Posted on: Friday, November 12, 2004
Many in Hawai'i reach out to troops
| • | Veterans talk of wars past, present |
| • | Helping the troops |
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i residents looking for ways to support the men and women on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan have a number of options, and those dedicated to helping the troops say state residents can be counted on to pitch in.
"If there is any state in the whole United States that supports the troops, it is Hawai'i," said Ame Frey, wife of a Marine serving in Afghanistan. "And it is more than lip service — they are really doing something about it."
Frey has been collecting money to bring soldiers of the Hawai'i National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade home for the holidays. The soldiers are now training in Texas, and will depart for Iraq two weeks after Christmas. Those who can't afford a ticket home after training were told they would remain in Texas until leaving for Iraq.
That made Frey mad, and sent her out, hat in hand, to raise money so all the soldiers get to come home.
Frey said she's raised money to purchase 29 tickets, and plans to collect enough to fly 400 soldiers home.
George Vickers, a Vietnam veteran who organized an Adopt-A-Platoon, a program for organizations interested in sending care packages to Hawai'i-based soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he too, is impressed with the level of support he's seen.
"I've talked to people who oppose the war, and they still support the troops," he said. "That's a great difference in attitude from the war I fought."
Vickers said the only hostility he has run across in this war has come from civic groups that have had problems getting their packages to highly mobile infantry platoons in Iraq.
"I've gotten hate mail from some of them," he said. "But with the fixed units — the ones that don't move — the program is working great."
Margaret Tippy, spokeswoman for Tripler Army Medical Center, said more than 260 soldiers have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan with injuries, wounds or diseases, and have been treated at Tripler.
About 50 of those were wounded in battles. Most of the rest were in accidents ranging from helicopter crashes to vehicle roll-overs to engineering mishaps.
Volunteers, philanthropists and well-wishers often call the hospital, looking for ways to help, she said.
Kim Goffar, family program director for the Army Reserve, said spouses of deployed soldiers often need support while their loved ones are in harm's way.
"We need resources and any sort of services that help decrease the stress," she said. "It doesn't have to be monetary."
The families of more than 2,000 Hawai'i-based Marines now in the Middle East, and the Marines themselves, appreciate the generosity of civilians in Hawai'i, said Lance Cpl. Michelle Dickson.
"The main thing, they need people to donate blood," Dickson said.
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
| Helping the troops
• Those who would like to help bring a 29th Infantry Brigade National Guard soldier home for Christmas may contact Ame Frey at smfrey1@hawaii.rr.com or make a donation to the Home for the Holidays fund at any Bank of Hawaii location. • Organizations wishing to adopt a Hawai'i-based platoon may contact George Vickers at vickersg001@hawaii.rr.com or call 625-0177. • Margaret Tippy, spokeswoman for Tripler Army Medical Center, said those who call the hospital asking to donate to wounded service members may call the administrative section at 433-2494. Those who wish to volunteer at the hospital may contact the American Red Cross at Tripler. That number is 433-6631. • Those who want to support the families of military men and women being treated at Tripler and other military hospitals may want to make a donation to the Fisher House, an organization similar to Ronald McDonald House that serves the military community. The Web site is www.fisherhouse.org. • People who wish to donate or volunteer services — from child care to relaxation exercise classes — to deployed Army Reservists may contact Kim Goffar, family program director for the Army Reserve, at 438-1600 extension 3191, or call Sara Eighmey at extension 3292. • Those who wish to help the more than 2,000 Hawai'i-based Marines deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan may call the Marine Family Services Director's office at Kane'ohe, said Lance Cpl. Michelle Dickson. That number is 257-7787. • More information on how to help military members may be found at: www.army.mil/operations/oif/FAQ.html |
