Sun Adopts New Platoon
By Tim Anderson
As US troops rotate in and out of combat zones in Afghanistan, so too the platoons supported by Sun Harley and the Thornton H.O.G. chapter have been rotating.
After adopting a unit from the 1-40 CAV (ABN) out of Fort Richardson, Alaska, while they were in Afghanistan for much of the past year, and then taking platoons from the 12th Infantry, 4th ID from Ft. Carson, and the 6th Infantry, 1st Armor from Ft. Bliss, Texas, during the tail end of their deployments, the kids at Sun have a new assignment. They’ve adopted a platoon from the New Hampshire National Guard.
And these guys are out in the shit.
The 36-man platoon is stationed in a very remote part of Afghanistan—COP (Combat Operations Post) Zormat. Zormat is a spartan post with limited access to running water, limited resources and slow mail delivery. Once a week showers are as good as it gets, and water is generally heated by microwave ovens, coffeemakers and electric kettles.
While Zormat sounds rough, the platoon rotates three-week duty at an even more remote outpost that amounts to little more than camping out in a combat zone.
“Our thing is to pick guys who are out in the boondocks,” said CCT HOG Director Deanna Thompson. “If they’re from Ft. Carson or are local that’s great, but we want the guys who re out in the remote areas and don’t have much of anything. If our little boxes we send over help them and boost their spirits, that’s great.”
These soldiers have no access to a PX or any other source of picking up items that may make things a little easier or better for them. Currently, Sun is shipping about 20 parcels per month to Zormat, and any assistance you can offer in the form of donations to ship to these troops is welcomed.
These soldiers have requested various camping supplies to help out at the remote location, as well as some of the items you might expect to send to troops. Specifically, some of the things they’ve requested include: special requests for tools assorted nails/screws/hooks, tarps, bungee cords, tent pegs, tent cord, clothes line/clothes pins, and camp towels. Also: wet wipes, bath-size wipes (heavy duty bath style work best), Arm & Hammer foot powder, shaving cream, toothpaste, tooth brushes, razors, no-sweat sunscreen, lip balm and non-aerosol insect repellent. Candy is always a treat, raisins, nuts, granola bars, Chef-Boyardee type foods (pop tops), EZ-Mac or anything they can cook on a fire, healthy snacks, protein/granola bars, canned fruits, Velveeta cheese (travels well inside plastic containers), crackers, beef summer sausage, plastic cutlery, hot chocolate, tea, ground coffee, individual packets of creamer/sugar. Clothing items include Army green, black or brown boot socks. Just about anything to help keep the soldier’s morale up, like support mail, board games, magazines, and stationery are welcome.
A donation barrel is set up right next to the receptionist desk at Sun Harley-Davidson, so bring any donations there, and Sun will make sure everything gets mailed out promptly.
Make no mistake; these packages are a valuable commodity. Not only do the troops appreciate the good shipped to them, but they have been used in perhaps unanticipated ways.
Recently, SGT Joe Williams, who was with Sun’s original platoon from the 1-40 CAV called Sun from Alaska to say thanks. He was very grateful for the support for he and his men while they were in Afghanistan. SGT Williams said the small individually wrapped candies were among the best items. Soldiers passed them out to the locals, creating a lot of good will. In fact, he said, Jolly Ranchers sent over actually saved their lives. Troopers were on patrol, passing through a village they went through frequently, and the children there always came out looking eagerly for some candy. One day, some kids came out in the street, stopped the trucks and told them that there was an IED up ahead in the road! They stopped just 75 meters from the bomb. SGT Williams was in the lead vehicle. He said that without the support packages they would never have had enough goodies to pass around, and this time it really paid off.
And the people making donations can really feel good about that.
“I believe this is something we’ll keep doing. The HOG chapter really believes in this, and we really like doing it. And Sun has been great with all the support they give us on this. It’s not much, but if doing this make our troops happy and let’s them know we appreciate them, then we’re going to keep doing it.”
