‘Wolfpack’ holds Christmas ruck for children

Photo By Kristen Wong | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Sgt. Alejandro Romo, a combat engineer with 95th Engineer Company, 84th Eng. Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, removes toys from his rucksack at General Loop, Dec. 15, 2017. Approximately 130 Soldiers and family members from 95th Eng. Co., 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde., 8th TSC, as well as Soldiers from the 130th Eng. Bde. Command Team, went on a ruck from Hamilton Field to General Loop. The Soldiers donated more than 190 toys to underprivileged youth through the Institute for Human Services. (U.S. Army photo by Kristen Wong, Oahu Publications)  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

12.15.2017

Story by Kristen Wong 

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Before the sun rose, approximately 130 Soldiers and family members from 95th Engineer Company (Clearance), 84th Eng. Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, as well as Soldiers from the 130th Eng. Bde. Command Team gathered at Hamilton Field for a ruck, here, Dec. 15.

They rucked about 2 miles to General Loop, carrying toys for Hawaii’s underprivileged youth in their rucksacks.

The “Wolfpack” Soldiers collected more than 190 toys, which were donated to the Institute for Human Services, a local agency that serves the homeless in Hawaii.

The group, accompanied by holiday music, braved the rain as they made their way to General Loop. At the end of the ruck, they lined up and gave their toys to Santa Claus, who was waiting atop an MK3 Buffalo Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle. After a break with refreshments, the Soldiers walked back to Hamilton Field.

For the ruck, Spc. Grant Healy, a horizontal construction engineer with 95th Eng. Co., 84th Eng. Bn., wore an improved outer tactical vest (IOTV), which weighs about 30 pounds.

“It was a good kind of break from the week. … Celebrate Christmas and get everybody in a good mood,” Healy said. “The hike wasn’t bad at all. It was a little cold, but other than that, it was fun.”

This was the first toy hike for Staff Sgt. Shannon Leftwich, a horizontal construction engineer with the 95th Eng. Co., 84th Eng. Bn. He donated a baby doll and a remote-controlled car.

“Overall, it was a great hike,” Leftwich said. “(The ruck) showed a lot of holiday spirit for the unit and helping kids … cause everybody don’t get the opportunity to like have a good Christmas like everybody else. … It’s good to support other people and make sure they have a good holiday.”

• Date Taken: 12.15.2017
• Date Posted: 01.04.2018 13:42
• Story ID: 261327
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US