LSA ANACONDA, Iraq — The mail arrives for Capt. Sandra Chavez and … what’s this? A package from Robert Redford.
And here’s something from Henry Winkler, better known as the “Fonz” from “Happy Days.”
And this just arrived from “Sex in the City’s” Sarah Jessica Parker.
Chavez seems to be the most well-connected soldier in all of Iraq. But the public affairs officer with the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team is simply enjoying the fruits of her labor. Since August, she has written to more than 1,000 celebrities — actors, musicians, athletes and others — asking for autographs as a morale boost for her and other soldiers.
“I was looking for something to expand my job,” said Chavez, 28, a six-year veteran of the Army. She saw how a visit from Arnold Schwarzenegger boosted the morale in July. And she met a chaplain who was already writing to celebrities.
Putting two-and-two together, she began her correspondence with the rich and famous, including moguls Donald Trump and Bill Gates, both of whom responded.
“It’s definitely something that gives me pleasure,” she said. “And because I’m getting responses almost every day, it gives me something to look forward to.”
The response allows Chavez to accomplish one of her goals. She is able to give some of the items to other soldiers.
Sgt. John Philibert, a paralegal NCO and fan of the movie “Logan’s Run,” was happy to get an autographed photo from Michael York, the movie’s star, which he will keep in his Iraq scrapbook.
“It’s a small gesture on their part,” he said, “but it goes a long way for us.”
An autographed Miami Dolphins pennant is now in the hands of fan 1st Lt. Terrance Kratz.
“It’s awesome. It helps our morale a lot,” he said. “People don’t realize how much time [Chavez] takes to do this for people. Every little bit you can do here to help a soldier goes a long way.”
She writes individual letters to each celebrity, telling them who she is and why she is writing. She mentions the person’s work and describes briefly the lives of her and other soldiers at LSA Anaconda, about 40 miles north of Baghdad. She tells of Schwarzenegger’s visit and invites them, too, to visit troops in Iraq.
“They’re very personal letters. I don’t send out generic letters,” she said.
The first person to reply was John Travolta, who sent a photo signed “To the soldiers of the 3rd BCT.” The next day another photo arrived from Travolta, signed to Chavez. The next day, a DVD of one of his movies arrived.
“The joke got to be, ‘Anything from John Travolta today?’” she said.
But that opened the floodgates. The country music group Alabama has written. So has funnyman and humanitarian Jerry Lewis and golfer Arnold Palmer. Professional athletes have responded. Autographed footballs have arrived. So has an autographed cap from the folks at “Fear Factor.”
Some of the celebrities obviously have taken time to read the letter. Actress Lauren Hutton mentioned that she once lifted Schwarzenegger off the ground “to prove girls are tough, too.”
Redford wrote, “Dear Team, I wish I could be there in person to tell you how much you mean to us all.”
Actor Gary Sinise, who visited on a USO tour, wrote a long personal letter, saying, “I am thinking of you every day.”
Winkler wrote, “Sandra, Hugs and Kisses to you. You are the coolest.”
“That one really put a smile on my face,” Chavez said.
So did one from Kevin Spacey, her favorite actor. His photo is the first one in Chavez’s album.
And Chavez, a big fan of the Denver Broncos football team, cherishes a signed photo from John Elway, the team’s longtime quarterback.
“That one’s not going anywhere,” she said.
