Recent Requests

Operation Bandanas is in great need of donations.  As OpBan moves into its 4th year of ministry, the word has spread through the ranks of our military, thereby causing us to receive more and more requests for Psalm 91 bandanas. Currently, we have approximately 15,000 bandanas requested! We hope you will respond with a generous gift for our incredible troops to receive a piece of God’s armor, His magnificent, comforting Word, and a reminder to them of His presence with them. The month of May is an excellent time to ask for an offering from your congregation in memory of our fallen heroes and in honor of those who continue to carry the banner of freedom. Involve churches and your community (schools, businesses and organizations) to help provide spiritual encouragement to those who need to be reminded that God is with them. I will be happy to provide brochures for you to share or you may copy the brochure and newsletters off of the website to distribute.  Below are a few of the requests we have received in recent weeks.

Mary Gray

Executive Director     

Operation Bandanas

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  Ps 91:1

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May 7
Greetings in the Name of the Lord!  I am the chaplain for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) based in Camp Pendleton.  Our battalion returned from a tour to Afghanistan, Helmand Province in December and we are gearing up to head out to Afghanistan once again early next year. Psalm 91 has proven to be an excellent resource to ease the minds and hearts of our Marines as they head into combat.  I was wondering how to go about obtaining approximately 1000 of these bandanas in desert Marpat camo (digital) for our Marines.  If you could send me more information on how to do so, I would greatly appreciate it!

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April 20

Thank you very much for your ministry to our troops.  I was told about your operation from our Family Readiness Flight at Pope AFB recently, and I would love to see if we can get some
bandanas for our Airmen as they deploy.  We have members who deploy almost every month who out-process through our mobility lines, where we give them Bibles and other devotionals on their way downrange.  It would be great to also be able to give some of those bandanas to them also.  I'm going to be bold and ask for 500 at this time, and we will certainly make them available to our deploying Airmen. 

April 18

I am a Chaplain's Assistant with the California Army National Guard Pre-mobilization Training Assistance Element. My Chaplain was recently at a conference and picked up one of your packaged bandanas with Psalm 91 printed on the front and I wanted to get in touch with you to see how we can obtain some of these for our training Soldiers. Currently, our Training Element has trained over 9,000 National Guard Soldier's from all over the country and was recently recognized as being the best in the Nation.  We are continuing to receive more Soldiers for training and I believe this would be an awesome item to be able to pass to those who would like to have one on their deployment.

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April 2010

Hi! My name is SSG Trevor Rush and I'm with the 43d Sustainment BDE Chaplain's office. I was wondering how do we go about getting some bandanas for our soldiers that are out here in Afghanistan?  Me and my Chaplain thought it would be nice if we could pass these out to our troops. If you can let me know something I would truly appreciate it a lot. I heard about your ministry when I was deployed last time to Iraq, but never had the chance to contact you all. We station out of Fort Carson, Colorado. We have about 300 plus soldiers here but we cover down on more than 2000. I love Psalm 91 and keep it close to my heart out here and I know the soldiers do too. So we thank you for what you do for us back there. This would boost our morale a whole lot. Thanks very much and God Bless you.

Happy Easter ma'am. Our Lord is risen and He is risen indeed. Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our Paratroopers, they really like those bandanas. I am a chaplain with the 82nd 4th Brigade and I received bandanas from your organization about 7 months ago. Needless to say, we are in need of some more. We have been deployed for almost 8 month now in Afghanistan.

CH (CPT) Farid Awad

1/14/10

Hello Mary,

     In 2007-2008 I was with an Infantry unit in Baghdad. It was the 2-325 2BCT 82nd ABN. Your organization sent us several bandannas. They were a very popular item. There was one NCO that would read Psalm 91 from his bandana every time he went outside the wire. It got to the point that he memorized it and would quote it to his team every time they departed. There was another Soldier; wearing the bandana that was shot in his Kevlar helmet by a sniper in the forehead area. The round mysteriously tumbled on the inside of the helmet and exited a clean hole through the rear of the helmet. Amazingly the Soldier was unscratched (with a bullet hole through the front and back of his helmet)! He came to my chapel service that evening and testified. He said, “It’s been several years since I have been to church but if I don’t come now and give God the glory I don’t know what it’s going to take to wake me up!’ The Soldier recommitted his life to Christ that evening. These are just some of the incredible stories down range. Your organization was a part of it. I thank you for it.

