By Nathan Wright
Dana Point Times
The 5th Marine Regiment Support Group kicked off its holiday care package program this month to send candies, toiletries and other goodies to troops in the Middle East
Bill Manes remembers a time when he spent the holidays on a destroyer, a half a planet away from his friends and family. The 77-year-old Dana Point resident and former Navy Commander spoke Monday of his four-year tour in the Vietnam War, and the need to send care packages to the young men and women now serving overseas.
“I remember what it’s like to be overseas for the holidays,” he said at a Veteran’s Day event at Dana Point City Hall on November 10. “I think this is a very important activity we’re talking about today. We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who have served before and are serving today.”
Behind Manes stood before a wicker basket full to the brim with candies, toiletries and other gifts most would take for granted. These simple items are all available at grocery and drug stores for only a few dollars, but veterans told the audience that they’re worth their weight in gold to the 5th Marine Regiment now serving in Iraq.
The Baskets of Love program is now under way in Dana Point, an effort to send dozens of care packages overseas to the community’s adopted 5th Marine Regiment in time for Christmas. Baskets have been left at a dozen Dana Point businesses, churches and government buildings throughout the community. The Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group will collect the contents regularly, pack them up and ship them to Iraq.
“This whole campaign is to take real good care of our Marines in Camp Pendleton and their families as well,” said Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group President Pete Hammer. “We’ll send out them out as soon as we pick up all the goodies.”
Hammer hopes to send out 50 to 75 boxes via the United States Postal Service by December 15. The boxes cost $10.95 to mail to Iraq, and once received will be distributed by a command post to many Marines in remote locations who have little access to real work luxuries like skin cream and lip balm.
While each veteran spoke on the values of goodie bags, the campaign launch event was also a rare glimpse into the former lives of Dana Point citizens who decades ago fought for their country on foreign soil. Richard Dietmeier was introduced not only as a member of the South Coast Water District board, but as a colonel and Vietnam veteran. “We need to make sure these men and women never get the message that they aren’t being appreciated,” he said.
Bob Fowler served 15 months in Vietnam in the U.S. Army, and now volunteers full time to help other veterans receive benefits. “I’m very blessed to be part of this community, to be part of the [Veterans of Foreign Wars],” he said. “We forget that this is a volunteer army now. I was drafted.”
Retired Army Captain Wiley Hall didn’t speak, but Fowler made sure the crowd knew that he had flown 852 combat missions in Vietnam in a medevac helicopter. Afterward Hall spoke in an interview about his two or three daily missions for more than a year, his respect for the soldiers he pulled out of the jungle and even the care packages he got from home. “They were always well received by myself and all my buddies,” he said.
What did he get? “Anything I could cook on a hot plate,” he said. The Chef Boyardee pizzas and pancake mix were big hits, especially to flight crews rarely around for meals. “I weighed 145 pounds,” he said with a laugh.
5th Marines Honors Rotary Club, Support Group
The 5th Marine Regiment based out of Camp Pendleton honored the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club on October 29 with a certificate of appreciation and a United States flag flown over Fallujah, Iraq in recognition of the club’s assistance to the troops at home and fighting on foreign soil. The club has been an active participant with the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group, sending dozens of care packages to troops and raising more than $17,000 to give to the regiment.
Also honored were Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group Director Terry Rifkin and President Pete Hammer.
WHAT’S NEEDED AND DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
The Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group released a list of needs and drop-off locations for their holiday goodie bags for Marines serving overseas.
What’s needed: toothpaste and brushes, unscented face wipes, anti-bacterial soap, lip balm, Q-tips, deodorant, skin cream, disposable razors, shaving cream, sun screen, hand sanitizer, foot powder and cream, granola bars, protein bars, dried fruit, trail mix, jelly beans, beef jerky, Emergen-C packs, hot chocolate packs, snack packs, ground coffee, music CDs, DVDs, playing cards, AA batteries, zip lock bags, towels, wash cloths, white tactical socks and more. Call 949.378.7984 for more info.
Drop-Off Locations
Dana Point City Hall
33282 Golden Lantern
Harbor Grill Restaurant
34499 Golden Lantern
Cannon’s Seafood Grill
34344 Green Lantern
Jack’s Restaurant
24462 Del Prado
Beacon Printing
24681 La Plaza #125
Dana Point Jewelers
24845 Del Prado
South Shores Baptist Church
32712 Crown Valley Parkway
Capistrano Valley Church
32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano
Lantern Bay Realty
34179 Golden Lantern # 103
Wells Fargo Bank
24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive
American Horse Products
31896 Plaza Drive #C4, San Juan Capistrano
Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
24681 La Plaza #115
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