Soldiers with 371st SB receive Christmas joy in Kuwait

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | Sgt. 1st Class Michael Miller, a Blanchester, Ohio native and the chaplain’s assistant for the 371st Special Troops Battalion, 371st Sustainment brigade, gives a Christmas stocking to Sgt, 1st Class Manuel Perez, a Boardman, Ohio native and the human resources sergeant for the 371st STB, 371st Sus. Bde on Dec. 24, 2013 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.25.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill 

371st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Over 1,000 soldiers with the 371st Sustainment Brigade received Christmas stockings packed by the brigade’s chaplains and the resiliency center with goodies and treats donated from various organizations on Dec. 25, 2013 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

“I get my jollies out of doing this, it’s not only to help out the soldiers, but also a way to connect with those back home,” said Maj. Jim Lewis, the brigade chaplain with the 371st Sus. Bde. and a Kent, Ohio native.

Lewis was first introduced to the idea of passing out Christmas stockings during his first deployment in 2005 to Afghanistan, where he and the chaplain he worked with stuffed roughly 10,000 Christmas stockings for the troops deployed in Afghanistan at the time, he said.

He carried on the tradition when he was deployed with the 371st Sus. Bde. in 2008, with his team packing and passing out roughly 3,000 stockings, said Lewis.

One of the challenges with managing the Christmas stocking program, is acquiring and sorting the treats that fill the stockings, he said.

“For a long time, I’ve been networking with those interested in donating,” said Lewis. “I’ve also encouraged the senior enlisted to reach out to their communities for donations.”

“My VFW sent 15 boxes of candy and toiletries, as a VFW, they’re conscious of veterans,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Martin Sutton, the maintenance readiness officer in charge with the 371st Sus. Bde., whose VFW, the Hilliard Memorial VFW, Post 4931 sent in donations for the Christmas stocking program.

Lewis hopes that the Christmas stocking program is a way of not only spreading Christmas joy to the soldiers of the 371st Sus. Bde, but also helps families and friends back home feel connected, he said.

“For a soldier that’s away, it’s not what’s in the stocking that’s important, but the thought that someone back home is reaching out and trying to touch them,” said Lewis

• Date Taken: 12.25.2013
• Date Posted: 01.18.2014 06:57
• Story ID: 119340
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW