Transcript No Slide Title

Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon
Operation MWR
From a fire in August 2005 to a Super Bowl party in
2006, Operation MWR was pretty special!
Operation MWR
It started back in August 2005 with an email from our
adoptee, CPT Hallah N. (now MJR).
“Fire destroyed our MWR (Morale Welfare Recreation)
tent.”
Everything was lost:
Chapel, Library, Gym, you
name it, gone!
Operation MWR
OK. We’ll raise money using flags. We’ll ask our
troops to fly them and sign them. They’ll be treasured
keepsakes for folks who donate $200 each.
Gary Potenzone of Apollo Flags in Wayne, NJ,
donated really nice nylon embroidered flags.
Hallah N. and Yale A. from the 29th, Vince M. from 9th
Psy Ops (Kombat Kinkos) and Gordon C. from the
11th Amored Cav all agreed to fly flags.
It’s not easy flying American flags in Iraq. We don’t
want to look like an occupying country, so this was a
challenge.
Operation MWR
We also held an auction.
SFC Frank M. donated two Ka-bar knives from
Iraq.
Lots of spirited bidding!
Allan V and
Christine W
won the knives.
We raised $335.
Operation MWR
“Why don’t you call Steve Rothman’s office?”
suggested Mary-Edna, Alan’s wife.
“He’s our congressman. Maybe he can help raise
awareness and generate some publicity.”
Good idea.
Spoke to his office staff.
Ordered some American flags and asked for help.
Operation MWR
Then came the big break.
Joe Hamlin, Firestone store manager in Elmwood
Park, NJ, bought a flag.
Joe is a Lieutenant with Paramus, NJ, rescue and
spent a week doing recovery work after 9/11.
Photo: Joe Hamlin
Taken at Ground Zero
Operation MWR
Joe spoke to Harriet Turnof, District Mgr,
Bridgestone/Firestone North Jersey District. She
needed more info.
“Alan, can you get me a letter from your
Congressman?” She wasn’t quite sure about
AaSP.
“I’ll try.”
Congressman Rothman’s office immediately
responded with a fax to the Bridgestone/Firestone
office! When I say immediately, I mean within the
hour!!!
Operation MWR
The result -- Bridgestone/Firestone of North
Jersey ordered a flag for each of their 30 stores
(and sent a $4,500 check!) … we were on our way!
AaSP 5x8 flag from the
Capitol now hanging in
Elmwood Park, NJ,
store
Operation MWR
So what do we do with Firestone’s money?
We called Don Baine of Multi-Media
Communications in Natick, MA. They run the
biggest multi-media screen in Toronto.
“I want in,” he says. “We’ll build a mind-blowing
video system for our troops!”
Don Baine with small
Lumaglass screen
Operation MWR
A couple of months later, we picked up an 80-inch
screen and had fun decorating the crate.
“Kinda like signing torpedoes in the old WWII
movies.”
Alan K, Don and Carol
signing the crate in
Natick, MA, 11/30
Operation MWR
We were honored when SFC Frank M. and his
teammate SFC Angel A., former adoptees and OIF
veterans, arrived as an honor guard for our
shipment!
l-r: Dan Craw holds crate
as SFCs A. and M. sign
for the troops!
Operation MWR
We bought lots of other stuff with our flag money,
like a wide screen TV, DVD sound system, XBox,
games, keyboard, boom box, footballs, volleyballs,
etc. etc. etc.
The great guys in the
700 Bldg mailroom –
Rick, Tom and Cyril
Operation MWR
But how are we going to ship this stuff to
Baghdad? The Army and Air Force said no. That’s
where Congressman Rothman’s office came
through – and DHL came to the rescue!!
l-r: SFC M., Alan K, SFC
A., Artie McC, Rob M,
Dan C and Lou B see
the shipment off…
Operation MWR
We got it done with great help from everyone
Farewell shot in front of
the big blue Unilever
“U” in the 700 lobby
Operation MWR
Last but not least there’s work to do at JFK.
Alan K and Chris of
DHL put the official
touches on the Big
Screen
Operation MWR
DHL really came through! From Wolfgang Pordzik
and Roger Libby in Washington to Neal Moran,
Cathy O’Reilly, Jackie Kates, Artie McCune and
John Baitz at JFK, they were all great!
Neal Moran, Director of
Operations, with his ‘wall
of planes’ at the DHL
Express Gateway at JFK
Thank you!!!
Congressman Steven Rothman’s office
(Bob Decheine, C-O-S)
Bridgestone/Firestone North Jersey District
(Joe Hamlin, Harriet Turnof)
DHL and DHL Express
(Roger Libby, Wolfgang Pordzik, Neal Moran,
Cathy O’Reilly, Jackie Kates, Artie McCune)
Multi-Media Communications (Don Baine)
Apollo Flags (Gary Potenzone)
PC Richard, Jersey City, NJ (Pablo Obregon)
Thank you!!!
For flying flags: SFC Vince M., CPT Gordon C., MAJ
Hallah N., 1SG Yale A.
Unilever 700 Bldg Shipping (Dan, Rick, Tom, Cyril)
Unilever Media Relations (Jennifer S, Sabrina G) and
Corporate Communications (Sharyn K)
And, of course, our very generous members:
Unilever: Monica S, Tony F, Jamie L, Pam K, Susie O,
Holmes B, Marty M, Cathy S, Lori H, Lou B, Christine W,
Angelo F, Donna H, John K, Alan K and his Mom
Connie K
Outside members: Allan V, Dennis M, Jack K, John T,
John C, Jeff E and Linda T
One Last Thing
This is how it works – it’s simple!
And One More Last Thing
To Major Hallah N. and 1SG Yale A.:
The shipment goes out 12/3 from JFK to
Bahrain, then on to Baghdad. You will
have this stuff next week.
To you and the 29th BCT and to all those
who will inherit all this wonderful
merchandise … may it all bring you a
respite from all your work. We all love
you and thank you for your sacrifice
and for your bravery from the bottom of
our collective hearts!!! You guys are
THE BEST!!!
And Another One More Last Thing
On Tuesday, December 6, DHL is putting 1,000
Christmas trees, lights, ornaments and
Menorahs on a 747 to the Middle East.
Guys, you’ll be getting some of those trees!
Thanks Cathy O’!
Happy Holidays.
And the Ending …
The shipment arrives on Wednesday, Dec. 7 (of
all days)… only shipped on Sat. night!!!
And the Ending …
Lots of happy troops… like Chaplain U., who already
has this keyboard making music!
And the Ending …
And an office full of stuff!
And the Ending …
And lots of happy soldiers!
And the Ending …
But there’s more… Since the 29th were coming home
in January, the items were bequeathed to the 32nd
Signal Battalion at their Christmas party
And the Ending …
And our adoptee received an Army award.
And the Ending …
Now that’s a happy ending!
And the Ending …
But wait … there’s more!
Like a Super Bowl party!
Calls to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks
yielded cartons of hats, shirts, pennants, pins, flags,
mini-helmets and Terrible Towels.
Tracy Tachick got the Green Bay Packers to send 50
hats! (Hey, Coach Lombardi used to coach Army!)
Rob Evans and his dad Hal got the Miami Dolphins to
send more souvenirs.
So, how was the party you asked?
And the Ending …
It was great!