    I am currently serving as the Special Warfare Training Group Chaplain at Fort Bragg. Many of our Soldiers come here and deploy immediately after the training. May I request some bandanas to offer them here? I am not sure what your ministry can accommodate. We have 2200 students going through here in a fiscal year. We would gladly accept whatever you could offer.

God bless you Mary,

Chaplain Rod Gilliam

UNIT CHAPLAIN

3/1 SWTG(A)

Fort Bragg, NC 28310

12/14/09

A quote from a mom who asked her daughter what she could send to her and her unit who are deployed .  She requested 50 bandanas and this was her mom's note to us:

"The bandana is her group's #1 request, and IN BOLD LETTERS -  above snacks, notepaper and envelopes, magazines, and hygiene products." 

11/19/09

"My husband is currently touring in Korea, we are expecting a baby boy December 26th! Unfortunately being so close to the holiday, airfare is not financially realistic. This will be his first Christmas with out his family, and he is also struggling with missing out on the pregnancy and birth. Our son will be 4 months old before his tour is through. I think a bandana and a prayer would help bring home to him this year, and  help him find the strength to get through these trying times for us. I really believe the spiritual support is just what he needs!  Thank you for supporting our troops!"

11/09/09

"I am in need of about 600 bandanas for our troops that are deploying soon.  I think it will be of great benefit if each of them have a bandana to assure them of God's presence and love towards them.  How can obtain the bandanas?  Your help will be greatly appreciated."

11/09/09 

"Could you be kind enough to send me 1000 Psalms 91 bandanas for my Battalion
Marines/Sailors?"  Thank you.

10/15/09

My husband was recently deployed to Afghanistan and I was wondering how I could have a bandana sent to him. We are currently having a hard time financially, we have three kids, a four year old , a 22 month old, and a 2 month old. My 22 month old little boy was hospitalized for a week only 2 weeks prior to his deployment.  So my husband is under a lot of stress and I think a little something like the prayer bandana is something that he would appreciate a whole lot.  (OpBan is not only sending her husband a bandana, but extras to share with his battle buddies.)

9/3/09

In response to Mary's reply to the note below:

Mary,

Thanks again for your support and yes, getting the word into the hands of those who protect our great nation and our way of life is the best gift that they can receive, for no one knows the time or the hour that they will be called home to eternal life, and your bandanas help make that eternal life a reality where there was none.  Thanks again for all your work and spreading God's word to those who serve. 

Blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior!

Chaplain K., USN

9/3/09

Subject: PS 91 BANDANAS 

Mary,

The unit I serve is Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 22, otherwise known as NMCB 22 Seabees.  The battalion's home is Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas.  We are now in Gulfport, MS training for our deployment to Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.  Some units to leave this week.  I can not go into details, as you may know.  Nevertheless, during our exercise in the deep Mississippi woods and mud, many of the Bees were very interested in the Psalm 91 Bandanas.  I received a box with both the bandanas and Psalm 91 books.  The Bees took all I had.  There are over 575 NMCB 22 Seabees that will be deployed within 2 weeks.  I would like to have a bandana for each of them if possible so they will have the Psalm while in harms way to assure them of God's love for them.  Let me know what you can do, and what I need to do to have my Bees equipped with your blessing.  Thank you very much with whatever you can do.

In His name,

CK,

LCDR, CHC, USN, Battalion Chaplain

6/17/09

Hi, I'm a soldier currently stationed in Iraq and would love to have one of your bandanas. I would really appreciate it if you could let me know how I can get one, if you need money or whatever. if you have a few extras I'm sure I can find guys to take them whith no problem, and ACU would be awesome. I'm in the Texas National Guard out of Irving, Texas and I'm with A co 56th, a combat engineering unit. I found out about your organization by googling psalm bandanas after seeing one on another soldier. I'll let my friends/family about your website. Thank you so much for supporting us, it means more than you can imagine.
thank you.

