For a platoon at Camp Warhorse in Baquba, Iraq, the holidays might be a bit cheerier thanks to a connection forged between a group of Hamilton students and a Physical Plant employee who is currently serving there. Horticultural Grounds Worker John Gates and his platoon of some 40 men will be the recipients of care packages collected and sent by students at Hamilton. A new student organization, Hamilton College Supports the Troops (HCSTT), was formed in November to gather care packages to American troops serving abroad.
Tamar Nobel '08 originally contacted Americans Supporting Americans (ASA), an organization that connects cities and schools with units to "foster" and "adopt." She said that after she sent out an all-campus e-mail about the collection effort she received a response from Grounds Services Manager Don Croft, who notified her about Sgt. Gates. "Through him, I contacted Sgt. Gates in regard to fostering his unit specifically," Nobel said. "The fact that this drive will benefit a member of the Hamilton community makes it a bit more personal, since it is a way to show appreciation and support for one of our own," she added. The other officers of HCSTT include Caroline Greenberg '11, Mackenzie Pelletier '10 and Caitlin McGilley '08.
The students are holding a campus-wide collection of care package items that will take place on Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 4-5, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Beinecke. HCSTT is seeking donations of magazines (recent or new), personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, eye drops, chapstick, soap, telephone cards, pre-packaged non-perishable snacks or candy, DVDs, and free time materials such as books, puzzles, playing cards and board games.
"Regardless of people's opinions regarding the war itself, supporting our peers serving abroad is a cause that everyone can believe in," Nobel said. "I've gotten a very positive response to the e-mails I have sent about this drive, expressing interest and support in this cause. I think people in our community want to do something to show support for the troops, but previously may not have had an avenue through which to do so."
Gates, in an e-mail from Iraq, described his experience there. "My company is located in Balad, Iraq at LSA Anaconda, but my platoon (a smaller piece of the company of about 30-40 men) is located in Camp Warhorse Baquba, Iraq. We are working as a heavy engineer company, but we are trained as combat engineers. Forward Operating Base Warhorse is much smaller, we live in tents, the roads are dirt, but it has its bonuses. It has a M.A.S.H. feeling to it."
Gates has been in the Army Reserves for more than seven years and will be in Iraq for about nine months. He said his work experience at Hamilton has provided good experience for his work in Iraq. "I work with heavy equipment at Hamilton, and this equipment is what most of our mission revolves around here," Gates explained. "I also do preventative maintenance on equipment 'on the Hill.' This is something we must do over here daily to ensure that our equipment does not fail us in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.
Gates expressed his appreciation to the students and members of the Hamilton community who are contributing to the care package collection. "I know many students at Hamilton are upset with the war, the current state of affairs and the administration. I want them to know that many people over here have the same opinions. It fills me with great joy when I realize they can look past this and help support the soldiers who are following orders," Gates wrote. "On behalf of the solders of the 680th Engineer Company I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart."
Tamar Nobel '08 originally contacted Americans Supporting Americans (ASA), an organization that connects cities and schools with units to "foster" and "adopt." She said that after she sent out an all-campus e-mail about the collection effort she received a response from Grounds Services Manager Don Croft, who notified her about Sgt. Gates. "Through him, I contacted Sgt. Gates in regard to fostering his unit specifically," Nobel said. "The fact that this drive will benefit a member of the Hamilton community makes it a bit more personal, since it is a way to show appreciation and support for one of our own," she added. The other officers of HCSTT include Caroline Greenberg '11, Mackenzie Pelletier '10 and Caitlin McGilley '08.
The students are holding a campus-wide collection of care package items that will take place on Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 4-5, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Beinecke. HCSTT is seeking donations of magazines (recent or new), personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, eye drops, chapstick, soap, telephone cards, pre-packaged non-perishable snacks or candy, DVDs, and free time materials such as books, puzzles, playing cards and board games.
"Regardless of people's opinions regarding the war itself, supporting our peers serving abroad is a cause that everyone can believe in," Nobel said. "I've gotten a very positive response to the e-mails I have sent about this drive, expressing interest and support in this cause. I think people in our community want to do something to show support for the troops, but previously may not have had an avenue through which to do so."
Gates, in an e-mail from Iraq, described his experience there. "My company is located in Balad, Iraq at LSA Anaconda, but my platoon (a smaller piece of the company of about 30-40 men) is located in Camp Warhorse Baquba, Iraq. We are working as a heavy engineer company, but we are trained as combat engineers. Forward Operating Base Warhorse is much smaller, we live in tents, the roads are dirt, but it has its bonuses. It has a M.A.S.H. feeling to it."
Gates has been in the Army Reserves for more than seven years and will be in Iraq for about nine months. He said his work experience at Hamilton has provided good experience for his work in Iraq. "I work with heavy equipment at Hamilton, and this equipment is what most of our mission revolves around here," Gates explained. "I also do preventative maintenance on equipment 'on the Hill.' This is something we must do over here daily to ensure that our equipment does not fail us in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.
Gates expressed his appreciation to the students and members of the Hamilton community who are contributing to the care package collection. "I know many students at Hamilton are upset with the war, the current state of affairs and the administration. I want them to know that many people over here have the same opinions. It fills me with great joy when I realize they can look past this and help support the soldiers who are following orders," Gates wrote. "On behalf of the solders of the 680th Engineer Company I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart."
