Local charities reach out to service members half a world away

Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Col. Chet Lanious, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), command chaplain,and Carlisle,...... read more read more

Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Col. Chet Lanious, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), command chaplain,and Carlisle, Pa., native, opens a box of donated clothes at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 31  see less | View Image Page

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

09.09.2007

Story by Sgt. Giancarlo Casem 

50th Public Affairs Detachment

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By Pfc. Giancarlo Casem
50th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN -- They arrived in boxes, nondescript cardboard boxes. What those boxes contained however meant the world to their final recipients.

The Navy Expeditionary Medical Facility-Kuwait Theater Transient Hold Detachment received a shipment of clothes from charities and churches from the U.S., Aug. 31.

"I was very excited," said Sgt. Reginald Frye, a combat medic with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment based out of Vilseck, Germany. "All I had when I got here were the clothes on my back. It helped me out financially because I didn't have to spend money out of my pocket."

Frye, a native of Kansas City, Mo., is one of the service members currently recuperating from injuries at the TTHD. The TTHD houses injured service members from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

The TTHD's patients are sent to recuperate from their injuries. They have 30 days to return to duty, if they need more than that, they are then evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, for further medical procedures.

The latest shipment of clothes was the product of the collaboration between the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) chaplain's section, charities and churches back in the U.S.
As part of their duties, the chaplains make sure service members' religious and spiritual needs are met. The 1st TSC chaplains visited the TTHD and learned about the need for personal clothing items, said Col. Chet Lanious, 1st TSC, command chaplain.

"I visited the theater transient detachment and I discovered that a lot of the Soldiers had been (medically evacuated) here and were recuperating from surgery and injuries they had sustained," said the Carlisle, Pa., native. "I then found out most of them arrived here without their personal stuff, so there was a constant need for shorts, t-shirts and socks."

Lanious said the packages that were previously sent did not meet some of the needs of the TTHD's residents.

"There was a large supply of personal hygiene items," he said. "But the clothing they would wear during their recuperation and physical therapy was in short supply."

As charities and churches approached Lanious with ideas for care packages, he told them what the service members at the TTHD really needed. However, he could not anticipate the magnitude of their response, Lanious said.

"I didn't know what to expect," said the Fayetteville, N.C., resident. "I didn't have any way of measuring the response. We received over 40 boxes today."

For the service members who actually received these items, it was a much needed morale and spiritual boost.

"I had on my (physical training) gear and shoes, that was about it," said Sgt. Miranda Horry, a truck driver with the 25th Transportation Company, 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Horry said she was evacuated from Iraq to Kuwait for medical reasons and did not have time to pack her personal effects. However, she was relieved to have some of her needs met here in Kuwait.

"I was happy," said the Picayune, Miss., native. "I wanted to take a shower, I wanted to feel fresh, but I didn't have anything here. I was sent here to be taken care of and rest, I was actually able to do that, it's a blessing."

The TTHD has a collection of clothes donated by groups back in the U.S. They are readily available and convenient for the patients without having to walk to the Post Exchange for clothes, Frye said.

The change of environment was essential for service members. While they are in the TTHD, they can concentrate on recuperation and recovery from surgery. They are also evaluated for further medical procedures and tests, all without the constant danger of enemy indirect fire.

"We received incoming mortar rounds, I hit my head on the doorway of a tank," said Pvt. Luis Montanez-Nunez, a petroleum supply specialist with the 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga. He said he suffered a head injury and is undergoing further tests here in Kuwait. He was surprised and welcomed the choice of wearing civilian clothes.

"I left with my (Army Combat Uniform), underwear, socks and one Army blanket," said the native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, who now calls El Paso, Texas, his home. "I was surprised when they gave me civilian clothes; I got to be relaxed and to be like I was at home, comfortable."