"Soldiers of Today and Yesterday"
" Honor,Dignity & Hope "

When the news showed what Hurricane Katrina had done at the Golf coast, Johnie Lee Qualls of Soldiers of Today and Yesterday, felt compelled to do something. Before you can blink your eyes, he had arranged 2 locations for drop-offs and collections; 1 in Odessa at the Chick-Fill-A restaurant parking lot at 42^nd Street and 1 in Midland, at the corner of Midkiff and Wadley at the Spa Tech parking lot. He called and emailed friends and all came without hesitation.

Big Tex Trailers from Midland loaned us two 17 ft. trailers and Thompson Trucking from Midland loaned us two 40 ft. trailers. People from Odessa and Midland came and dropped off non-perishable food items, diapers, personal hygiene items, clothes, blankets, water and many more items in the 3 days we were set up. Volunteers from various groups came and offered to help. Many people just wanted to do something for their fellow Americans. They collected, sorted and boxed items and wrote encouraging messages on the boxes. The two forty foot trailers were completely filled in the three days.

But, it did not stop there. Johnie Lee felt that he was on a mission and wanted to do more. He took his Barbecue pit, his disks and burners, bought supplies and food and off he went to San Antonio, to the Evacuees at Kelly AFB and the Levi Strauss shelter. His fire burnt so brightly that 2 other friends, Johnny Losoya from the U.S. Pretrial Services and Sgt. Jimmy Haines of the National Guard (recently back from Iraq) took days off work and decided to come along. More help came from the IOF Forester Branch in San Antonio. They arranged for the Feast and more than 50 volunteers showed up to help and 3 buses full of high school students and teachers, who brought their Jazz band.

The two forty foot trailers were delivered by the generosity of B & B Wrecking Company in Midland at the Kelly AFB shelter and we thank B & B Wrecking for driving all the way to San Antonio.

Through the generosity of the people of Midland and Odessa, we were able to cook close to 6,000 breakfast Burritos (they called it breakfast Tacos in San Antonio), a Brisket plate with all the fixings for dinner (which was their first hot meal in 6 days) for over 1350 Evacuees plus the Minnesota and San Antonio Fire Dept., the National Guard, the Police Dept. Red Cross volunteers and another lunch and dinner were serve the next day as well.

We want to thank the following people and organizations for their generosity: Chick-Fill-A restaurant in Odessa on 42^nd Street and Spa Tech in Midland for allowing us to use their parking lot; Big Tex Trailer and Thompson Trucking for the use of their trailers; Corley Paper & Box Company for donating some of the boxes; Various organizations for sorting, boxing up items: The National Guards Bravo and Charlie Companies; The St. Stephen’s Women’s Organization, Parishioners, Knights of Columbus and Fr. James P, Bridges; Carol McCarter and her Business Professional Women; Academy Sports for donating cookers; Sue and Randy Newsom with Degree of Honor; Foresters-Permian Basin Branch and Billy, Sharon and Jim Brown and the San Antonio Foresters Branch; Harvest Time Church; Lee High School PALS students; Nancy Cast; The Johnny and Norma Losoya Family; The Jimmy Haines Family; the Jamie May Family; Kathy Young; Mikki, Joe & Charlotte, Geree, Mica, Lydia, the OHS ROTC students & MSgt. James; Fast Signs for the banners; Stadium Sports; Lisa Sutton for the tires; Casa Ole; Angie Sims from Kermit, TX.and many more who are not mentioned here.

Thank you again, people of Midland, Odessa and San Antonio. Your generosity went a long way.

Day 1 – Thursday Sept. 8, 2005:

Dear friends,

Johnie Lee left yesterday at noon and arrived around 5:30 PM in San Antonio. He was met by Foresters' Branch President, Billy Brown and his father, Jim Brown, President of the Regional Council. (We also belong to the Foresters and they are our partners in this mission).

Johnie told me he was on a mission and felt that he had to do this. I told him he was nuts to undertake this but at least he is MY crazy guy!! There was no stopping him! Johnny Losoya and Jimmy Haines are leaving today to join him; they also felt that they had to do this.

After getting the briskets and other supplies that he needed to cook them with, he started around 9 PM, cooked all night long and more today. There were plenty to help him; from the local National Guardsmen, volunteers from the shelter at Kelly AFB, Foresters officers etc.

He did get some shuteye from 11:30 PM to 4 Am in the back of the pick up. When he called at 8:36 AM this morning, they were busy cooking about 6000 breakfast burritos. (They call it breakfast Tacos over there).

Tonight, at 5:30 PM is the big dinner; Briskets, potato salad, beans, lots of onions from what I heard. (Thank God I don't have to peel and slice them, I hate that job) Johnie is prepared for 1,350 dinners. Depending on how much money is left, he might do another breakfast or luncheon.

One of the San Antonio City council members heard about this feast and came down to check it out. He saw the banner (Operation Hurricane Katrina) that was signed from all of us in Odessa and Midland and he got all chocked up. He asked Johnie to come to the City Council meeting today and Johnie is going to present one banner to the City of San Antonio. This man really appreciates Midland-Odessa for what we are doing.

