Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Luis Saavedra | Soldiers assigned to the 647th Quartermaster Company, 10th Special Troops Battalion,...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers may get care packages, while deployed, in the mail from family, friends or strangers. In forward operating bases located in austere environments, the volume of mail is not as intense compared to here but there are Soldiers who decide to take care of their battle buddies.
Capt. Glenn M. Cameron, a Bloomfield, N.J., native, executive officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, collected care packages for months to distribute to Soldiers in remote FOBs.
Cameron scheduled the delivery with the 647th Quartermaster Company, 10th STB and the 10th SBDE aerial distribution team. He also received assistance from Pfc. James I. Thomas, a Chicago native, HHC supply clerk.
“I would feel great knowing my battle buddy is looking out for me,” said Thomas. “Knowing someone out here is taking the time to send me something means a lot. It doesn’t get any better than Soldiers taking care of Soldiers.”
He said he heard other FOBs do not get mail as often as Bagram and he didn’t understand why but he wanted to do what he could to brighten someone’s day. He compared getting mail while deployed like getting a present on Christmas.
FOBs don’t have the same amenities available. Dining facilities or a post exchange are just some places that may not be available to some Soldiers.
“We have a lot here on Bagram that a lot of Soldiers don’t have on smaller FOBs,” said Cameron. “I want to make sure Soldiers are taken care of. I got an abundance of care packages when I arrived to theater and I decided to collect them and find a place to distribute them where it would make a difference.”
Cameron said he gets excited when he receives care packages and the feeling would be multiplied if he were stationed at a location where it was rare.
Although an aerial delivery is something that is coordinated with multiple agencies, not all Soldiers are aware of the mission.
“It’s always a morale booster,” said Capt. Michael D. McCawley, a chaplain assigned to the 4th Battery, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “I didn’t even know it was going to happen.”
He said it was the first care package delivered in 2014. It helped replenish their free issue area where people can get items they need.
“We have the items in front of the chapel,” said McCawley. “It’s always a gathering place now.”
The rarity of deliveries to this particular unit is another reason Cameron wants to increase the efforts of delivering packages throughout Afghanistan.
“I’d like to see if I can get the word out to other units and do this once a month,” said Cameron.
He said the parties involved were more than willing to help. An abundant of care packages typically get delivered during the holiday months so when it is done at a time where it is not expected, it means that much more, he said.
| Date Taken: | 04.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2014 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 125788 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | BLOOMFIELD, NJ, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 645 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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