Marines provide 'Goodwill' to Philippines

Photo By Sgt. Juan D. Alfonso | Navy Lt. Bruce Vaughan (right) and Pfc. Richard Akta sort through toys on Camp Hansen for Operation Goodwill Dec. 9  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.09.2006

Story by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -- Though the event has been planned for months, after four typhoons hammered the Republic of the Philippines recently, III Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Operation Goodwill comes at an opportune time to provide support to the damaged country, organizers of the effort said Dec. 9.

Marines will distribute more than 6,600 toys as part of 22,000 pounds of items that also include clothes, sporting goods, and health care and food items to several communities throughout the Philippines Dec. 13-19. The delivery is the first part of the annual "Operation Goodwill." The second part will take place in January 2007.

Marines, service members and their families in Okinawa created this program in 2003 to show appreciation to the children and families of the Philippines for welcoming them during annual bilateral exercises.

Volunteers have worked each year since to gather donations and deliver toys and supplies to Filipino children over the holiday season.

Volunteers gathered on Camp Hansen Dec. 9, dedicating their Saturday morning to preparing the gifts for shipment.

"We were in the Philippines a month and a half ago," said Navy Lt. Bruce Vaughan, the chaplain for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's battalion landing team.

"During our training we were exposed to the country's poverty and decided we would take every opportunity we had to do something for these people. (The BLT Marines) always ask to do more."

Master Sgt. William McClelland, another BLT volunteer, said he, like so many others in the battalion, had been to the Philippines many times and wanted to help those less fortunate.

"About every third kid in the Philippines is poor," said Navy Cmdr. Manual A. Biadog, III MEF Headquarters Group chaplain. "In the last four months they've been hit by four super typhoons, and they're about to get hit by a fifth. So we're bringing them goodwill holiday items to make their Christmas a little bit better."

Retired Gunnery Sgt. Eugene Humphrey, who now works for Marine Corps Community Services, is one of many volunteers dedicated to making sure the children get something for the holidays. Humphrey plans to dress in a Santa suit and deliver his toys to several orphanages and shelters.

"For the last 10 years, I've bought toys year-round and sent them to the Philippines," Humphrey said.

Individual members of the military community on Okinawa and organizations, such as Kubasaki High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and Toys For Tots, contributed more than 7,000 pounds of food, toys and clothes to be added to the 5,000 pounds already in the Philippines.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2006
• Date Posted: 12.19.2006 09:30
• Story ID: 8620
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP