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    Holiday treats for the troops

    Holiday treats for troops

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Neil W. McCabe | Legionnaires and Ladies of the Auxiliary from American Legion Post 104 of Pinellas...... read more read more

    PINELLAS PARK, FL, UNITED STATES

    12.30.2013

    Story by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe 

    Army Reserve Medical Command

    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Legionnaires and Ladies of the Auxiliary from American Legion Post 104 of Pinellas Park, Fla., donated holiday turkeys and Christmas presents to the soldiers and family members of the Army Reserve Medical Command, 350th Civil Affairs Battalion and Central Command ensuring a great start to their holiday season.

    Kenneth C. Hoover, American Legion Post 104 commander, who served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971, said it is a tradition the post has kept up since AR-MEDCOM stood up in 2005.

    The American Legion Post 104 has supported local military units within Pinellas County for years, he said.

    Joining Hoover was Donna Haggett, a member of the Ladies of the Auxiliary, and a widow of a past post commander, who said Post 104 loves the opportunity to show the service members their appreciation.

    First Sgt. Robert A. Kilgallon, headquarters and headquarters company first sergeant, met up with Hoover and Haggett in the parking lot and assisted with carrying in the bounty.

    “The soldiers really appreciate these things, especially this time of the year,” Kilgallon said. “They have so many things going on in their lives, so a little bit of help goes a long way.”

    Many of the soldiers are long time members of the American Legion, and other veteran service organizations, and understand the benefits the organizations provides to the military community as well as the local community, he said.

    “We need young people to get involved,” said Haggett, who hopes soldiers see the good works of the American Legion and other organizations.

    Command Sgt. Maj. Harold P. Estabrooks, command sergeant major of the ARMEDCOM welcomed Hoover and Haggett to the headquarters and invited them to a special reception with the soldiers receiving the donations of turkeys and gifts.

    Estabrooks presented a commander’s coin to Hoover and Haggett on behalf of himself and Maj. Gen. Bryan R. Kelly, commanding general of ARMEDCOM, in appreciation for their contributions to the soldiers during the holiday and throughout the year.

    The AR-MEDCOM commander’s coin is part of a military tradition of recognizing individuals, but our coin has a significant difference from other military coins, said Estabrooks.

    “On the front it reads: ‘For Devotion to Duty and High Ideals,’” he said. “Every other coin in the Army is required to say: ‘For Outstanding Performance.’”

    Estabrooks said the former commanding general, Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke went to the Chief of Staff of the Army and received an exception for the commander’s coin of ARMEDCOM, in order to follow the example of Dr. William Olser, a Canadian physician and one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital, who wrote about how the combat medical community is unique.

    “We are the only element of the Army’s immense destruction machine that will treat friendly and foe alike and try to save their lives,” he said.

    Estabrooks said the interaction between local veteran groups and today’s serving soldiers is a good combination.

    “That’s where you get a little bit of wisdom, a little bit of love.”

    The interaction encourages soldiers to join one of the veterans’ organizations for their own good, the command sergeant major said.

    The mixing of generations keeps the older veterans involved and exposes the younger soldiers to old-fashion storytelling and conversation, he said.

    “Young soldiers don’t appreciate socialization, they would rather text than talk and they don’t appreciate being around your own kind,” he said.

    “Nobody understands a soldier like another soldier,” said Estabrooks. “If you have been in the service, you need to belong to something.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.30.2013
    Date Posted: 12.30.2013 19:07
    Story ID: 118694
    Location: PINELLAS PARK, FL, US

    Web Views: 70
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN