Face of Defense: Soldier Creates Home Away From Home

Face of Defence ^ | Lt. Col. Renee A. Rouse, USA

[SandRat]

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq, Aug. 20, 2009 – The 304th Sustainment Brigade and Joint Base Balad have their own Martha Stewart tucked in the H-6 housing area here.

Army Maj. Gina Garbedian shows off her containerized housing unit at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Garbedian spent six months decorating the unit to make it feel like a home away from home during her deployment. U.S. Army photo  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Army Maj. Gina Garbedian, a Los Angeles native, moved into her containerized housing unit in November and has made it her home away from home.

"It was like moving into a warehouse," she said.

As soon as she moved in, she said, she began to think of ways to make it seem a little cozier and more like home. She visualized "creating a little sanctuary where I could recharge my battery," she said.

For her first project, Garbedian replaced her miniblinds with curtains made from bath towels and a shower curtain. She found an old piece of pipe in the yard next to the self-help woodshop and cut it down to the appropriate length. She used ribbon to cover the exposed sides and placed a bow at each end to cover hooks.

"It became like a game for me to find things around post that could be reused," she said.

As time went by, Garbedian tackled several other projects. She tapped the self-help resources on post and got her husband in on the act by having him go to fabric stores to purchase and ship materials she could use to glamorize her unit.

Garbedian took many ideas with her when she went home on leave. She bought foam, fabric, thumb tacks and dust ruffles, with plans to use them when she returned.

Each project took about two months to complete, and the final unveiling of the completed unit took six months.

"I would do a little bit every night," she said.

Her creative vision resulted in a housing unit decorated tastefully in hues of light green and yellow. Garbedian made her own sanctuary in the desert and now shares the knowledge she gained through the interior decorating process.

The project made her realize she is resourceful enough to decorate with limited time and resources.

"I no longer have to wait until I retire to decorate my home," she said. "I can do a little bit each night until it is finished."

(Army Lt. Col. Renee A. Rouse serves with the 13th Sustainment Command.)

[SandRat]

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[MozartLover]

:-)

Good for her.:)

My son is living in one of those units (different base.) I have a feeling his isn't nearly as cute.:)

[4integrity]

Please extend my thanks to your son for his service to our great country.

[SandRat]

Well.. soon it will be Boy Scout Trails End Popcorn time. Get him a Decorative tin of Scout Trails End Popcorn and send it to him; it’s three gifts in one: 1. FOOD!, 2. Decorative reminder of home, and when the popcorn is gone 3. It becomes a dust free secure container to keep his treasures in.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

Ditto from me!

[fishergirl]

I KNOW my son’s unit wasn’t cute, lol! When he came back and moved into his own place, it was “Bunker Decor”. I had no idea you could buy “camo” recliners! God bless your son, he will be in my prayers!

[MozartLover]

I will do so. Thank you.:)

[MozartLover]

Not a bad idea.:-)

4. He was a Boy Scout.:)

[MozartLover]

Thank you for the prayers.

He loves having his "own place". Last time he lived in a barracks the entire time.:)

He called yesterday (re: the Brett Favre situation; we're Cheeseheads, what can I say.:) He said the a/c in his office (he's a medic) broke down yesterday, and of course it was 100+ degrees. He was glad to get out of there for the night.

[MozartLover]

p.s. I wrote to him & asked him to take a picture of his living quarters. If he sends it I’ll post it here.:)

[SandRat]

Then he will definaely have memories of home with that.

[StarCMC]

Reminds me of another soldier who got scrappy and built a firepit/grill over which to cook out for his unit... :-)

[StarCMC]

LOL!!!

[luvie]

Awwww....seems like I remember that time. It was a neat firepit, too! All the guys he served with loved it, too. Home away from home!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Sure does!

[ASOC]

ROTFLMO

Some warrior

Asked my son what kind of digs he had in Anbar

Short answer - dirt.

Longer answer, they once got to camp in a partally bombed out building - enuf of the roof was left to keep the rain out and the K1 hadji heater was the ‘kitchen’ - just in time for Christmas.

[MozartLover]

I wrote to my son and asked him for a picture of his digs to share with my Freeper friends. Here is the pic, along with his reply:

"It's a little spartan I guess. Having a T.V., DVD player and a fridge has become part of the baseline normal equipment on most of the bigger bases. Guys buy them & then sell them dirt cheap to the guys who replace them, who turn around and do the same, so that by the time it gets to the fifth or sixth guy money no longer changes hands & you basically hand off the furniture with the keys to the room. That's why I have a steelers sticker on my fridge. Still gotta replace that. Maybe you could send a Green Bay one. Anyway, there it is- You can't see it, but I also have a vintage (looking) Gadsden & Culpepper "Don't Tread On Me" snake flag over my window."

[fishergirl]

Oh, God bless him! I love the duct tape on the arm of the couch! A quick “fix-it” we just can’t live without, lol! I remember my son and his roommate selling or just giving away the microwave and other stuff to the new troops coming in. The DVD player, after apparently taking on a life of it’s own, met with a different fate which was videoed and was hilarious. God bless our troops and your son for the good work he’s doing!

[MozartLover]

lol, I’d love to see that videotape.:)