Galaxy Team 5/6 holds 'wounded soldier' clothing, item drive

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Army National Guard Private 1st Class Nate Detample was only 18 when he died in Iraq in August 2005. His death had a big impact on his close friend, Staff Sgt. Jessica Lara, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and was a major factor in her decision to somehow help troops wounded in combat. 

So with the help of members from Galaxy Team 5/6, she organized a clothing/item drive for wounded soldiers, which is today to Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the BXtra. 

Sergeant Lara, vice president of Galaxy Team 5/6, decided to work with other Galaxy Team 5/6 members and organize the drive, to collect clothing and items for both wounded soldiers in Iraq and the Fisher House in Landstuhl. 

"This is our first time doing a drive and it hits close to home for people in the military," said Sergeant Lara. "Usually we have someone in our family who might be part of a different branch, who has been to Iraq or Afghanistan, and maybe they've been wounded or even killed. Because I was very close to someone who got killed in Iraq, this wounded soldier program was very important to me to try and donate as many items as I could. 

It was from a newspaper report in December that Sergeant Lara learnt that wounded troops were running out of necessary items, and gave her the idea to hold the drive.
A co-member of Galaxy Team 5/6, Tech. Sgt. Rose Elliot, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said the idea for the drive also hit close to home for her. 

"I was actually deployed to Iraq, and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the (Balad military hospital). Seeing the wounded soldiers, and the limited supplies they had, it makes you want to give more and get other people to do so as well," she said. 

The items needed from the drive will go to the Fisher House Foundation at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, as well as to wounded troops in Iraq. 

The Fisher House is for the families of wounded troops, and allows them to stay in affordable accommodation, enabling them to pay just $10 per night instead of possibly hundreds of dollars. Rooms are available for up to six families and are on a first come, first served basis. 

Today's clothing drive is the first of many planned, and has already been helped by donations from the Mathies Airman Leadership School at RAF Feltwell. 

"We've had an outstanding show of volunteer support already (21 volunteers signed-up within less than one day of an e-mail going out) and we have the full backing of Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner, 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief master sergeant, who thinks it's a great idea," said Sergeant Lara. 

Squadrons around base are also getting involved in collecting donations, by putting boxes out for people to give donations. 

There are many different items people can donate to the drive, including cleaning supplies such as detergent, dishwashing spray and polish; paper and plastic products including paper towels, toilet paper and plastic cutlery (flatware); and items such as soft toothbrushes, travel-size toothpaste, toenail clippers and DVD movies. 

All items must be new and will be donated to the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project, which also benefits military hospitals in Iraq. 

The donations will be delivered on a KC-135 scheduled to depart for Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, April 11, which will be met by a representative from Landstuhl. This allows plenty of time to collect donations, said Sergeant Lara. "There's not much that (the wounded troops) need, but if we can provide them items it will make them feel better, and us feel better knowing we can help them." 

This drive is already proving successful, thanks to Galaxy Team 5/6 and its members. Galaxy Team 5/6 is an organization for all E-5s and E-6s on RAF Mildenhall - not only for the 100th Air Refueling Wing, but also for the partner units. 

"We're not a fund raising organization, but focus more on what we can do for the enlisted force and our Airmen to make this a better place," said Sergeant Elliot. 

"There are many benefits of being a member, including mentoring - we can learn from each other - and it's a great networking tool. You get to meet so many people - we all have different connections; when we all talk to each other, that's how we get things done," she said. 

For more information on the wounded soldier clothing drive, or joining Galaxy Team 5/6, call either Sergeant Lara at 238-8822 or Sergeant Elliot at 238-5487.