Marines shop for free, care of VFW

By: KELLY BRUSCH - Staff Writer | Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:56 PM PST ∞

CAMP PENDLETON ---- Around 61 Marines and their families walked away from the Del Mar Chapel on Camp Pendleton on Saturday with two week's worth of food and bags of toys for their children.

There was no particular reason for the giveaway, other than to say thank you. It's just the kind of thing you do for people during the holidays, said members of the Wildomar VFW, who organized the event.

Giving, and expecting nothing in return, is what it's all about, they said.

The Christmas giveaway, made possible by donations from dozens of local groups as well as VFW fund-raisers, is in its third year, said Ina Schieffer, a member of the VFW ladies auxiliary.

"This is what I strive for from the beginning of the year," she said. "All our fund-raisers go toward this event."

Members of the VFW prepare for the Christmas giveaway all year, collecting nonperishable food items, working with suppliers such as the DeJon dairy and Albertson's supermarket, and collecting items from the public, Schieffer said.

One group, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District bus drivers, buy gifts for the Marines instead of participating in a Christmas gift exchange, said driver Nancy Crouse. She said it didn't take much to convince her co-workers the donations were going to a worthy cause.

Doug Crouse, Nancy's husband and chairman of the VFW gift committee, said many of the Marines are young, between 18 and 24 years old, and have a husband or wife and several children.

"This is to let them know someone's thinking of them, and they're appreciated," he said.

Officials at Camp Pendleton chose the Marines and their families based on a variety of factors, including need.

At the chapel, a side room was covered with every size, shape and variety of children's toys, from the popular SpongeBob dolls to trucks with the "Monster Garage" logo on them, referring to the TV show of the same name. Items for babies, such as diapers, also were available.

In the sanctuary of the chapel, tables were set up along one wall that were piled high with canned and fresh foods and toiletries. Each family received a turkey and ham as well.

Follis Davison, a chaplain's assistant and chief petty officer in the Navy, said it was good to see the VFW go to such trouble to help out the troops and their loved ones.

"This is phenomenal for them to go to this effort for these needy families," he said. "With the war on terrorism, people are really starting to take note of our military families."

Platoon Sgt. Jose Rangel came back from Iraq about six months ago, having been flown out because of an injury, he said from his place in the food line in the sanctuary.

Rangel, 32, was on an expedition clearing bunkers in order to place explosives there. He was accidentally pushed, cracked his spine and injured three discs in his back, he said.

Because of his injury, he is back on the base with his family; his wife, Tammy, and three children, Shumani, 6, Tita, 4, and Leila, 1 1/2.

"I think it's great they're helping us out. It's a time when we're all broke," he joked.

Louis Roman, 21, is a sergeant with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force who expects to be redeployed soon after already having served one tour in Baghdad. The Marine also is a husband to Michele, and a father to their three children, Savannah, 8, Austin, 4, and Tony, just 7 months old.

Roman said he doesn't think he'll be called out before Christmas, but he' did spend a holiday overseas before, in Okinawa, Japan. Although there was a sense of camaraderie between the troops that night, nothing compares to being with your family, he said.

"This sure is appreciated," he said. "It kind of makes your holidays whole."

Contact staff writer Kelly Brusch at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or kbrusch@californian.com.