Photo By Sgt. Megan Sindelar | Lance Cpl. Francisco Menesesluna, from Beaverton, Ore., and an administration clerk, I...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines located on large bases such as Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, have the option to visit the Marine Corps Exchange any day to purchase supplies, hygiene products and other items a Marine might want. However, Marines in outlying areas throughout Helmand province may rarely get the opportunity to obtain essential supplies and hygiene products because of scattered convoy schedules.
Gunnery Sgt. Mario Locklear, motor transport operations chief with Alpha Co., Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group, said Marines in certain areas of Helmand will wait in line for hours outside the exchange convoys to purchase toothpaste, baby wipes or other indispensable hygiene items they are unable to receive or purchase on an everyday basis.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ross H. Bohensky, a Jamestown, R.I., native and religious program specialist with I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), breaks up the time between convoy stops with packages he received from organizations that send items here.
Care package organizations such as "Give 2 the Troops" allow Americans to give back to service members. They collect, pack and mail packages to deployed military members around the world.
Bohensky said these organizations have a big role in boosting the morale of Marines within Helmand province.
He contacts the companies through their Web sites and they will send what he needs for Camp Leatherneck, as well as materials that service members in the surrounding areas request.
When the care packages arrive, Bohensky sorts them into separate containers inside the Chapel Annex on Camp Leatherneck. Any service member on base can come in and grab any item they need.
Service members visiting Camp Leatherneck are also allowed to fill boxes and crates with items to take back with them to help others in need.
Bohensky also travels every other weekend to an outlying area within Helmand province and takes boxes with him containing what the service members in those areas need and also a little extra to give Marines a feeling of home.
"It feels good to know that someone is considerate enough to spend [money] out of their own pockets, to support us in sending items that we are in need of," said Locklear, a Pembroke, N.C., native.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2010 13:05 |
| Story ID: | 48983 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,201 |
| Downloads: | 772 |
This work, Care packages to Afghanistan boosts deployed troops morale, by Sgt Megan Sindelar, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
