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10 December 7
2006
uppose you're a member
of the National Guard, and
you're living in a tent at a
training base in central New Jersey.
You've already been to Iraq, but
you've been called again. So you put
your life on hold one more time.
You'd like to visit your family in
Michigan during the holidays before
you head off to Iraq.
And if you thought that the govern-
ment you were risking
your life to protect would
at least subsidize your trip
home, you'd be wrong.
That's how it stands for
the 185 members of the
Michigan Army National
Guard 1-182nd Field
Artillery Battalion, AKA
"The Deuce who have
been living in a Forward
Operating Base in a "tent
city" in Fort Dix since Nov.
27. On Dec. 22, their training is done,
and they'll ship out on Jan 2.
This story greeted me on the Drew
and Mike morning radio show on
WRIF (101-FM) on Nov. 30.
I've been a loyal listener for about
10 years because, after being awak-
ened by them, I usually get out of bed
laughing. This story got me angry.
I spoke with Mike Clark on Dec. 1
for an update.
He's looking for $60,000 for bus
transportation for the soldiers,
Christmas packages and cards, fam-
ily assistance for urgent needs and a
welcome home" military ceremony,
he said.
Clark said he was told that it's stan-
dard fare that the federal government
will only pay for direct flights to or
from Iraq, and not a penny for a visit
home.
1 just can't get over it," he said.
Clark said his show always supports
the troops.
"No matter how you feel about the
war, and everybody has their different
feelings about it, in the end, everybody
loves the guys and girls who are going
over there, living under all that pres-
sure and trying to survive he said.
The Deuce's Family Readiness •
Group (FRG) president contacted the
radio station with a request for help,
Clark said. "On Nov. 30, we took the
story to the airwaves — and boy, all
hell broke loose."
By the end of the day, four touring
bus companies offered reduced rates,
and people were emailing and phon-
ing in asking how to send money, he
said.
By Dec. 1, Chrysler Jeep donated
$15,000 and Rock.Financial gave
$5,000. Co-host Dreiv [Lane] and Mike
chipped in $10,000 from the proceeds
of a CD they produced last year.
.
Leafing through the December
issue of the "Deuce News" from the
Battalion's FRG Web site, I
read that 71 soldiers were
transported to the Macy's
Thanksgiving parade in
New York City, where they
ate at Planet Hollywood
and visited Ground Zero.
The rest of the bat-
talion was "treated to a
Thanksgiving luncheon
held by the Jewish War
Veterans Post 126 of
Pennsylvania:' according
to the newsletter. "Along with a great
meal, we received sports memorabilia,
(caps, T-shirts and footballs) auto-
graphed by the Philadelphia Eagles!'
On Dec. 25, the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and the Jewish
Community Council will present their
annual "Mitzvah Day:' allowing local
Jews to gather to volunteer at soup
kitchens, food pantries and senior
citizen facilities in the metropolitan
area on Christmas Day so.the regular
non-Jewish staff persons can be home
with their families.
_ It's a way the Jewish community can
give back to the general community in
a collective way. .
We have always been generous when
it comes to soldiers, too.
We write checks to the Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces, we send
money to www.Pizzaidf. org so IDF
soldiers can receive pizza, burgers and
donuts as well as letters of support
and appreciation.
We can help our local soldiers, too.
To donate, write a check payable to:
A-Btry 182 FA SECFOR FRG.
Send it to: Peoples Trust Credit
Union, A-Btry 182 FA SECFOR FRG,
Christmas Leave Bus Fund,
24333 Lahser, Southfield, MI 48033.
Remember: It's not about the war,
it's about taking care of our neigh-
bors. ❑
Harry Kirsbaum's e-mail address is
hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com .