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For troops, reminders of home

By ANDREW SKERRITT
Published August 6, 2006

A spirit of gratitude filled every line of the one-page letter.

"Everyone has a craving. Mine is licorice. Ben's is nuts. Chris loves anything loaded with sugar. Damien's favorite is beef jerky," wrote Marine Corps Sgt. Tiernan Corrigan. "Sounds silly coming from grown men, but when you can't reach into the kitchen cupboard or run down to Publix, cravings almost become addictions.

"Being so far from home in a very unfamiliar culture wise and hostile environment, to see a familiar name like Maxwell House, Chef Boyardee or StarKist makes us realize how very fortunate we are and why we are here. Choices, rights and responsibilities."

In May, Corrigan wrote home to thank the Community Service Council of West Pasco for the snacks and personal items that help make the dust and danger of Iraq bearable for him and fellow Marines.

Missing the comforts of home could make even a leatherneck sound like a 12-year-old away at summer camp.

Corrigan is the son of Linda Clements, social service director at Tarpon Bayou in Tarpon Springs. She's also among the members who are coordinating Operation Shoe Box for the Community Services Council of West Pasco.

Last year, the group shipped about 80 individual packages. Clements and fellow group members are collecting packages to ship to Iraq and Afghanistan in October so the men and women in uniform can receive them in time for Thanksgiving. Among the items requested are instant coffee, instant soup, coffee creamers, Girl Scout cookies, crossword puzzles, board games, canned food, nose spray, tissues, batteries, disposable cameras, individual packets of Tylenol, socks, bagged hard candy, no-name brand black sunglasses and freezer bags.

With three sons in the Marines, Clements found Operation Shoe Box to be a perfect fit.

Tiernan, 32, is Clements' second son. Bryan, 33, is the oldest and Gaven, 30, the baby. All three have served in combat in the Middle East.

In his care packages, Tiernan loved homemade cookies and anything without nuts. He's an avid fisherman; he wanted fishing magazines.

For a laugh, Clements sent him a GI Joe battery-operated toothbrush. He loved it and so did all the other guys from his Marine Corps unit.

One casualty of the war is that Clements doesn't have to send Tiernan's packages to Iraq anymore.

On Father's Day, he was injured outside Camp Liberty in Iraq. He called his mother with the news.

He suffered a busted ear drum and damaged his knee and back. He has been in rehab at Bethesda Navy Hospital in Maryland.

But just because none of her sons are overseas right now, Clements won't forget those still stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her ties to those in uniform go way back. Generations of men in her family have fought for the United States. She served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, when soldiers were more reviled than respected.

Clements and her Community Service Council colleagues understand that after the turmoil and division caused by the Vietnam War, Americans have learned how to differentiate between a war they oppose and troops they support.

"People have a very different attitude," she said.

That difference is obvious with each package sent through Operation Shoe Box.

Donations for Operation Shoe Box can be dropped off at Edward Jones Investments, 4761 U.S. 19, New Port Richey (call Kam at (727) 817-1783); Morgan Funeral Home, 6025 Trouble Creek, New Port Richey (call Susan at (727) 847-3999); Prudential Tropical Realty, 9108 U.S 19, Port Richey (call Victoria at (727) 849-9400); Tarpon Bayou Center, 515 Chesapeake Drive, Tarpon Springs (call Linda Clements at (727) 934-4629); Compass Bank, 401 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill (call Melissa at (352) 686-8770); Suncoast Motorcycle, 1300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Brooksville. Checks to pay for postage are also welcomed.

Andrew Skerritt can be reached at (813) 909-4602 or toll-free at 1-800-333 7505, ext. 4602. His e-mail address is askerritt@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 20:54:52]