Our two 40 ft. trailers are coming today, driven by B & B Wrecking Company out of Midland and is going to be delivered around 5;30 PM at the Kelly AFB shelter. Thank you B & B Wrecking Company owner, Mr. Hennis, for doing this. He asked Johnie to save him a plate!

Until I hear from Johnie again later with an update, till then, stay tuned...

"Those individuals who are helped by your gift won't know it was you who gave them food, shelter, clothing, medicine, etc. But you will know who they are because Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you do for the least among us, you did it for Me." --Fr. James P. Bridges—

Be sure to log on our Website in the near future for update of this fundraiser and Johnie’s, Johnny’s and Jimmy’s adventure.

If you were not able to drop off items, you still may send your monetary donation to:

Soldiers of Today and Yesterday – PO Box 4246 – Midland, TX. 79704-4246

Should you need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 432-631-3429.

Thanking you in advance,

Gladys Qualls.

Day 2 – September 9, 2005

Finally, Johnie Lee called in at 12:30 AM, dead tired. He even admitted he was so tired and exhausted that he did not even bother to take a shower!! He fell asleep right after he hung up with me. He called in on and off today, and please read on…………….

The Barbecued dinner went great, lots of people, Johnie estimated close to 1,350 plates were served with Barbecued briskets, potato salad, beans etc. This was the first time the evacuees ate a hot meal in 6 days and they were enjoying every bite of it. They did not have a kitchen at the Kelly AFB shelter, so they are unable to supply the evacuees with hot meals.

Johnny Losoya and Jimmy Haines came right on time, when dinner started at 5:30 and eventhough they were tired from driving from Midland, they jumped right in to help. There were lots of volunteers; Johnie mentioned something about 50-ish. The word got around of the Feast and people just came and volunteered their time. They wanted to help out. One of the High School kids came in 3 buses, with a Jazz band; Teachers came and helped out. Someone brought a cake, enough to feed who wanted some, The National Guard, the ladies from the Red Cross, Foresters and many many more. There was plenty of food to get around with left over briskets.

Johnie Lee did not have time to go to the City Council, but they took the banner and presented it at their meeting.

The Red Cross at the Levi Strauss shelter asked if Johnie Lee could serve Breakfast Burritos again on Friday, Sunday and next week Tuesday, but alas, there is not enough money anymore for that big of a crowd. He ended up making for 3,000 People ( x 2 each) Burritos yesterday instead of 2,000.

But not to worry, more help came by way of the Mexican Army envoy. They brought their field kitchen with them and today our three J’s, Johnie Lee, Johnny Losoya and Jimmy Haines were able to serve Barbecued Brisket sandwiches for lunch and they are still serving it for dinner. The Mexican Army is going to cook for the evacuees at Kelly AFB and are able to serve food for 42,000 meals a day. Our Lord knows, they are needed.

Till I hear again from Johnie Lee, stay tuned for another update……

Gladys.

Day 3 – September 10, 2005

Our three Musketeers, the three J’s came back around 7:20ish tonight, unloaded everything and Johnny Losoya went home, Jimmy’s and Johnie Lee’s family went out for a Pizza.

Johnie Lee has a nasty burn on one of his arms, he will go to the VA hospital Monday morning to have it looked at.

All three J’s felt it was a job well done and their MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, Read on from one of the volunteers……as he wrote it…

--"Hey Johnie,

Bo here, Just thought I'd drop you a line to see if you got home OK. I hope you had a good trip back. The bosses chased me off at 5am Friday morning. They told me to go home and get some sleep. I was dragging ass by then. Not as bad as Billy was though, I think he went to long without any sleep. It was a long couple of nights for me, but I had a good time helping you with your Bar-B-Q

I finally had a chance to taste the brisket last night, and it was great! My son Kyle kept picking at it till I finished fixing us some plates.

I know I am not alone when I say it was great because I saw a lot of happy faces out there in the crowds. And a lot of people came up to Billy and I to say thanks, and how good every thing was.

I don't know if anybody from the Red Cross has had a chance to thank you for all the hard work you put in. The bosses over there have so much going on, and it is still pretty crazy, but I went by today and every one of the volunteers that I ran into where still talking about how good the food was, and how good it was of you to do what you did for the people in the shelter. It was good for them to see a little Texas hospitality.

FYI The Mexican Army [the first time they have set foot in the great state of Texas sense our war for Independence] have set up a kitchen at Kelly. I think they are cooking hot meals for both shelters so at least one thing is getting better for the evacuees here in San Antonio.

I'm still trying to get some T-Ball and Base Ball games set up tomorrow for the kids. Sure is a lot of red tape though. Everybody thinks its a great idea, just trying to get everything set up is hard. They still have a lot of buses coming and going. So I still don't know how many kids might want to play.

Seams to be a storm moving in. I can hear thunder outside so I guess I had better shut this thing down.

But before I go, I just want to say "Thanks again" for everything you and the great people from Midland have done for these people here in their time of great need. And just remember "God loves all his children, so you and your friends have found a place in his heart for the good you have done for his children in need."

Your Friend,

Bo Wright –"

Day 4, September 13, 2005