TMCnet News
Members of AFRICOM, EUCOM spread holiday cheerDec 20, 2012 (Stars and Stripes - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- STUTTGART, Germany -- Servicemembers with U.S. Africa Command and U.S. European Command were in the holiday spirit Thursday, bringing gifts at separate events to members of the Warrior Transition Unit and children in Stuttgart. Col. Sean Broderick, director of AFRICOM's Command Control Communications Computers Systems section, and Chief Master Sgt. Jack Johnson Jr., command senior enlisted leader of AFRICOM, delivered gift bags to the WTU's 13 members. The bags contained items such as iTunes gift cards, iPod Shuffles, books, toiletries, clothing, pastries and candy. The Stuttgart branch of the WTU opened in September and Broderick is looking forward to continuing his unit's support of the program and its members. "We're not trying to be a full supply depot," Broderick said of the donations. "But when we can figure out what things we can bring them and contribute to them that will make a material difference to them, we want to be providing those items and a contact for them. The goal is to add positive contributions to their experience while they're here." Later Thursday, at Stuttgart's city hall, servicemembers with EUCOM handed out toys donated by residents of Patch and Kelley Barracks to children of foster and group homes, many of whom are immigrants and refugees living in Germany. The children's written gift wishes were hung on "Wishmas" trees in buildings on Patch and Kelley for local community members to fulfill as part of the 2012 Wishmas Toy Drive. Vice Adm. Charles Martoglio, deputy commander of EUCOM, and Stuttgart Lord Mayor Wolfgang Schuster joined in the distribution of gifts. "It's an event where the U.S. military community reaches out to the local community to help the children, to make their Christmas a little bit more special," Martoglio said. [email protected] ___ (c)2012 the Stars and Stripes Visit the Stars and Stripes at www.stripes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |