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 battalions 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.
Editors 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
Nice tissue box. Heh heh. It is refreshing to read these type of ariticles. So much bad stuff happening all the time.
Thanks
Great article - thanks for posting!!!!!!!
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Because Sacrifice begets Sacrifice:
MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts
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