thedrifter
11-24-06, 07:00 PM
Movies for the Marines
By Paula Vogler/ Correspondent
Friday, November 24, 2006 - Updated: 05:48 PM EST
Imagine living with no shower facilities, no hot meals, no sheets on your bunk and no recreational facilities in a city scattered with the cement rubble of what used to be buildings.
For 1,200 Marines in the 1/6 Bravo Company deployed in a city in Iraq, this takes no imagination. It is reality and a way of life.
While the few windows in the abandoned building they live in have been reinforced with bulletproof glass and sandbags surrounding some of their posts decrease the daily shots from insurgents, it is still a highly volatile area to try to survive in.
Easton resident Sheila Malamut’s son Paul Nee grew up in Everett and is one of those 1,200 Marines as is Paul Spinelli, an Oliver Ames graduate who spent his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Malamut said the Marines patrol at night because it is too dangerous for them to be out at any other time. They are left with little to occupy their time during the day other than watching movies on their portable DVD players.
"They are not on a base. On a base they could go out and throw a ball around," said Malamut. "(The DVDs) are something to keep them busy and keep their minds off of what’s going on out there while they are not working."
The Marines are asking for movies that they can pass around and share with each other.
"We go back to another place every few weeks and get a hot shower and a hot meal; (that’s) very much appreciated," said Nee in an email. "Time goes by fast because you are always doing something. Sometimes you cannot remember the last time you slept. You are running on adrenaline most of the time. That’s why I love the movies because on my free time I like to relax and watch them on my DVD player."
Nee drives a Humvee with a 50-caliber machine gun on top. Because his missions are at night and he and his fellow Marines are trying to keep from being seen by the insurgents, visibility is difficult.
"When we drive at night we wear night vision goggles and drive in complete blackout so the enemy cannot see us," said Nee.
Nee said sometimes some of the Marines feel like people have forgotten them especially since more people in the United States are now against the war.
"It means a lot to all of us here that people write about the good things and still think about us," said Nee.
Malamut has set up a collection box at Hollywood Video in Highlands Plaza for anyone wishing to make a DVD movie donation. The DVDs do not need to be new.
Malamut also said she will send any non-perishable food items people want to donate as well.
"(The Marines) live on MREs (military Meals Ready to Eat)," Malamut said. "They are always hungry."
Malamut has only been able to send 30 movies and a couple of boxes of popcorn and other snacks so far.
"The sad thing is people don’t know what these kids are going through," said Malamut. "If they did, they would be willing to help out."
Because it takes approximately two weeks for packages to reach the Marines, Malamut hopes to send another larger shipment by mid-December. Anyone wishing to make a donation can drop of his or her DVDs in the box at Hollywood Video or contact Sheila Malamut via email at sa818@comcast.net.
Paula Vogler can be reached at 508-967-3510 or by email at writedesk84@comcast.net.
Ellie
By Paula Vogler/ Correspondent
Friday, November 24, 2006 - Updated: 05:48 PM EST
Imagine living with no shower facilities, no hot meals, no sheets on your bunk and no recreational facilities in a city scattered with the cement rubble of what used to be buildings.
For 1,200 Marines in the 1/6 Bravo Company deployed in a city in Iraq, this takes no imagination. It is reality and a way of life.
While the few windows in the abandoned building they live in have been reinforced with bulletproof glass and sandbags surrounding some of their posts decrease the daily shots from insurgents, it is still a highly volatile area to try to survive in.
Easton resident Sheila Malamut’s son Paul Nee grew up in Everett and is one of those 1,200 Marines as is Paul Spinelli, an Oliver Ames graduate who spent his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Malamut said the Marines patrol at night because it is too dangerous for them to be out at any other time. They are left with little to occupy their time during the day other than watching movies on their portable DVD players.
"They are not on a base. On a base they could go out and throw a ball around," said Malamut. "(The DVDs) are something to keep them busy and keep their minds off of what’s going on out there while they are not working."
The Marines are asking for movies that they can pass around and share with each other.
"We go back to another place every few weeks and get a hot shower and a hot meal; (that’s) very much appreciated," said Nee in an email. "Time goes by fast because you are always doing something. Sometimes you cannot remember the last time you slept. You are running on adrenaline most of the time. That’s why I love the movies because on my free time I like to relax and watch them on my DVD player."
Nee drives a Humvee with a 50-caliber machine gun on top. Because his missions are at night and he and his fellow Marines are trying to keep from being seen by the insurgents, visibility is difficult.
"When we drive at night we wear night vision goggles and drive in complete blackout so the enemy cannot see us," said Nee.
Nee said sometimes some of the Marines feel like people have forgotten them especially since more people in the United States are now against the war.
"It means a lot to all of us here that people write about the good things and still think about us," said Nee.
Malamut has set up a collection box at Hollywood Video in Highlands Plaza for anyone wishing to make a DVD movie donation. The DVDs do not need to be new.
Malamut also said she will send any non-perishable food items people want to donate as well.
"(The Marines) live on MREs (military Meals Ready to Eat)," Malamut said. "They are always hungry."
Malamut has only been able to send 30 movies and a couple of boxes of popcorn and other snacks so far.
"The sad thing is people don’t know what these kids are going through," said Malamut. "If they did, they would be willing to help out."
Because it takes approximately two weeks for packages to reach the Marines, Malamut hopes to send another larger shipment by mid-December. Anyone wishing to make a donation can drop of his or her DVDs in the box at Hollywood Video or contact Sheila Malamut via email at sa818@comcast.net.
Paula Vogler can be reached at 508-967-3510 or by email at writedesk84@comcast.net.
Ellie