Operation: Thin Mints
How the Girl Scouts made life sweeter for the U.S. Army
BY LELAND ACKER
Life is a little sweeter for soldiers in Iraq after the Rusk/Alto Girl Scout Troop 139 successfully collected

A U.S. soldier in Iraq swaps boxes of Girl Scout cookies with other soldiers in his battalion. Recently, the Rusk/Alto Girl Scout Troop 139 sent 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and over 24 movies to the 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the U.S. Army, led by 1st Lt. Brandon McElroy, son of Ronnie McElroy of Rusk. The cookie drive was part of the Girl Scouts' "Troop to Troop" program. PHOTO: 1ST LT. BRANDON MCELROY

enough boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies to give one box to each soldier in 1st Lt. Brandon McElroy's battalion, stationed in Iraq. The cookie donation, dubbed by Lt. McElroy as "The Great Cookie Caper," is part of the national Girl Scout's "Troop to Troop" program, where Girl Scout troops collect boxes of cookies to send to soldiers overseas.

"We decided to do it on our own," said Sheilah O'Heaney, Troop 139 leader, adding this year the troop decided to send the donated cookies to Lt. McElroy's 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 63rd Ordinance Company.

"Lt. McElroy served as the liason with Troop 139 to receive and distribute the cookies that arrived Easter weekend," Mrs. O'Heaney said.

"The soldiers, all of whom possess a sweet tooth, lost no time in getting in line for their share (of the cookies)," Lt. McElroy said, adding that the soldiers appreciate the cookies and DVD movies that arrived just in time for Easter. "These cookies are subtle reminders of how well our fellow Americans stand behind us and support our efforts overseas and abroad."

Mrs. O'Heaney said in addition to sending cookies, the Girl Scouts also sent over two dozen DVD movies.

"They get bored watching the same movies," Mrs. O'Heaney said. "Boredom is a factor (in Iraq)."

Mrs. O'Heaney thanked the Cherokee County community for their generosity and the ladies auxiliary of the Rusk Veterans of Foreign Wars for donating the money for the postage.

"This year, we sent 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to Iraq," she said, adding that each soldier in the battalion was able to receive a box. "Last year, we only sent 48 boxes."