Operation Helping Hands IV
"For those that will fight for it...FREEDOM.. Has a flavor the protected shall never know."
~ L/Cpl Edwin L. "Tim" Craft, B Co 3rd AT's, Khe Sanh Combat Base.
February 1968http://www.togetherweteach.com/Sayings/TimCraftstory.htm
On Tuesday, April 1st CO Guiles received a phone call from the Family Readiness Coordinator for the 7th Marine Regiment. The Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion 7th Marines were deploying for far off lands on April 5th, 6th and 7th at "zero dark thirty". CO Guiles said the unit would be able to help support the unit Marines and Sailors by handing out DVDs and CDs. The CO, XO and their small band of merry band of travelers woke up and met at a local parking lot at 0200. The unit arrived at MCB 29 Palms at 0345, the small cadre immediately started setting up and organizing the DVDs
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. While the Young Marines were busy greeting the Marines and handing out DVDs the Parent Volunteers were busy walking around talking to the Marines and letting them know about the DVDs and CDs that were brought out for them. The parents let the Marines know that we gathered the DVDs for Operation DVD and brought them out to the Marines so they could enjoy safe entertainment while deployed. The parents also let some of the more skeptical Marines know that the DVDs were free for them and that they had been collected from throughout the country by patriotic Americans who support them
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. The bus left at 0525 on the morning of the 5th
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. The Young Marines, Staff and Parent Volunteers all went back to Temecula and made it right in time for Drill.
On Sunday, April 6th CO Guiles and YM/1stSgt. Joshua Guiles with XO Aguilar and a small cadre of Young Marines and parents departed Temecula at 0130. They had to be at 29 Palms by 0300 in order to set up the tables and DVDs for the next wave of Marines and Sailors leaving. The CO said Marines do not leave other Marines hanging and the Young Marines will not leave other Young Marines or Marines hanging either. The Young Marines quickly setup their DVD station
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.The Marines did not expect the Young Marines to show up so early and meet their 1st wave and you could tell how much they appreciated it
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. The 1st wave of Marines left at 0430 on the 6th. Then the second wave of Marines got ready to leave at 0525. As the Young Marines were busy handing out DVDs the Parent Volunteers were running handfuls of DVDs over and onto the buses for those last minute DVD handouts. As the Marines walked past the Young Marines gave them a very loud motivation check
When all of the Marines were gone CO Guiles talked to SSgt. Goss he left SSgt. Goss with a box of DVDs for Marines leaving at 1800 and for Marines leaving on Monday the 7th of April. The Young Marines were able to help outfit a whole Battalion, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines with 650 DVDs for safe entertainment while they are deployed. It was a hard tiring mission but one the Young Marines were grateful that they could take part in. From our unit to the Marines and Sailors of 2/7 have a safe Deployment and we hope to see you all again sometime.
Semper Fi,
Thank you's go to:
Saturday April 5th 0200-0800 Sunday April 6th 0100-0800 Staff: Staff CO Guiles CO Guiles XO Aguilar XO Aguilar Young Marines Young Marines YM/Sgt. Maj. Aguilar YM/1st Sgt. Guiles, J YM/1stSgt Guiles, J YM/Cpl. Blake YM/Sgt. Hedlund YM/LCpl. Redick YM/Cpl. Aguilar YM/LCpl. Gray YM/LCpl. Masters YM/PFC Riopelle,C YM/PFC Masters YM/Pvt. Riopelle,A YM/Pvt. Simms YM/Pvt. Toscano,F YM/Pvt. Wilson YM/Pvt. Toscano, J YM/Pvt. German YM/Pvt Wilson Parent Volunteers: YM/Pvt. Vielljas Mr. Wilson Parent Volunteers Mr. Hedlund Mrs. Blake Mr. Simms Mr. Toscano Mr. German Mr. Redick Mr. Riopelle Mr. Wilson
