thedrifter
07-02-04, 07:23 AM
Home Depot provides tool time for local Marines
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 200471153552
Story by - Cpl. T.D. Smith
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Miramar Marines took center stage at a local Home Depot parking lot June 23 to help Marines and Soldiers abroad. Miramar Marines teamed up with other local service members and Home Depot staff to load trucks with $1 million worth of construction supplies and tools to be distributed by 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to personnel In Iraq.
"Home Depot has a long standing history of supporting the military. We were looking for a big thing to do to support our troops," said Eric Oberman, public relations manager for Home Depot. "We have employees that serve (in the armed forces) and we asked them what living conditions were like and what day-to-day life was like. We asked what products they needed and what they could benefit from."
Major Mike Jernigan, an active duty officer in the Marine Corps who holds the title of National Corporate Fellow for Home Depot explained, "Bob Nardelli (chair executive officer of Home Depot) wanted to give a gift to Soldiers and Marines overseas. (So I) coordinated with logistics from (1st Marine Expeditionary Force) to get a wish list from Marines."
Gunnery Sergeant Martin Harkless, engineer chief, Marine Wing Support Group 37, explained this is how Marines got involved with beginning of the evolution.
"Wing asked (Miramar Marines) to put together a wish list," he said. "Things they need that they don't currently have."
That wish list found its way to a benefactor that was eager to supply the request.
Jernigan said he thought it was a great project for two reasons, "It's like a Christmas gift (to the Marines abroad). Also, having been over there, it is going to raise morale. Hundreds of letters to the troops (from the community) are going with the tools.
"It is the intangible that makes the difference. People in America are thinking of us and our families," he added.
Harkless echoed the sentiment, "I think this is one of the events we can all be proud of. Troops are getting good gear and quality tools that the Marine Corps didn't have to pay for.
It is one of the best gifts the Marine Corps has gotten all year plus it will help the Iraqi people too. The MWSG thanks Home Depot. "
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200471161414/$file/depotlo.jpg
Cpl. Nathaniel P. Weibert, military police, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, from Clovis, Calif. hands Spc. Phong S. Nguyen, driver, 478th Transportation Company, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., a San Diego native, a Rigid cordless drill while Rosa Carmona and Rick P. Franklin, Genesee Home Depot employees, grab another drill to hand the servicemembers. Photo by: Sgt. C. Nuntavong
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E4F9C0CE0777D63B85256EC4006BA787?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 200471153552
Story by - Cpl. T.D. Smith
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Miramar Marines took center stage at a local Home Depot parking lot June 23 to help Marines and Soldiers abroad. Miramar Marines teamed up with other local service members and Home Depot staff to load trucks with $1 million worth of construction supplies and tools to be distributed by 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to personnel In Iraq.
"Home Depot has a long standing history of supporting the military. We were looking for a big thing to do to support our troops," said Eric Oberman, public relations manager for Home Depot. "We have employees that serve (in the armed forces) and we asked them what living conditions were like and what day-to-day life was like. We asked what products they needed and what they could benefit from."
Major Mike Jernigan, an active duty officer in the Marine Corps who holds the title of National Corporate Fellow for Home Depot explained, "Bob Nardelli (chair executive officer of Home Depot) wanted to give a gift to Soldiers and Marines overseas. (So I) coordinated with logistics from (1st Marine Expeditionary Force) to get a wish list from Marines."
Gunnery Sergeant Martin Harkless, engineer chief, Marine Wing Support Group 37, explained this is how Marines got involved with beginning of the evolution.
"Wing asked (Miramar Marines) to put together a wish list," he said. "Things they need that they don't currently have."
That wish list found its way to a benefactor that was eager to supply the request.
Jernigan said he thought it was a great project for two reasons, "It's like a Christmas gift (to the Marines abroad). Also, having been over there, it is going to raise morale. Hundreds of letters to the troops (from the community) are going with the tools.
"It is the intangible that makes the difference. People in America are thinking of us and our families," he added.
Harkless echoed the sentiment, "I think this is one of the events we can all be proud of. Troops are getting good gear and quality tools that the Marine Corps didn't have to pay for.
It is one of the best gifts the Marine Corps has gotten all year plus it will help the Iraqi people too. The MWSG thanks Home Depot. "
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200471161414/$file/depotlo.jpg
Cpl. Nathaniel P. Weibert, military police, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, from Clovis, Calif. hands Spc. Phong S. Nguyen, driver, 478th Transportation Company, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., a San Diego native, a Rigid cordless drill while Rosa Carmona and Rick P. Franklin, Genesee Home Depot employees, grab another drill to hand the servicemembers. Photo by: Sgt. C. Nuntavong
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E4F9C0CE0777D63B85256EC4006BA787?opendocument
Ellie