Mother sends 'Bear Hugs' to Polar Bear Soldiers in the field

Courtesy Photo | Members of the "Bear Hugs from Mom" group headed by Sarah Dutton, mother of Sgt. Thomas Dutton, a rifleman and a native of Wadsworth, Ill., who is serving his second tour in Iraq, with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y. Sarah Dutton and other families of the 4-31 "Polar Bears" send care packages to Company C. (Courtesy photo)  

IRAQ

05.30.2007

Story by Christina McCann 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Spc. Chris McCann
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) PAO

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — The Global War on Terrorism has sent thousands of troops to distant countries. Most of them receive at least occasional packages from friends and family to lessen the loneliness and boredom that can set in, but some – for any number of reasons – don't get much of anything.

One mother decided that she can't help every Soldier get mail, but she could help everyone in her son's platoon in Company C, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y.

"I joined the Adopt-a-Unit program, now the Adopt-a-Platoon program, after reading an article in the Fort Drum Blizzard," said Sarah Dutton, mother of Sgt. Thomas Dutton, a rifleman and a native of Wadsworth, Ill., who is serving his second tour in Iraq. "We were visiting my son at Fort Drum during Memorial Day weekend of 2006 when I read about it. I e-mailed (former 2nd BCT commander) Mike Plummer and asked if I could adopt my son's platoon. I think he thought it was a little daunting for an individual, but I convinced him I could do it."

The Adopt-a-Platoon program is usually joined by large organizations such as churches, businesses, and scouting groups, but Dutton took the bull by the horns and began contacting large corporations for donations. A friend of the Dutton family began passing a bucket at the bar he owns, she said, and she's even gotten friends and neighbors involved.

For Christmas, stockings were stuffed for the Company C "Marauders" – and the donations filled 47 stockings, enough to give some extras to deserving Soldiers in other platoons, Dutton said. Valentine's Day saw 41 goody bags filled with homemade cookies and other treats shipped out.

Supporting her son is nothing new, said Dutton.

"I have five children and have been team mom for all of them. I've carted the girls and their friends to softball games or pompom meets. My husband has coached the boys in everything. We've driven far and wide to attend games and competitions throughout the U.S. Sometimes we ask ourselves, 'Can we fly to Iraq and help somehow?' We're so consumed by our children; we'll do anything for them. That's what drove me to establish Bear Hugs From Mom."

"I discovered, from my son, that not all of the soldiers had the same support. There are many reasons, I'm sure - lack of money, lack of ability, lack of knowledge ... it is not for me to judge, just to help. I would like to be the parent of each and every soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I can't do that – so I'll just help one platoon."

Because the Adopt-a-Platoon organization has so many units still not adopted, Dutton said, she also took on another small platoon of 10 Soldiers. She runs a small Web site – www.bearhugsfrommom.com – that members can log on to f they want to share letters, photos, and ideas. Soldiers post photos there as well and communicate with those that support them.

"Thanks for the package, it was great," wrote Cpl. Begin Menahem, a rifleman with Company C. "I loved the mask. ... Thanks again for what you're doing and helping us out. I mean, any kind of mail is a good thing, it keeps our spirits alive.

• Date Taken: 05.30.2007
• Date Posted: 05.30.2007 16:18
• Story ID: 10600
• Location: IQ