Jammies for GIs began in response to a plea from my son, Jeremy who was taken to the military hospital in Germany as a result of a heart condition discovered while he was stationed overseas

He told of the plight of American service men and women as they arrived at the hospital with only the clothes on their back or even less.

He brought it to our attention that, like never before, our troops need our help. American troops currently serve in over 118 countries worldwide. When they become sick or wounded they are transported to Landstuhl Medical in Germany which has seen over 100,000 young service men and women passed through it's door.

This facility is so full that non-critically wounded troops are checked in and then forwarded on to either Ramstein Airbase or Kleber German barracks. Sometimes the only resort is to put them up in a hotel. When they are well enough to fly they are sent to one of two major U.S. military hospitals, Walter Reed or Bethesda Medical Center before being sent to the medical facility closest to their home base which can meet their needs.

Most of these facilities are also so over loaded that they can't keep up. A shortage of medical staff has left some of the wounded to fall through the cracks and wait months for needed surgerys.

Most wounded troops arrive with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They are given a $250.00 voucher in Germany to use at the Base Exchange which doesn't cover much but many have either arrived there only to be told they ran out or have no transportation to get there.

Many months later their personal belongings often remain overseas. As you can imagine shipping their items back isn't a priority in a war zone.

Please know that we have proper contacts at all the facilities receiving our donations. Nothing sits in storage. The items we are asking for are needed daily at numerous facilities as well as the Mash units in Iraq. So please help us pass on the word.

We have been told thousands of troops are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many remain on waiting lists to see a Psychiatrist.

Many soldiers need long term care and rehabilitation. We are trying to help make life easier for them. The numbers of sick & wounded are overwhelming and we won't see the real physical & mental devastation of this war for years to come

Without the help of organizations such as Jammies for GIs these brave young men and women would be forced to use their own funds to purchase needed items or go without until their personal effects are returned to them.

Our wounded warriors deserve better treatment. At the very least they deserve a clean change of clothes and some form of entertainment to pass the time while their wounds heal.

We know the Wounded Warrior Project has handed out over 6,000 backpacks filled with clothes and personal items to our injured troops. We feel If we can make just one troop more comfortable by having needed items, we owe it to them for the sacrifices they have made for our freedom.

Jeremy Lepsch

Cheryl speaking with
overseas contacts.

Purple heart medal awarded to
all troops wounded in action