Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Soldiers Get Free Telephones (Small town adopts and gives gifts to Soldiers)
America Supports You ^ | July 21, 2005 | Army Pfc. Mark B. Matthews

Posted on 07/21/2005 6:10:52 PM PDT by SandRat

BALAD, IRAQ, July 21, 2005 – It is always a great feeling for servicemembers to get care packages. Most of the time these packages include small “creature-comforts” that help make life seem a little more like home.

However, what better way to make you feel more at home than the gift of communication.

Soldiers in the 519th Movement Control Team were adopted by the town of Minden, Miss., and received telephones to help break down the communication gaps, not only between Soldiers in theater, but also Soldiers and their families back home.

“These 12 telephones we received are an example of the kind of small-town support that the military is receiving from all across the nation,” said Maj. Sherb Sentell, 519th MCT Hub commander.

The 519th MCT found out that due to the progression of the operations in Iraq and the availability of new Defense Information System Network (DSN) lines, that they could receive phone lines. However, they were lacking one very important element - telephones.

“Our Signal officer contacted us and asked if we could contact people back home to see if we could get a few telephones donated to us,” said Sentell. “So I contacted the president of our chamber of commerce in Minden, Miss. and she immediately went to the board of directors to pass a resolution, which they did, that would authorize the chamber to purchase these phones.”

The resolution allowed the chamber to accept donations and for any amount of money that was still needed to purchase the telephones the chamber would pay, said Sentell.

Twelve telephones were purchased for the battalion’s communication needs and the chamber is authorized to buy 18 more telephones if they are needed.

The communication needs of the 519th MCT have been met, due the help of one small community in Mississippi where this commander is proud to be from.

“I am so blessed to be a part of a community that is whole-heartedly behind the military,” said Sentell. “My unit is 88 percent cross-leveled and this is just one of the many communities that have adopted us.”

Editor’s note: Pfc. Matthews is assigned to the 27th Public Affairs Detachment from Fort Drum, NY. He is currently deployed to Iraq in support of the 1st Corps Support Command at LSA Anaconda


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Mississippi; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: army; free; iraq; military; minden; miss; mississippi; phones; soldiers; support

1 posted on 07/21/2005 6:10:53 PM PDT by SandRat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; Fawnn; HiJinx; Radix; Spotsy; Diva Betsy Ross; ...
Here, , you might want this.
2 posted on 07/21/2005 6:11:38 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Nice tissue box. Heh heh. It is refreshing to read these type of ariticles. So much bad stuff happening all the time.
Thanks


3 posted on 07/21/2005 6:41:04 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Great article - thanks for posting!!!!!!!


4 posted on 07/21/2005 8:55:31 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat


.


Because Sacrifice begets Sacrifice:


MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

.


5 posted on 07/22/2005 5:20:21 AM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson