Operation HELPING HAND

Thursday evening saw the August 2007 edition of the Operation HELPING HAND dinner at the Haley V.A. Hospital in Tampa. I wrote about the one in June here. Lt. Col. Dan Fitzpatrick (not pictured) and I departed the Centcom History Office and headed up for the event. We met many of the 16-24 patients that the spinal, neck, and head injury specialists treat at any given time. Among the many we met, Pete Herrick and his wife Diana (above with myself and Navy medical liaison Cdr. Hartford) really inspired us. Pete was a Navy Seabee (Construction Battalion) Reservist out of Jacksonville, Fla. assigned to a unit rebuilding in Iraq. Pete gushed about his one in a hundred assignment as a 50-cal gunner atop a Humvee charged with protecting the other Seabees. He said his nickname was "one-shot" because of his accuracy. Unfortunately while on duty in Ramadi (when it was very dangerous), someone had the men in a formation (!) when an anti-coalition mortar struck, killing 7 or 8 and wounding 30+. War is hell and we saw the damage it can do here. But I witnessed dogged determination that brings tears to your eyes in the eyes of these men and their families. Read more about Pete's experience here, here, and here. I wish you could be here to join in. It brings to bear what a gift a visit to a veteran of any war anywhere can be. And it's mostly a gift to the person doing the visiting. HF1

Reinforcements From Cheeseland!

I arrived at the MacDill post office to check my mail the other day. A large box from Green Bay greeted me. My mother's friend Sharon sent the first sortie of sweets to share with the Tampa VA vets at the next Operation: HELPING HAND dinner. Thanks Sharon and those who have offered their prayers for the servicepeople and their families recovering in Tampa. Review Operation: HELPING HAND here. HF1

Operation HELPING HAND

Last Tuesday I ventured up to the Haley VA Hospital in North Tampa. A Centcom-wide email invited anyone to stop by for the monthly dinner for wounded vets and their families. I did my bit baking two trays of brownies (really) and looked forward to a nice little get-together.

Boy was I wrong. I had no idea that I had ventured into the well-oiled machine of Operation HELPING HAND of the Military Officers' Association of America's Tampa chapter. The gracious blue-polo-shirted hosts directed all of us to sit and be served. I enjoyed an evening getting to know a few folks and witnessing the greatest sacrifices made by some of the families and wounded of the war. Spirits were high as Helping Handers presented each family with envelopes of gift cards and other valuable items for their stays in Tampa. Please check the program out by clicking here. It's special. (They always accept contributions if you feel so led). You can see pictures of the families and guests. Some of my mom's friends were moved by this event just by word of mouth and are beginning to send me baked goods to freeze for the next dinner (no, I won't eat the goodies).

Outback Steakhouse catered the dinner with everyone receiving a tenderloin, chicken fillet, salad, and drink. I thanked the chairman afterward for their great work as well as Outback's contribution. He told me Outback served soldiers in Iraq on a regular basis. So please patronize Outback next time you feel the craving. BUT... make sure to ask to speak to the management and thank them for Outback's support of the troops. Take a look at Outback's contributions here. HF1