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Posted on 03/21/2007 6:02:14 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti, March 21, 2007 — Personnel from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s Camp Lemonier visited a local baby orphanage, March 15 to assist the caregivers in feeding the 50 babies trusted to their care.
"As soon as you see the babies, their faces light up and we smile right back and it’s like we’ve known each other since they we born. We may not have a family tie, but while we’re here they’ll be our family and we’ll shower them with love."
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mary Jane Valdez
Upon arrival, the CJTF-HOA personnel greeted the staff, picked the baby they wanted to feed first, and then made their way to the pre-staged baby bottles so feeding time could begin. Once they were done feeding one child, it was time to continue the process with another baby until all babies were fed.
Once the feeding time for the babies was complete, the volunteers then assisted the caregivers in feeding the toddlers.
“With so many babies to feed, the staff can always use a hand so it’s nice to be able to leave camp and help feed and play with the babies,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Shannon Thornton. “I enjoy these trips a lot because I have kids of my own and it reminds me of home.”
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mary Jane Valdez is a regular volunteer at the orphanage and has established bonds with the children and it shows.
“Seeing the little babies’ happy faces when we visit keeps me coming back because they’re just as happy to see us as we are to see to them,” said Valdez. “It’s almost like they know what days we come out and they look forward to it as well.”
It is because of their smiles that U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Navalta has asked his parent command to send baby items for the orphanage vice sending care packages to him.
“I have everything I need here, but the orphanage is always in need of baby stuff so I asked my co-workers back home to send items such as diapers, baby bottles, nipples, clothes, and bibs so we can donate them in the future,” said Navalta.
The visit not only makes the kids smile, but the military volunteers as well.
“As soon as you see the babies, their faces light up and we smile right back and it’s like we’ve known each other since they we born,” said Valdez. “We may not have a family tie, but while we’re here they’ll be our family and we’ll shower them with love.”
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is a unit of U.S. Central Command. The organization conducts operations and training to assist partner nations to combat terrorism to establish a secure environment and enable regional stability. More than 1,500 people from each branch of the U.S. military, civilian employees, coalition forces and partner nations make up the CJTF-HOA organization. The area of responsibility for CJTF-HOA includes the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
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I know what MSN media would think
See that soldier is tortute that poor baby AM I RIGHT on that assumption Sandrat
What a great story. Go Navy!!!
Or the wackos who think the baby polar bear that was rescued would be better off dead than in a zoo - wonder what they think of these babies?
This is a great story. It shows the heart of the people who are serving our country.
Makes me damn proud to be a former Navy man. But really, once a Navy man, always a Navy man.
God Bless these sailors and may they have calm seas.
Great story!! It needs more pictures!!
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