Soldiers Scrape Up
Money To Pay For Supplies
A local Army National Guard unit is mobilizing to
go to Iraq without
many of the essentials the soldiers desperately
need.
By KOMO Staff
& News Services
11-11-3
- LONGVIEW, WA -
Specialist Brian Lange with the Army National Guard just spent his last
weekend with his wife and two sons before mobilizing for Iraq. He and
more than 3,000 soldiers from the 81st Armor Brigade are heading out on
Saturday.
-
- But instead of fun, Lange's mind was on finances all
weekend.
-
- The Lange family is trying to scrape up enough money
to buy what you'd assume is paid for by the U.S. government. He needs
money for supplies including a flashlight, socks, a utility belt,
binoculars, sunglasses, even a pair of boots.
-
- Lange has a pair of the basic issue boots, but
soldiers in the field say they they aren't suitable.
-
- Army National Guard members need more expensive boots,
specially designed for the desert.
-
- "The best way to get this out that we need this help
is by talking," said Elizabeth Johnston.
-
- Johnston is the founder of a group called MOMS,
Mothers of Military Support. The group is raising money to buy supplies
for soldiers, and donating 200 care kits as well.
-
- "About 60% of the families that are being deployed
right now cannot afford $200 to $300 out of their normal paycheck plus
being able to survive knowing that their loved on is going," said
Johnston.
-
- To survive while her husband Brian is gone, Rachel
Lange and her two sons are going without heat. They are also postponing
christmas indefinitely.
-
- "It's frustrating," said Rachel. "But I just look at
it as he has to go over there (to Iraq) and do what he has to do. While
he is over there doing his job I will just take care of everything here
as best as I can. If that means the rent is late a little bit, and the
heat gets turned on a little bit later, and the kids go without
Christmas presents, then it's just what I have to do."
-
- How To Help:
-
- If you'd like to help out the Charlie Battery of the
81st Armor Brigade, you can send a donation to:
-
- Mothers of Military Support
- 1105 D 15th Avenue, #11
- Longview, Washington
98632.
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