-
Dear Jim, this morning the 2nd Division RSM presented me with a pen that you turned from some Tasmanian Blackwood. It is very fine work. Thank you for the effort and care it so obviously took to create.
I imagine you are wondering why an RSM is presenting a pen to an Admiral. Well, the Joint Task Force I am commanding shares a headquarters, and most of its staff, with the Army 2nd Division. We are responsible for the ADF support to the States and Territories for their response to the pandemic. We have about xxx people spread around the country, commanded by the local 2nd Division Brigade Commanders. Navy and Air Force people are involved as well, but the Headquarters are mainly Army. In the past couple of weeks we have also been providing the ADF people to support the flood recovery in NSW.
I’m probably having more fun than is legal! I get to work with all the different coloured uniforms, as well as a large number of Reserve personnel, and they bring wide set of skills to the fight. The Navy, Army and Air Force certainly all have different cultures and perspectives, but we all value the same things. When we work together we are able to achieve great things.
Jim, I don’t know what your Service journey was, but I too would like to thank you for your service. Thank you also for what you are doing now with Pens for the Troops. It is an important contribution to veterans’ well-being. We need to feel connected to each other, because it’s that connection with our comrades and those who have served before us that gives meaning to many of the things we are asked to do.
I hope you are well. As we say in the Navy, I wish you fair winds and a following sea.
With respect
Bob
Rear Admiral
-
Another one for Jim Saddington
Good morning Jim,
I just wanted to drop you a short note to say thank you for the beautiful elm pen that you made and that I am now the proud owner of.
It has pride of place on my desk at work, and I very much enjoy writing and signing various documents and briefs with it. It also gets much use when I pen a letter home to family. There are still very good reasons for the modern military to have a good pen in-hand, despite the convenience of modern technology, and there is also nothing better than receiving a hand-written letter !
Thank you for thinking of us who are deployed away from our families and loved ones at this time. Your kind gift means a lot, and the pen will be put to very good use.
Kind regards,
Liza
-
Dear Jim,
Just a quick note to say that’s for the pen. I have been fortunate to have been gifted a Tasmanian Tallowwood pen that you turned.
I note on the card that you are a Vietnam Veteran, so from one veteran (East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan) to another, thank you for your service.
Regards
Mark