thedrifter
01-21-08, 09:32 AM
Posted January 21, 2008
Oshkosh man sends Beanie Babies to Iraq
Son will distribute animals to children
By Doug Zellmer
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
OSHKOSH — Mike Johnson wanted to do something when he heard how an Iraqi girl holding a Beanie Baby toy saved soldiers from a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Johnson, whose son, Chris, serves with the Marine Corps Baker Company Weapons Platoon in Iraq, is sending about 150 Beanie Babies over to his son's unit for distribution to children in Iraq. It's his say of saying "thank you" for saving the lives of soldiers and he hopes the shipment of Beanie Babies will save more soldiers in the future.
"I want to get them shipped as soon as possible," said Johnson, who lives in Oshkosh.
Johnson's interest in the Beanie Baby story came after he talked with Mark Lorge, who teaches wood manufacturing technology at the Fox Valley Technical College Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh.
Lorge said he found out about the Iraqi girl's heroics from Bob Williams of Wesley Chapel, Fla., who has a company that makes an industrial filter bag for the woodworking industry.
Lorge said when troops did security sweeps they would give out gifts and treats, such as Beanie Babies or candy.
"There was little girl in the middle of the road holding onto a Beanie Baby and she wouldn't move," he said. "There was a Humvee full of Marines in full battle gear and she pointed to a spot in the road and it was an IED that they would have gone over."
Johnson said he told his son the story of the little girl and the Beanie Baby and that he would send some of the Beanie Babies to the Marine unit for distribution to Iraqi children.
"I was very much so taken by the story on what a Beanie Baby can accomplish," Johnson said. "It definitely did something to a little girl that day stopping the convoy."
Johnson said he's collected Beanie Babies since 1993 and many in his collection are being donated to his son's unit.
"One Beanie Baby saved soldiers that day and they could save soldiers the next time, too," he said. "The kids will remember where they got them from."
Johnson said he had planned to someday give his Beanie Baby collection to his granddaughter, Alexis, but she didn't mind having them sent overseas to the Iraqi children.
"We'll still keep a few for her," Johnson said.
Doug Zellmer writes for the Oshkosh Northwestern.
Ellie
Oshkosh man sends Beanie Babies to Iraq
Son will distribute animals to children
By Doug Zellmer
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
OSHKOSH — Mike Johnson wanted to do something when he heard how an Iraqi girl holding a Beanie Baby toy saved soldiers from a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Johnson, whose son, Chris, serves with the Marine Corps Baker Company Weapons Platoon in Iraq, is sending about 150 Beanie Babies over to his son's unit for distribution to children in Iraq. It's his say of saying "thank you" for saving the lives of soldiers and he hopes the shipment of Beanie Babies will save more soldiers in the future.
"I want to get them shipped as soon as possible," said Johnson, who lives in Oshkosh.
Johnson's interest in the Beanie Baby story came after he talked with Mark Lorge, who teaches wood manufacturing technology at the Fox Valley Technical College Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh.
Lorge said he found out about the Iraqi girl's heroics from Bob Williams of Wesley Chapel, Fla., who has a company that makes an industrial filter bag for the woodworking industry.
Lorge said when troops did security sweeps they would give out gifts and treats, such as Beanie Babies or candy.
"There was little girl in the middle of the road holding onto a Beanie Baby and she wouldn't move," he said. "There was a Humvee full of Marines in full battle gear and she pointed to a spot in the road and it was an IED that they would have gone over."
Johnson said he told his son the story of the little girl and the Beanie Baby and that he would send some of the Beanie Babies to the Marine unit for distribution to Iraqi children.
"I was very much so taken by the story on what a Beanie Baby can accomplish," Johnson said. "It definitely did something to a little girl that day stopping the convoy."
Johnson said he's collected Beanie Babies since 1993 and many in his collection are being donated to his son's unit.
"One Beanie Baby saved soldiers that day and they could save soldiers the next time, too," he said. "The kids will remember where they got them from."
Johnson said he had planned to someday give his Beanie Baby collection to his granddaughter, Alexis, but she didn't mind having them sent overseas to the Iraqi children.
"We'll still keep a few for her," Johnson said.
Doug Zellmer writes for the Oshkosh Northwestern.
Ellie