Iraqi burn clinic shutting down

Friends,

I received this message from Jimmy in the burn clinic at CSC Scania (described in my last post) via Laurel from Books for Soldiers:

(begin quote)

Jimmy wrote:
Laurel,

Thank you so much for contacting me. As much as I hate to say it, the clinic is being shut down. There will be no need for donations by the end of this month.

Thank you,

Jimmy

(end quote)

Don't worry if you have already sent something: I'm sure at Scania, like at our base in Balad, there is a system in place by which the chaplain's office can find a needy home for donated items. If you are looking for an alternate place to help, there are many organizations you can find easily on the Internet (such as Fisher House.) Thank you so much for caring!

Not much to say tonight, got home from the hospital 'round 2300, but at least I'm home. Thinking of all the troops who aren't.

Chris

73rd Cavalry volunteers tend burned Iraqi children

Hi Friends,

I recently received from a friend, Deb, this great news about US troops at CSC Scania (that's Convoy Support Center) south of Baghdad who are volunteering their time to run a clinic for Iraqis in need of medical care. These aren't people who were sent to Iraq as medical providers. Their official duty is to refuel trucks and keep them running on the convoy line running north and south through Mesopotamia. They treat up to 80 patients a day, many of them burned children. They report that they are seeing the same burns I saw so commonly: scald and oil spil burns from uncovered cooking sources in the home. They rely on donated service hours and donated supplies. If ever anyone needed a reason to be proud of our military, look no further than these troops.

Here's a video on YouTube:



and from CBS:



Here is the information provided for those who want to help:

(begin quote)

Items needed are:

Medihoney antibacterial cream
Kerlix
Xeroform petroleum dressings
Non-adhesive dressings
Chucks
Tylenol/paracetemol (Infant,Child and Adult)
Motrin/Ibuprofen (Infant,Child and Adult)
IV line sets
Benadryl (Child and Adult)

Additional items needed are:

Flip flops/Sandals
Sneakers
Clothes
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Toys
Stuffed Animals
Socks
Crayons and Coloring Books

PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH OR CHECKS

Mail your donations to:

Jimmy Compton
SOC
CSC Scania
APO AE 09331

For more information, send your email to :
jimmycompton@gmail.com

"Thank you to all the volunteers around the world who extend their hand to help another."
And, please spread the word on this one, would you?

(end quote)

Mainer: Yes, you definitely get a plug!!

Here is a message I received after writing about http://www.forgottensoldiers.org :

(Begin quote)

Mainer has left a new comment on your post "Remember Forgotten Soldiers":

OK, Chris, I have to tout/advertise an organization I belong to. It's Adopt A Platoon (adoptaplatoon.org). It's DoD approved. You can adopt an individual troop, or a unit or a platoon. You can become a penpal only if you prefer and/or have limited funds. Each adoption requires that you send a care package at least once a month and you write letters once a week- REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY RESPOND OR NOT. They also have campaigns throughout the year- Halloween, Christmas, July, all summer, etc.

So far I've adopted 10 individuals and 1 group of 14. It gives you a wonderful feeling to know that you are providing a touch of home to someone who is deployed. It's free to join but you do have to pass a screening because of the DoD seal of approval.

OK. That's my plug!

(End quote.)

I am happy to get news of Adopt a Platoon out because it is good work that is greatly appreciated, and I know that citizens want to do something to help. People ask me all the time, "What can I do to help?" Discovering so many different organizations of citizens who have taken the initiative to do something for soldiers has shown me that the 97.5% of our country that is civilian is deeply committed to supporting the military. People have done great things for perfect strangers out of the goodness of their own hearts.

Best wishes,

Chris