thedrifter
01-02-07, 08:37 AM
Marine Receives Car, Gifts in Mail
by 1st Lt. Lawton King
The magi are stirring with envy.
Lance Cpl. Jordan Richards, a turret gunner with Regimental Combat Team 5's "Team Gator," received a belated Christmas package in the mail from donors at Operation Gratitude here Dec. 29. The real present, though, is still awaiting his return to California.
"This Dodge Caliber is yours," announced the first document he removed from the package after knifing it open in front of his fellow Marines.
"I was not expecting that whatsoever," said the 19-year-old M-2 .50 caliber gunner from St. Louis. "It was actually a car!"
"Don't lose it," one of the Marine said.
Richards continued to rifle through the contents of the box and methodically produced cigarettes, autographed hats, a DVD player, a flash drive, batteries, phone cards and scores of letters and notes from the home front.
"You have a lot of thank-you notes to write, my friend," another Marine bystander joked.
One of the notes informed him that several other gifts in addition to the automobile would be lavished upon him when he redeploys to the United States.
"Wait 'til the fiancee hears about this one," he said.
Operation Gratitude, an organization devoted to promoting the wellbeing of U.S. troops abroad by mailing them care packages, sent Richards their 200,000th package and celebrated the landmark by showering with gifts ranging from a car to tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.
"We're excited for the Marine," said 1st Sgt. Mark Massey, the 40-year-old company first sergeant from Lansing, N.C. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
Massey earlier remarked that the package apparently endured "some trial and tribulations coming over here," though it remained intact and unopened.
The observation seemed apt and layered in meaning, for the Marines themselves had returned from a mounted patrol earlier without incurring any casualties.
"It was a cold one, too," Richards said.
Richards said he went from patrolling a combat zone to receiving a car in addition to other gifts, including a personalized gift signed by a U.S. Senator from Virginia.
After he had emptied the box of all its surprises, Richards expressed his appreciation, which was echoed by Team Gator's leadership, and the Marines scattered in all directions.
"These packages make deployments livable," he said. "The support is worth more than anything else."
"A young enlisted Marine got something for keeps. That's awesome," Massey said.
Capt. Eric Dominijanni, the 34-year-old company commander of Team Gator from Queens, N.Y., discussed the impact of the gesture and how it registered with the Marines present.
"It really means a lot to know that people are thinking about us during the holidays," he said. "You've seen the look on his face; he was in complete shock."
His befuddlement aside, Richards was sure of one thing.
"Morale as a whole is definitely high, but this sends it through the roof."
Ellie
by 1st Lt. Lawton King
The magi are stirring with envy.
Lance Cpl. Jordan Richards, a turret gunner with Regimental Combat Team 5's "Team Gator," received a belated Christmas package in the mail from donors at Operation Gratitude here Dec. 29. The real present, though, is still awaiting his return to California.
"This Dodge Caliber is yours," announced the first document he removed from the package after knifing it open in front of his fellow Marines.
"I was not expecting that whatsoever," said the 19-year-old M-2 .50 caliber gunner from St. Louis. "It was actually a car!"
"Don't lose it," one of the Marine said.
Richards continued to rifle through the contents of the box and methodically produced cigarettes, autographed hats, a DVD player, a flash drive, batteries, phone cards and scores of letters and notes from the home front.
"You have a lot of thank-you notes to write, my friend," another Marine bystander joked.
One of the notes informed him that several other gifts in addition to the automobile would be lavished upon him when he redeploys to the United States.
"Wait 'til the fiancee hears about this one," he said.
Operation Gratitude, an organization devoted to promoting the wellbeing of U.S. troops abroad by mailing them care packages, sent Richards their 200,000th package and celebrated the landmark by showering with gifts ranging from a car to tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.
"We're excited for the Marine," said 1st Sgt. Mark Massey, the 40-year-old company first sergeant from Lansing, N.C. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
Massey earlier remarked that the package apparently endured "some trial and tribulations coming over here," though it remained intact and unopened.
The observation seemed apt and layered in meaning, for the Marines themselves had returned from a mounted patrol earlier without incurring any casualties.
"It was a cold one, too," Richards said.
Richards said he went from patrolling a combat zone to receiving a car in addition to other gifts, including a personalized gift signed by a U.S. Senator from Virginia.
After he had emptied the box of all its surprises, Richards expressed his appreciation, which was echoed by Team Gator's leadership, and the Marines scattered in all directions.
"These packages make deployments livable," he said. "The support is worth more than anything else."
"A young enlisted Marine got something for keeps. That's awesome," Massey said.
Capt. Eric Dominijanni, the 34-year-old company commander of Team Gator from Queens, N.Y., discussed the impact of the gesture and how it registered with the Marines present.
"It really means a lot to know that people are thinking about us during the holidays," he said. "You've seen the look on his face; he was in complete shock."
His befuddlement aside, Richards was sure of one thing.
"Morale as a whole is definitely high, but this sends it through the roof."
Ellie