SPC. S.H.
Camp Adder (Tallil)

6/15/09

Mary,

    I found one of your bandanas in E. Afghanistan, at Tor Kham Gate, with your card.  Any way you could send some my way?  I'm a chaplain for about 500 west of there.  Thanks for considering this, and may the Lord bless you!

Steve

Chaplain S.
 

5/30/09

Hello from Kuwait my name is PV2 S. I am the Chaplain Asst. with the 593rd sustainment Brigade out of Fort Lewis Washington (Army) we have approx 400 soldiers. We are currently based in Kuwait but we have soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan . My self and my Chaplain will deliver these bandana's to the other soldiers in the different areas .
Thanks Again and God Bless.
 
PV2 G.S.
Chaplain Asst.
593rd Sustainment Brigade

 

5/18/09

Greetings in Jesus Name,

I am the chaplain for TF Lone Star.  We are deploying to Afghanistan this month.  I would like to request some bandanas for my soldiers.  The TF I am with is about 1000 soldiers strong.  Many of these soldiers are young and on their first deployment.  I think that these bandanas are an awesome reminder of God's love for them.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Chaplain J.W.

Pro Deo Et Patria

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4/7/09

Hello!

I am the chaplain for the 844th Engineer Battalion and we are currently at the mobilization station at Ft. McCoy, WI. We are taking approximately XXXX soldiers into Iraq in the coming weeks. I just heard about your ministry from a chaplain that recently returned from Iraq and am SO EXCITED about what you are doing. My troops are young - and many of them are searching. In the next several weeks, I anticipate a greater increase in both individual counseling and chapel attendance. The bandanas that you have would be a great tool to help me encourage troops to turn to God and His Word in the midst of their fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

Please consider my request and let me know if you have a more formal way to ask for the bandanas.

In Grace,

Chaplain M.B.

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4/1/09

Hello, I am a Chaplain's Assistant with the 1-137th AHB, we are currently on deployment in a combat zone and I was wondering how I can acquire 450 Bandanas to distribute to the soldiers in our battalion. The Chaplain we replaced told us about your support and how you graciously provided the Psalm 91 bandanas to his troops. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all that you do for the troops and may God greatly bless you for your ministry.
 

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2/6/09

Thank you so very much for your ministry. I am the chaplain for the 30th Special Troops Battalion, which has been mobilized for Iraq.  We are presently in the final stages of our training and will depart in a few weeks. Someone brought me a box of the bandanas, which were quickly distributed and gratefully received. Unfortunately, there were nowhere near enough for our battalion, which has about 475 soldiers. The MPs and Bradley crews, in particular, are asking for more bandanas--they like to wear them under their helmets as they go on patrol and provide security for convoys. I have about 200 soldiers who have asked for their own bandanas. Is there any possibility that you may be able to provide them?

Again, thank you for your ministry, and may God bless you thoroughly!
 

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1/30/09

Hello, I am a Chaplain’s Assistant with 3-82 CAB, we are deploying [soon], I
was wondering how I can acquire 500 Bandanas to take with me and the
Chaplain down range. Your help would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you
for all that you do for the troops and ministry.

I am an Army Chaplain and would like to have these available to hand out to soldiers. We are going to be deployed [soon]. Our task force is deploying with about 650 soldiers.  I would appreciate anything that you can do.

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1/24/09

"I am currently deployed with the 215th BSB, 1st Cavalry Division in Mosul, Iraq. I would like to request bandanas for my Soldiers. I'm not sure how many I can request. Would 400 be too many?
Thanks for your work. The bandanas are great." 

CH (CPT) RB

"We saw the bandanas you have for the soldiers on your web-site.  There are 125 soldiers being sent overseas from our Group and we were wondering how we could arrange it that each has a bandana before they leave.  Thank you so much for your support of the military of the USA." 

SSG EH, Chaplain's Asst.

