A piece of home away from home

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Nistas | Seaman Apprentice Andrea Frank, with Carrier Strike Group 2, poses with her memento, Bob, Feb. 1. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

02.26.2010

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Nistas 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

Many personnel assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo or other elements at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay deployed in support of Operation Unified Response make it a point to bring something significant from home to take the edge off deployment.

For Navy Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Andrea Frank, with Carrier Strike Group 2, being deployed is a challenging period as a mother to 3-year-old daughter, Kathryn. After Frank had surgery in October 2009, Kathryn gave her a plush monkey named Bob.

Bob is Frank's connection to her daughter when deployed.

"I planned on bringing the stuffed animal when I found out I would be deployed," Frank said.

"It's a way to remember the sweetness of my daughter."

Carrying a stuffed animal is not reserved for only moms who are missing their kids.

Navy Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Paul Matthews, with Carrier Air Wing 8, carries a small stuffed teddy bear that he received from his son, Tyler. Smokey, as he calls him, has traveled all over the world for the past 16 years.

"It's comforting to have a little piece of home away from home," Matthews said. "Smokey has more time at sea than most junior Sailors."

Smokey has traveled the world with Matthews, with the resulting photos of their experiences being mailed home to Matthews' family. Just to make sure Smokey remains by his side, Matthews has his rack number written on Smokey's tag, referring to the bed that Matthews occupies on ship, making sure that if separated, Smokey would return to Matthews.

Although it's not from home, at least one Army troop keeps a possession near and dear to his heart.

Army Cpl. David K. King maintains a military challenge coin he received from his Army senior drill sergeant. King, a promotions non-commissioned officer with the headquarters company of the 525th Military Police Battalion, keeps the coin on-person to keep himself motivated.

"The coin has motivated me in several ways, while I've been away from home," King said. "It has shown me that in the Army, there are still leaders who openly acknowledge hard work and leadership potential. Someone so experienced and so knowledgeable recognized what I had done."

The back of the coin reads, "No Obstacle Too Difficult, No Task Too Great," which reminds King that if he sets his mind to something, he can achieve it.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2010
• Date Posted: 04.12.2010 15:54
• Story ID: 48033
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU