Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Spc. Dara Laura, chaplain assistant and native of Columbus, with the 526th Brigade...... read more read more
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Sgt. James P. Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — Soldiers take care of other Soldiers. Soldiers care about other Soldiers. The proof—two Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), were able to provide Christmas gift bags to each Soldier of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division. To be exact, there are 801 Soldiers in that squadron alone.
The troops of 1st Bn., 8th Inf. arrived in Kuwait under the impression they were taking control for the 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, and falling under the Strike brigade.
They trained relentlessly in Kuwait for their mission in northwest Baghdad, only to be given a different mission and area of operation in Iraq.
So their Christmas mail was put on hold, and re-routed to a warehouse in Kuwait. This could have been a devastating situation, given the fact they would be away from their families for Christmas already and now they would not get any packages from their loved ones for some time.
When Sgt. Stephanie Brewster and Spc. Dara Laura caught wind of this, they decided to step up and give to those in need.
"A few people with genuine hearts can make something happen for a lot of people," said Vian, Okla. native, Chaplain (Capt.) Jennifer Rogers, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. "These two ladies are those big hearts. I never ever expected we would have been able to help that many.
"I am really happy that they took the bull by the horns and just ran with it," Rogers continued. "They made 801 Soldiers have a great Christmas and let 1-8 Inf. know they cared about them."
The two Soldiers gathered different packages and items from different organizations and companies who support the efforts of troops worldwide. With these items, they were able to put together enough gift bags to support the entire squadron.
Everything from socks and hygiene products to movies and magazines were in these packages for the troops of 1st Bn. 8th Inf. Reg. This was of the utmost importance with it being the holiday season.
"(It's important) to make sure people know that they aren't forgotten about;" said Brewster, a native of Southside, Ala., and 2nd BCT mental health non-commissioned officer-in-charge, "what they are doing is important, people really do support us and don't bash us as much as everyone thinks."
Laura, a chaplain assistant with the 526th BSB, said it gives Soldiers a stronger sense of purpose when they know people care about their needs and their feelings.
When Laura, a Columbus, Ohio native, initially received a package during her first deployment she was excited.
"Anytime you get mail, it's exciting," she said. "It's something you look forward to."
Providing to Soldiers is nothing new to these two.
The two Soldiers provide for each Soldier within their respective unit. Laura ensures each Soldier within her battalion who isn't receiving a package does. Brewster ensures each Soldier within her company also gets a package. Thus far, Brewster has provided two packages to each Soldier.
"I usually go around to the different companies and find out who is not receiving mail and then I make up a roster of that and I keep track," said Laura. "When I get packages that come in under one of these (civilian agencies) I will route those different packages to the different Soldiers."
This is something they plan on doing throughout the year.
"This isn't going to stop just because Christmas is over," Laura said. And for those Soldier's in 1st Bn. 8th Inf. Reg., they too will not be forgotten. They plan to continue to route packages their way.
And what about the affect it has on Soldiers? "Smiles, lots of smiles," Laura said. "People feel like somebody cares."
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.02.2008 18:50 |
| Story ID: | 15140 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 496 |
| Downloads: | 312 |
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