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September 21, 2004


Update on Operation Santa

Almost completed and waiting to be filled.


Santa's elves are working hard! We have volunteers from all over the United States to help make the holidays merry for platoons of Marines who will be away from friends and family over the holidays. I?ve mailed out patterns and directions for Christmas stockings to more than 30 crafty folks, and now have project guidelines and sample press releases available to be downloaded from this website.

Right click here and select ?Save Target? for Project Guidelines.

Right click here and select 'Save Target' for sample Press Release.

If you are interested in coordinating Operation Santa for a Battalion, the guidelines should answer your questions. You will help recruit clubs, organizations, church groups, schools, etc. to fill platoons in your assigned battalions. We?ll help you. Currently, we have the coordinators for the following battalions:

1/7 ?-Deb Conrad and Connie Riecke - e-mail deb@marinecorpsmoms.com or Riecke@marinecorpsmoms.com

We also have platoon coordinators for several other battalions but need overall coordinators. These include 1/2, 1/4, 2/10, and possibly 3/5. Please let me know if you are interested in helping to find platoon coordinators for other platoons in these battalions. As folks show interest, we?ll add more battalions.

Platoon coordinators will take primary responsibility for filling individual stockings for each Marine in the platoon and enclosing a personal letter or card. They will also send a box of gifts to be shared by the entire platoon. This could include board games, DVDs, holiday treats, etc. - much like a family holiday back home might feature. If your club, organization, workplace, congregation, etc. would like to sponsor a platoon of Marines, please let me know. We'll hook you up.

For Portland, Oregon area folks who would like to help us sew, we've dropped off a supply of stocking patterns and directions at one of my favorite fabric stores:

Mill Ends Store
9701 SE McLoughlin Blvd
Milwaukie, Oregon 97222

I've been shopping there since I was 18 years old - excellent selection of fabrics and wonderful, community-minded staff. You can also drop off finished stockings there - they've offered to collect them for us.

My son's comment about this project's effect on his brother Marines, "This will bring a smile to their faces on Christmas Day" is all the motivation I need.


Posted by Deb at September 21, 2004 12:41 AM

Comments

Hello I'm very interested in finding out some information on what steps I have to take to get involved inthis for my boyfriends unit I don't really know much about his unit but that he was deployed from Camp pendleton on Sep.6th and he was headed for Mudyasis he is part of 2/11 any information will be greatly appriciated.

Posted by: Ticia Lopez,California at September 20, 2004 08:51 PM

I'd be interested in helping with BLT 1/2 BRAVO Co AAV PLT. Just let me know what is involved. Thanks

Posted by: Iantha Pittman at September 26, 2004 06:42 PM

I would be very interested in joining a grouphelping in any way that I can I live in Eugene and own a business here, Please let me know what I can do, or give me a name of a soldier serving in the War, I have a Grandson that shot off the first Patriot Missle during the Gulf War and I know how much they need to hear from loved ones at home,. Thanks a lot
Charmalee Schram

Posted by: Charmalee Schram at September 28, 2004 12:51 PM

Come from a long line of warriors, am 52 years old and single, would be willing to "adopt" a Marine, write to him overseas, send things etc.
My brother, Les, was in the Marines in Korea.
Serve on church steering committe and sell Real Estate in Douglas County, work for All State Real Estate. Had 2 brothers in the Army and another one in the Air Force.
Respectfully, Kathy. M. Grimes

Posted by: Kathy Grimes at October 15, 2004 01:07 PM

My son is serving with 2/5 Marines in Ramadi. My wife would like to organize an effort to support at least a platoon or maybe a company at her office, depending on how much support she can garner.

Jim Tew
740-881-5149

Posted by: Jim Tew at October 19, 2004 05:34 AM

My grandson is in 2/5 G CO and also deployed on Sept. 6 from Camp Pendleto to Ramadi. Would love to communicate with other family with boys in that unit. Have you had any luck in getting something organized to support this unit? I have someone wanting to know what they can donate to this cause.

Posted by: Joyce Bergquist at November 11, 2004 07:05 AM

My grandson is in 2/5 G CO and also deployed on Sept. 6 from Camp Pendleto to Ramadi. Would love to communicate with other family with boys in that unit. Have you had any luck in getting something organized to support this unit? I have someone wanting to know what they can donate to this cause.

Posted by: Joyce Bergquist at November 11, 2004 07:25 AM

I wanna know how LCpl Christopher A Rock is doing? He's in BLT 1/2 Bravo Co. Unit 73035

Posted by: DAR at November 16, 2004 12:04 AM

Does anyone know how to get a hold of any email addresses for those guys or does anyone know a Christopher Peskuski in that unit?

Posted by: AAM at November 20, 2004 02:34 PM

Hello;
I recently adopted a soldier from Soldiers Angels, and I have a young man named Jeremy A. Herrington, I was reding on his platoon's web site, that I have to include rank on the stuff that I mail him--was wondering if its not on there will he still get, as it wasn't included on my info sent to me, Now I am very worried, that the box of goodies and letters have not reached him, he is in Unit 73035, if any anyone can help me I would be forever grateful! As I am getting ready to send his Xmas box, with stuff for his entire platoon! Thank You! And God Bless Our Soldiers! Lisa

Posted by: Lisa Belotti at November 21, 2004 06:57 AM

My son Sgt.Jourdan Kimbrough USMC, is with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stationed near Najaf (on his second tour). My oldest son, Sgt. Daniel Kimbrough is stationed at Okanawa with MAW. I would like info. on making a donation to Julie's DVD's for wounded, and also another organization that I think is called Semper Fi, that helps monitarily for families that are visiting their wounded in other countries.
Would love to converse with other parents/family members with marines in the 11th MEU. God's blessings to all.

Posted by: Harilyn Elliott at December 3, 2004 12:20 PM

my family and i would like to financially sponsor Christmas for a family of a marine that is currently deployed in Iraq protecting our freedom. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can go about doing this?

Posted by: the Johnson's at December 16, 2004 08:54 PM

my family and i would like to financially sponsor Christmas for a family of a marine that is currently deployed in Iraq protecting our freedom. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can go about doing this?

Posted by: the Johnson's at December 16, 2004 08:59 PM

I just wanted to let you know that I'm here if you need to talk. My husband, Cpl. Brian Gearhart is stationed at Camp Pendleton, California and left for Iraq September 3, 2004. He'll hopefully return home in April 2005. I know what all of you are going through and I'm here for anyone who has questions or just needs a friend. " Land of the free, because of the brave!" God Bless You All!

Posted by: Ashley Gearhart at January 15, 2005 09:54 PM

i was just wondering if anyone has any recent pictures of camp mudyasis. i was staioned there with 3/11 in 04 and was curious to see how 2/11 golf battery changed it.

Posted by: cory magoon at February 25, 2005 12:11 PM