard.

Sgt. Picard, Rita

HSC 133rd Equipment Platoon

APO AE 09334

Andrew Marquis

Sgt. Andrew J. Marquis, a 1993 graduate of St. Dominic Regional High School in Lewiston, is serving in Iraq. He has been in the National Guard, Westbrook Company, for more than 12 years. His specialities are carpentry and masonry. He is engaged to Camella Lamming of South Portland. His father and step-mother, John and Claire Marquis, live in Lewiston. His mother, Eileen Marquis, resides in Auburn.

Sgt. Andrew J. Marquis

Company B 133rd ECB (H)

APO AE 09334

Scott Pacios

Spc. Scott Pacios graduated from Lisbon High School in 1998 and attended Salem State College in Massachusetts. He joined the U.S. Army in 2001. He underwent basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky and attended AIT schooling at Fort Lee in Virginia. He then joined the Army Reserves, serving with the 309th unit out of Auburn. He was promoted to specialist in April of 2003. He was transferred to the 167th Command Support Group out of Londonberry, N.H., and was deployed December of 2003 to Fort Drum, N.Y., and then to Tikrit, Iraq. He is the son of Suzanne and Robert Pacios Jr. of Lisbon. He is the brother of Lisa Cloutier of Auburn and Rich Rogers of Lewiston; and stepbrother of Melisssa Pacios of Lewiston and Jennifer Martin of Massachusetts. He is the grandson of of Louis and Simonne Nadeau of Lewiston and Robert and Sylvia Pacios, also of Lewiston.

Spc. Pacios, Scott

167th CSG

OIF II FOB Speicher

APO AE 09393

Ronald R. Doucette

Master Sgt. Ronald R. Doucette, a 1975 graduate of Edward Little High School, has served in the U.S. Army for 28 years. He is stationed with the 167th Command Support Group out of Londonberry, N.H., and is currently serving in Tikrit, Iraq. He left for his tour of duty in December 2003. Throughout his military career, he has been assigned to Fort Dix, N.J.; Fort Lee, Va.; Germany; Greece; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Lewiston-Auburn; and Fraser Mich., where he served as battalion supply NCO. He has received Meritorious Service medals, Army Commendation medals, Army Achievement medals, the National Defense Service medal and the Good Conduct medal. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace F. Doucette Sr. of Poland. He and his wife, Carol, have a son, Brad.

Master Sgt. Ronald R. Doucette

167th CSG

OIF II, FOB Speicher

APO AE 09392

Nicholas P. Bartlett

Pfc. Nicholas P. Bartlett of Mechanic Falls, a 2003 graduate of Poland Regional High School, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps December 2002 at age 17 through the Delayed Entry Program. He has been on active duty since September 2003 and is currently stationed in Afghanistan. He is the son of Wendy Bartlett of Mechanic Falls and Bradley C. Bartlett Jr. of Yarmouth. He has a sister and two brothers.

Pcf. Bartlett, Nicholas P.

3rd BN 6th Marines INDIA CO 73295

FPO AE 09510-3295

Michelle Bulger

Spc. Michelle Bulger, a 2003 graduate of Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, is stationed with the 133rd Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Army National Guard in Iraq, helping to rebuild roads, schools and other buildings. She is the daughter of Peg Mattor of Mexico and Bill Mattor of Roxbury. She married her high-school sweetheart, Ryan Bulger of Rumford, the day after Christmas 2003. Ryan is also in the military, serving with the 152nd Maintenance Company of the National Guard.

Spc. Bulger, Michelle

Company C 133rd Engineer Battalion

APO AE 09334

Matthew Berube

Pfc. Matthew Berube, a 2003 graduate of Gray-New Gloucester High School, joined the U.S. Army through its Delayed Entry Program. He underwent basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; completed Military Police training in January and finished three weeks of Airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., in February. He was assigned to Korea with the 57th Military Police Unit and was deployed in October to Iraq, serving with the 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) Unit. He is the son of Diane Needham of New Gloucester.

Pfc. Berube, Matthew

57th MP Co. Box #121

Unit # 15385

APO AP 96260

James P. Dunn

Chief Warrant Officer 2 James P. Dunn, a 1990 graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn, has served in the U.S. Army for 14 1/2 years. He is an intelligence analyst/all-source technician serving with the 1st Brigade, 2nd Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment out of Fort Lewis, Wash. He is currently stationed in Iraq. He is married to Gretchen Millett Dunn, who grew up in Mechanic Falls. They have a 10-year-old son, Matthew.

CW-2 Dunn, James P.

HHT/2-14 CAV

APO AE 09345

Matthew J. Duval

Sgt. Matthew J. Duval, a 1996 graduate of Leavitt Area High School, enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in August of ’96 and is currently serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable radio reconnaissance team. He is stationed in Hawaii and was deployed to Iraq in June. He is the son of Cheryl and the late Conrad Duval of Turner. He has a twin sister and a brother. He is the grandson of Laurier Duval of Lewiston and the late Carmen Duval and the late Mozart Chabot and Susie Harrison. His interests include the Red Sox, the Patriots and martial arts.

Sgt. Duval, Matthew J.

11th MEU CE (S-2 Rad Bn Det)

UIC 42520

FPO AP 96610-2520

Jerry R. Ouellette

Staff Sgt. Jerry R. Ouellette is serving in the U.S. Army Reserves overseas with the 619th Transportation Company out of Auburn. Born and raised with his brother, Troy, in Auburn, he has been in the Army for eight years. He and his wife, Marie, have three daughters. His father is Larry Ouellette; his in-laws are Ron and Diane Lawlor.

Staff Sgt. Ouellette, Jerry R.

619th Transportation Company

APO AE 09331

Michael. L. Bolduc

Sgt. Michael L. Bolduc of Lewiston, who has been in the U.S. military for 15 years, is currently stationed in Mosul, Iraq. A National Guardsman, he has been involved in the building and reconstruction of a church, a health clinic and schools in Iraq. He is employed by Geiger Bros. of Lewiston. He has a 5-year-old daughter, Lindsey.

Sgt. Bolduc, Michael L.

Company C 133rd ECB H

APO AE 09334

Shawn D. Cote

Spc. Shawn D. Cote of Auburn is serving overseas with the 133rd Battalion Army Reserve Unit, Company C from Norway. He has been a reservist since the summer of 2000. He was in his last year at Thomas College in Waterville when he was called to active duty. His parents are Diane and Ken Cote of Auburn and he has a sister.

Spc. Cote, Shawn D.

C Company 133rd ECB (H)

APO AE 09334

Wayne Cote

Spc. Wayne Cote of North Jay is serving in Iraq as a member of the Military Police of the Army National Guard. He has served three years in the Army and three years in the National Guard. He is the son of Karen Cote of Jay and the late Roger Cote.

Spc. Cote, Wayne

2/197th (MP)

OIF (2) FOG Warhorse

APO AE 09392

Joseph Castonguay

Pvt. Joseph Castonguay of Lewiston is serving in the U.S. Army with the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y. He finished basic training in early March and was deployed to Iraq in June. His parents are Donald and Susan Castonguay; his grandmother, Rena Wolzen. He has one brother and a sister. His fiancee, Elisah, is attending college in Boston.

Pvt. Castonguay, Joseph

Alpha Co. 214 Inf.

10th Mountain Div.

APO AE 09303

Copy the Story Link