Marine helps less fortunate in U.S., Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

12.15.2010

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman  

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Staff Sgt. Cary Anderson is a Marine who shows devotion to both the community and the Marine Corps, by his actions home and abroad.

Anderson, 33, is currently serving as a senior watch officer for 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Before he deployed to Afghanistan this summer, Anderson, from Olive Branch, Ill., was stationed near Columbus, Ohio, and spent the previous two years volunteering for Toys for Tots, a program that collects new, unwrapped gifts and distributes them as gifts to needy children.

“Each year we get monetary donations and we get toy donations, and it comes from all around the city,” said Anderson. “We cover around 500 hundred square miles around Columbus.”

The staff sergeant said he would collect the toys and drop them off at various places, and even make stops at peoples’ homes to drop off toys for the children. He added that 100 percent of the monetary and toy donations are pushed back out into the community.

Anderson said all the hard work was worth it.

“Just know that you can change one Christmas for a kid, just one toy will put a smile on that kid’s face,” he said.

Even though Anderson was spending many hours of his time helping the families in the Columbus area, he also had to prepare himself and his Marines for their future deployment to the volatile Helmand province.

“As a Marine you have to adapt to any situation that you are in, and last year I was giving out toys and helping out the community,” said Anderson. “I was also training an infantry company to go to combat to prepare for where I’m at right now.”

Since arriving to Afghanistan, Anderson has been busy going on patrols with his Marines, mentoring Afghan National Army soldiers and lending aid to the people who need it most right here in Afghanistan.

On a recent patrol, Anderson went and visited the local Mullah’s (religious leaders) around Camp Leatherneck, to get a feel of what they needed in the area and what his unit could do for them.

Anderson brings Afghan National Army soldiers with him on patrol to mentor them, and let the people know that they are all here to help.

Although this holiday season Anderson is far from home in Afghanistan, he continues to help those who need it most.

• Date Taken: 12.15.2010
• Date Posted: 12.15.2010 01:36
• Story ID: 61988
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF