CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- For Marines and Sailors here, there may be nothing sweeter than the sound of mail call. One Marine with Headquarters Battalion makes it her mission to deliver those delightful words.
Lance Cpl. Holly Charette, a 21-year-old from Cranston, R.I. recently deployed here from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. She is one of the thousands of 2d Marine Division Marines serving in the Al Anbar Province as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Charette's job allows her to meet many of the people in Headquarters Battalion, where she works. Her part in the Global War on Terrorism is something different than most Marines. And that's not all that sets her apart from her fellow service members.
"I never really thought too hard about being a mail person, but it's really an important job and people depend on me," said Charette. "There are a lot of stresses involved, but it's really worth it at the end of the day."
As Marines and Sailors stop by her building to ask if they have any mail, she usually stops them before they even open their mouths. That's because she knows everyone's name. They know her too. She can be seen carrying the yellow, military mailbag slung over her shoulder as she walks down the gritty streets of the camp. Most everything in the area is covered in a sandy dust that kicks up as the trucks lull by at five miles-per-hour.
Last week, Charette and her colleagues sorted through 60 bags of mail, each weighing 70 pounds. That's hundreds of parcels and letters with names she mostly knows personally.
On a good day, the 2001 Cranston High School East graduate may even stop one of the Marines in the mess hall and let them know there's mail waiting for them. Otherwise, she can usually be seen driving around the camp in her High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle, dropping off mail in her full battle dress -- flak jacket, Kevlar helmet and M-16 A4 service rifle.
Where she grew up she always admired people in uniform. She had hoped to be a postal worker but never a Marine, until a few years ago.
"I was attending college and a recruiter was canvassing. He showed me a video from boot camp and I though, 'Hey, I can do that.'"
Charette has about one year left on her contract and plans to make the most of her time. She feels that some of the valuable life lessons she's learned have given her an advantage over her peers, even the ones who chose to attend universities.
"When I get out, I plan to applying to the U.S. Post Office," said Charette. "It won't be the same as being a Marine, but at least I'm still in uniform."