Released on = May 14, 2007, 5:07 pm

Press Release Author = Joe Wells

Industry = Food & Beverage

Press Release Summary = Battle flag from Afghanistan awarded to small family owned
and operated coffee roasting company.

Press Release Body = \"We accept this award with honor in a very humble matter on
behalf of our company and our many online customers who have helped us send a little
sunshine to the men and women help keep America a safe place to sleep at night,\"
stated Joe D Wells, founder of Island Joes Gourmet Coffee Roasting Company located
in old town Key West, Florida.

Below is a copy of the letter sent to Island Joes Coffee along with the battle flag
and certificate for doing their part in supporting American Troops in Kandahar,
Afghanistan.


Dear Joe

I would like to thank you on behalf of all the A Co 1-285th ARB soldier for
everything you have don for us. I thought that flying an American flag in one of
our Apache Longbow Attach Helicopters, during a combat mission, in honor of you &
Island Joe\'s Coffee Company is the least we do to show our sppreciation.

It has become a traditionhere in Kandahar, Afghainstan for soldiers to fly flags for
their family and loved ones. I thought it would mean something to you, especially
knowing where it has been.

When the pilots got back from the mission that night, the stated they thought they
were in World War III. Acutally one of our aircraft sustained damage to the front
windshield from RPG shrapnel. The same aircraft had returned with the Forward
Avionices Bay (FAB) door blown open from the same RPG explosion. Both aircraft that
were on the mission had been fired upon by a DShK (Russian anti-aircraft weapon
which fires a 12.7 mn / 600 rounds a minute) and small arms (AK-47s). That night
they also had 7 known Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) fired at them. Not on RPG
hit either helicopter!

Well, that\'s the only damaged we substained! Those 2 aircraft severely \"gave it\" to
the Taliban that night. The DShK (mentioned above) is on longer in existence, to
say the least! Both aircraft rearmed twice. This means they took off three time
fully armed.

Our combat load (per arming), per helicopter, that night consisited of the following
armament ...

* 400 (approximately) rounds of 30 mm high explosive (HE) rounds for the 30mm chain-gun

* 38 rockets / assorted 2.75in

* 4 Hellfire missiles (assorted models)

This should give you an indication on the action your flag saw that night!

The following morning my troops had the windshield replaced within 2 hours. Bot
aircraft were serviced, rearmed & back on the flight schedule the very next day
(within hours).

We really appreciate everthing you have done for us. I read your e-mail repsonse to
my soldiers and they were all amazed. We really appreciated your patriotism and
geniune concern. I know you heard TV commercials & people say \"Freedom isn\'t free!\"
I assure you, it isn\'t. All of us here are paying for it. Not to mention those
serving in Iraq and other parts of the world.

It is Americans like you working in honorable American Companies and Corporations
who provide little things, even kinds words that really make a big difference to us
here. Knowing that there are people like you & Companies like Island Joes Coffee
Company out there, make this feel worth it. I was speaking with a British soldier
the other day. I told hime about our correspondence & he was awestruck! He said
that no British company would suppor them like you did with us.

Thank you for everthing. I have to run for now. I\'ll keep in touch. I hope you
enjoy the flag and certificate.

Sincerely

SFC Michael J DiNicola

Web Site = http://www.islandjoesgourmetcoffee.com

Contact Details = Island Joes Coffee
425 Southard Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-1190
info@islandjoesgourmetcoffee.com
http://www.islandjoesgourmetcoffee.com