Officer in Kuwait thanks Sikeston woman for fudge

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Soldiers typically are happy when they receive a package from home, but when PFC Zach Stacy receives one, everyone in the Marines' 9th Communication Battalion gets excited, even the brass.

"One of the guys will holler, 'Hey! Zach's got a box from his grandma -- come on!'" said M.B. Wethington of Sikeston, Stacy's grandfather.

"I've sent several packages to our grandson in Kuwait. He said he'll return to find a package on his bunk and everyone will be gathered around," said Wethington's wife, Katherine, who prepares the 5-pound batches of fudge for their grandson.

Not only a hit with his peers stationed with him in Kuwait, the fudge even captured the notice of Lt. Col. K.E. Bruno, the unit's commanding officer, who sent a letter of thanks.

Evidently the Wethingtons sent more than Stacy could eat, "and that's how it ended up in the mess hall for the colonel to come across it," she said.

Bruno wrote in part: "Ronald Reagan had a quote I like to use when referring to our Corps; he once said, 'Many Americans go through life wondering if they made a difference; but a Marine doesn't have to.' Well, neither do you! You have made a lasting difference in the lives of the many young men and women whose lives you have had the opportunity to touch through thoughtfulness."

Although it is an old joke that what leaves the states as cookies arrive as crumbs, the packages have reportedly all arrived in pretty good shape, although the Wethingtons wonder what Stacy's reaction was to getting egg cartons as packages before opening them to find baked goods inside.

In addition to fudge, Katherine Wethington has also sent divinity, cakes and apple cakes.

"Zach loves pecan pies," she said. "I've sent him three so far."

The fudge, however, seems to be the biggest hit.

"That's the one he has the most of and shared the most," she said.