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12/18/08

First of all, I would like to thank you for your patriotic support of our troops. My name is Chaplain (Captain) Sang H. Kim with the 1-77th Field Artillery Battalion, stationed in Iraq for the next 12 months. Our Battalion is in very isolated locations in order to build new FOB's and to provide full spectrum operations to secure the Iraqi population. We would appreciate it if you would please send your Bandanas to our 500 Soldiers. Your generosity will make our continuing mission possible. I look forward to hearing from you. May God bless you. 

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12/18/08

Do you think I will be receiving the Psalm 91 Bandanas before Christmas?
I will be home for one week (Dec 23) to say goodbye to my family and I will deploy after that.
Merry Christmas.
Chaplain JD

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12/17/08

It's been a long time since I talked to you and am just getting back with you on getting some bandanas.  I am now in Taji, Iraq and have a pretty large Battalion...any bandanas would be a blessing to my troops who go out on patrols constantly.
Blessings,
CH (1LT) CR
BN Chaplain

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First of all I would like to thank you for the bandanas that you donated to the Chaplain we replaced. The troops loved them and they went quick. We are in charge of 2,000 soldiers who go outside the wire and they love the bandanas. I am wondering if there is any way we could get some more of them. Any amount would be appreciated (especially by our convoy security gunners who ride in the turrets of the gun trucks).

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Hello Ma'am!

I am a United States Sailor currently deployed in Iraq.  I've heard that your organization might support us here, send us occasional bandanas.  Just wondering how to sign up if it's the case.
 

Thank you very much Ma'am!
 

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The 2nd BCT, 1st Infantry Division ("Dagger"Brigade) from Schweinfurt, Germany, just moved to Grafenwoehr and reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade ("Blackhawks".) You may remember hearing stories about them in Iraq last year; they lost a whole lot of soldiers during their last deployment, and just returned home this past November.  Here is a Stars & Stripes newspaper article about their brigade:

"Europe's Deadliest Deployment," Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Aug 5, 2007
Since I believe so strongly that scripture is powerful, I'd really like to see them all armed with it this time around! A brigade typically has about 4500 soldiers, but I'll try to come up with a more accurate count as soon as I can. Let me know what our community can do to help and I'd appreciate anything your organization could do to help these soldiers deploying again this Fall to be armed with God's Word.

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I am a Chaplain for 300 soldiers which will be deploying together on or about Nov 2008.  If you can help with as many Bandanas as you can that would be a blessing.

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I am wanting to order some boxes of bandanas for our Brigade and would like to know what is needed for this.

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I have just arrived here in Iraq and saw the bandana's you have sent. If it is possible I would like to be able to give them to my soldiers as well. I am in a joint infantry/Armor Battalion. Please let me now the process in being able to receive these PS 91 bandana's from you!
God bless...

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I could not believe it, I have ran out of bandanas and it is hot hot hot here! Would you be able to send some of those wonderful bandanas to me. It is great to be able to see God's word being spread to our soldiers. I could use 250 if you send that many!

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I was wondering what a unit would have to do to request the Psalm 91bandanas for our Brigade here is Mosul, Iraq. Thank you.

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Your generosity and prayers are a beacon for us overseas. I had the great blessing of receiving a bandana from a friend of mine shortly before coming here. It has been a blessing to me and I knew that it would also bless others. We are in Tallil Iraq. We will be gratefull for whatever you can send. Thank you so much for your ministry and support of America's soldiers.

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I am writing on behalf of my battalion chaplain to request information on ordering some bandanas for my unit, as we will be deploying sometime late this year. We will be deploying soon and would want to get 900 of the bandanas. Could you please send me information on how to order these specifically for our unit?

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I am in the need for more bandanas. Can I possible get another 500?

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Friends,

Please send me as many bandanas as you can. Thank you. This is very much appreciated by our Soldiers.   Task Force Currahee, Afghanistan

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First I would like to THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR OUR TROOPS . Next I would like to ask you if you would please send some Bandanas to my son in laws troops he is over. He is over a group of 50 plus men I think it is a total of 55 with him. There is also a another group of 50 plus men who live in the same tents but he is not over them another Leader is over them. If i could I would send money to you for this but I am handicap and have no income I am praying that someone will donate enough money so this is possible .