Operation: MOM
on Mother’s Day
By : Linda Sandsmark : 5/6/08
Longtime Castro Valley resident Chris “C.J.” Newell-Strodtbeck won’t be home with his mom this Mother’s Day, but he sent something precious in his place.
The young Airman First Class recently shipped home an American flag that flew over Camp Bucca where he is station in Iraq, as a gift for the citizens of Castro Valley.
His parents, Imagene and Brian, will carry the flag and his picture in Saturday’s Rowell Ranch Parade in his honor.
“I’d rather he be home, of course,” says Imagene. “But with the words that he’s expressed I can’t think of any more wonderful gift than the dedication of a young person serving in the military, because they truly are defending our freedom. I am just so in awe of these yough people who are leaving the comforts of their lives on behalf of us.”
C.J. is with the Air Force Expeditionary Security Forces. His mother says the last year has been full of milestones for her family. On Sept. 1, 2007, C.J. married his girlfriend Melissa. The next day he turned 22, and five days later he received his deployment orders. He entered combat training and was in Iraq by December.
But he didn’t forget Castro Valley, where he attended Proctor Elementary School, was a charter member of Creekside Middle School, and attended Castro Valley High until 2003. Now on active duty in Iraq, C.J. discovered that he could buy one of the American flags that flew over his camp. He bought one and shipped it home.
“He bought it specifically for the citizens of Castro Valley,” says Imagene. “It’s the first place he thought of. It will be presented at the Rowell Ranch Parade, and on July 12 will also be displayed at an A’s game.”
At a recent meeting of Operation: MOM (a support group for military families) in Castro Valley, Imagene added that anyone with a loved one in the military is invited to walk with her in the parade on Saturday.
“It would be cool if all the military families in Castro Valley brought an enlarged photo of their service member and walked behind the color guard at the Rowell Ranch Parade,” she says.
She adds that despite some anti-war sentiment, people do treat her son respectfully when he is in uniform. On a civilian plane flight C.J. actually received an unexpected standing ovation, and strangers even bought his lunch when he was shopping at Stoneridge Mall. Imagene is grateful for this support.
“I end my letters to him with ‘May God bless you, and may God bless America’,” says Imagene. Still, holidays can be tough for military families. “It’s always sad for moms on Mother’s Day when their sons and daughters are overseas,” says Linda Little, who is a part-time counselor at Castro Valley High School.
Little’s only child Trevor (also a Castro Valley High graduate) is a sergeant in the Army. Fortunately, Trevor is stationed in Colorado through June, when his five years of active duty will be complete. His service has included two stints in the Middle East. “It’s been four years since I’ve seen him on Mother’s Day.
Maybe I’ll get to meet him in Las Vegas this year, but we’re not sure yet,” says Little. She and Trevor are looking forward to the next stage of his life, which hopefully includes studying music in college.
Operation: MOM’s secretary, Janice Becerra-Scola, has been through the “military mom” experience twice. One son has finished his military service, and another, Lance Corporal Tomas Becerra, is still active in the Marines.
Through a stroke of good luck, Tomas is now stationed in Hawaii following his tour of duty in Iraq. Janice says she’s grateful to know her son is stateside this Mother’s Day but remembers vividly the times he was deployed overseas. “It’s hard any time. It’s not so much just Mother’s Day,” says Janice.
She recalled wanting to skip a Christmas party when her son was on active duty. “It just didn’t feel right celebrating. It’s hard to celebrate when they’re doing what they’re doing so far away,” she says. “When they’re deployed, you’re so scared and so proud at the same time.”
Though she considers Tomas’ assignment in Hawaii a blessing, Janice was also impressed with the communication capabilities in some areas of Iraq. Her son’s worksite was actually inside Saddam Hussein’s former palace within the Green Zone.
“They had access to what they called ‘morale phones’ there, and were able to call home once a week,” she says. The weekly calls helped alleviate much of the stress she felt during that time. It’s also helped her to talk with other mothers in the group who experience the same things.
Operation: MOM provides a local support network for military families. The group sends care packages (with items such as beef jerky, packets of trail mix, gummi snacks, insect repellant, vitamins, toothbrushes, floss, soap, etc.) to active members of all branches of the military.
Donation drop-off points include Pete’s Hardware, 2569 Castro Valley Blvd., and Allstate Insurance, 3034 Grove Way, Castro Valley.
They also raise funds to pay for special needs that arise from military deployment. As a fund-raiser, the group will hold its Fourth Annual Golf Tournament Fri. June 27 at Dublin Ranch Golf Course. Included is a $10,000 hole-in-one contest on a designated hole, BBQ lunch, tee prizes and raffle.
Tax-deductible entry fee is $150, $100 for active military. Call Margaret Parades (582-1424) or Janice Becerra-Scola (917-5505) for information.
Military families and others who support the troops are welcome at Operation: MOM’s monthly meetings, which are held 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Valley Baptist Church, 19835 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley. Call Dotty Selmeczki at 909-2714 or Kathy Moudy at 861-6662 for more information.
Packages from Home!
By : Robert Souza : 8/5/08
Two hundred gift packages were sent to Marines stationed at Camp Fallujah in Iraq last month, courtesy of Castro Valley’s Operation: MOM and San Ramon Eagle Scout David Homan.
“I was looking for a food charity for my Eagle project and my dad found Operation: MOM’s Website,” said Homan, a San Ramon High School senior. “I went to one of their meetings and asked how I could help out.”
Kathy Moudy of Operation: MOM recently received an email from USMC Unit Commander Captain Shaun W. Doheney, who sent pictures of members of his unit at Camp Fallujah, opening the packages with smiles on their faces.
“We are very appreciative of the wonderful generosity of David and Operation: MOM,” Capt. Doheney said.
Homan said the packages contained food and hygiene products, and each had a music CD, a very popular item with the sons and daughters overseas.
Formed shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by parents from Castro Valley and Antioch, Operation: MOM was organized to support both troops abroad and their stateside parents.
“David did it all, we only helped him as a resource to guide him on the project,” said Moudy who, like Homan, was surprised to receive photos from Iraq. “Its good to see a smile on their faces.”
Moudy said that with more deployments to Afghanistan and the recent surge in Iraq, many more sons and daughters are going off to serve. “Some of the faces in the pictures we get can be our child or spouse, so it’s really rewarding to put a face to the package.”
Homan told the Forum he received a very special gift from Iraq: a folded American flag. “It was amazing. When I first saw it, I got the chills,” he said.
Operation: MOM meets once a month at Valley Baptist Church located at 19835 Lake Chabot Road. For more information on Operation MOM, log on to www.operationmom.org, or call 909-2714.
