Military Officer - May 2006 - (Page 19)

rapidfire NEWS YOU CAN USE Sew Much Comfort A sewing circle is putting its needles to work helping U.S. servicemembers by sewing unique clothing for wounded troops. Sew Much Comfort was started by Virginia Dosedel in December 2004; she and a small group of women sew pants, shirts, and underwear for injured troops wearing braces and other devices as they recuperate at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This type of clothing is not available from retail outlets or medical suppliers, Dosedel says. The group now has more than 300 seamstresses scattered throughout the world, including 12 “ambassadors” — women who visit military hospitals to speak with the troops and hand out clothing. The group keeps in touch via e-mails, Web site postings, and phone calls, but the actual sewing happens on a local level. For more information, visit www.sew muchcomfort.org. MILITARY OFFICER Teaming Up in the Philippines M embers of the U.S. and Philippine militaries with Joint Task Force Balikatan 2006 worked together to assist in humanitarian relief efforts for victims of the Feb. 17 landslide in the Philippines. The landslide struck the Guinsaugon village of 1,800 people on the island of Leyte, Philippines. Military personnel delivered water, blankets, MREs, sleeping mats, rice, medications, fuel, and generators. The Navy’s USS Essex and USS Harpers Ferry operated as sea-basing platforms for numerous sorties into southern Leyte in support of the relief mission, bringing supplies, equipment, and personnel from ship to shore. Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were transported ashore to contribute directly to the rescue effort, shoveling out dirt alongside Philippine forces and international rescue workers. The Air Force’s 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, which ﬂies C-130s, transported people and equipment for the relief effort. The 36th Contingency Response Group and other airmen also assisted in the effort. The military already had deployed to the area for the annual bilateral exercise Balikatan and were called immediately to assist in the relief efforts. The effort embodied the principle of balikatan, which means “shouldering the load” in Tagalog and is the essence of the exercise. PHOTOS: TOP, LANCE CPL. RAYMOND D. PETERSEN III, USMC; RIGHT, DAVIES & STARR/GETTY IMAGES M AY 2 0 0 6 19 http://www.sewmuchcomfort.org http://www.sewmuchcomfort.org

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Military Officer - May 2006 Contents From the Editor President's Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Raising Iraq Dogfight Fun Caring For Our Own Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - May 2006

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