OPERATION MOM
March 21, 2003
OPERATION: MOM
Supports Troops
by Anna Sanders Correspondent
In addition to supporting our military troops overseas, "Operation: MOM"
is helping families here on the home front.
Beth Chism of Oakley has a son, Jack, 22, who is a corporal in the Marines.
He was stationed in California up until recently and now Chism guesses he
is somewhere in the Middle East.
It's difficult not knowing where her son is, but she finds support and comfort
through the nonprofit group Operation: MOM.
"As a mother, it was my job to know where my children are and to keep
them safe," Chism said. '1 can't keep him safe if I don't know where
he is, that's part of the dilemma. "
Jack Chism, a 1998 Liberty High graduate, not only has left behind his mother,
but his wife and a 5-month-old baby girl, too.
Operation: MOM holds monthly meetings for spouses, parents, siblings and friends
of military personnel. The meetings allow them to share their thoughts and
concerns about their loved ones who are overseas defending out country.
"The first meeting was a relief that my feelings weren't so off the wall,"
Chism said. "Quite often when I hold his daughter, she looks so much
like him, the tears just well up. You need a shoulder, someone who understands
the emotions and feelings you are going through. I get support and I give
support to the other family members."
Chism said she has learned about situations that are considered normal for
military families, but can be disturbing if you are unaware of them.
"Shortly after deployment, you'll get a life insurance policy in the
mail." she said "If you're not told that, it could freak someone
out."
She also has discovered the difficulty with communicating with a loved one
in the military after deployment.
"she explained. "You may not hear from them, or where they are,
but that's normal."
In addition to the support the group offers family members, Operation: MOM
also takes care of our soldiers by providing "A Little Touch 'of Home"
care packages, which contain items possibly unavailable where they are stationed.
Chism said she has always sent her son care packages of cookies, and fun items
like wind-up toys, but he is often the only one in his unit to receive treats
from home. "Mail call is a big deal," she said. "There are
a lot of them that don't get any mail. The point is everybody is interested
in what Jack got".
Since February, Operation: MOM has sent more than 1,500 care packages to military
personnel that are distributed by either a Chaplin or Commander to those who
need them.
The group follows military restrictions regarding what can be sent. They make
shoe box size packages filled with goodies, such as beef jerky, sunflower
seeds, vitamins, word puzzles, dental floss, sunscreen, playing cards, cheese
and cracker packs, gum, hard candy, and hygiene products like sample size
shampoo, toothpaste, and Q-Tips. Phone cards are especially valuable for calling
home. "It costs them 10 cents for every minute that they talk from the
Middle East" Chism said.
The group is planning to put together more care packages soon and needs donations,
including boxes nd letters of support. The local group meets in Antioch on
the first Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For location, call Operation:
MOM at 706-1736 or visit www.operationmom.org.
"You're helping these people to know that they are cared about", said Beth. Donations for care packages can be dropped off at the Armed Forces Recruitment Center in Coutny East mall, 2642 "A" Sommersville Road, Suite 3, between noon and 4 p.m. Monday though Friday.
