Prepping for single Soldiers’ return

Photo By Chuck Cannon | First Lt. Sara Johnson, 573rd Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion rear detachment commander (right) and Tracy Kerlin, an employee at Barksdale Federal Credit Union, pack bags for single Soldiers assigned to the 573rd Eng Co returning from a nine-month deployment to Iraq.  

FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

11.09.2018

Story by Chuck Cannon 

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. — The picture most people get of Soldiers returning home from a deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq is one of Families hugging their heroes and taking them home to clean sheets, a dirt-free bedroom and snacks devoid of the desert grit they’ve often become accustomed to.
While that might be true for many of the Warriors, others — especially those single Soldiers who live in the barracks — find themselves coming home to a bare room, their household items including sheets, towels, shower curtains and toiletries in storage and unavailable for a few days.
Thanks to a few Family members, the staff of Barksdale Federal Credit Union and the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce, single Soldiers assigned to Fort Polk’s 573rd Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, returning from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in November will find not an empty room, but most — if not all — the comforts of home.
“This is the first time our company has done this,” said 1st Lt. Sara Johnson, 573rd Eng Co rear detachment commander. “We wanted to make sure those single Soldiers who deployed didn’t come home to an empty barracks room.”
Johnson said she got the idea from Lauren Eckelkamp, the spouse of Staff Sgt. Christopher Eckelkamp, who is also a member of the 573rd Eng Co and deployed.
“I have a girlfriend who said when she was single she was a Soldier and when they returned home from deployments, they came home to empty barracks,” Eckelkamp said. “I thought that was kind of sad. I’m thinking, ‘The week before my husband comes home I’m cleaning, cooking and buying shampoo and things he’s going to need, and these poor Soldiers have nothing.’ I wanted to get involved and help so that they have something to come home to.”
After bringing the Soldiers’ plight to Johnson, Eckelkamp turned her attention to someone she knew would be willing to help — the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce. Anne Causey, Vernon Chamber of Commerce executive director, said her organization was more than willing to assist.
“This is the second time we’ve done this,” Purcell said. “We also did this for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team when they returned. That was when we learned that these Soldiers came home to empty barracks. There were 900 Soldiers there. When Lauren spoke to me and said they had 85 Soldiers I told her we had her back and could take care of it.”
Purcell said the Chamber used funds from its Military Affairs Committee, along with funds and items donated by members of the chamber.
“In Vernon Parish we love our Soldiers and it’s easy for me to get help for something like this,” Purcell said. “It’s another opportunity to do something for our Soldiers. We want Soldiers when they leave Fort Polk to say it was a great place to be stationed because you’re treated well and they love you here. Our Soldiers are why we’re free and we’ll do anything we can for them.”
Johnson, Purcell, Eckelkamp and staff from Barksdale Federal Credit Union gathered Nov. 6 to pack bags to place in each of the single Soldiers’ barracks room. Also, Soldiers who did not deploy cleaned the rooms of dust, cobwebs and any other “crud” that might have accumulated during the deployment so the Soldiers could come “home” to a clean house.
“Living is Leesville is a great place for Soldiers because the community is so supportive,” Johnson said. “It was uplifting and encouraging to see how the community came together to support our Soldiers.”

• Date Taken: 11.09.2018
• Date Posted: 11.09.2018 09:23
• Story ID: 299363
• Location: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US