Brooke Lee tries not to think about the 120-degree heat and life-threatening conditions her husband battles each day in Afghanistan.
The 28-year-old Rock Spring, Ga., resident is one of many wives, mothers and others who have a loved one deployed overseas with the U.S. Army Reserve 212th Transportation Company. The unit — made up of soldiers from Chattanooga, Nashville and as far away as New Jersey — left in April for a yearlong deployment.
Saturday, Mrs. Lee joined other family members and supporters of the 212th at Rossville Baptist Tabernacle to assemble care packages for the 160 to 170 soldiers in Afghanistan.
“I’m really happy that we can take part in helping all the guys, not just my husband,” she said. “Just to help them with little things they need that we take for granted around here. … It’s amazing the things they ask for that we just don’t even think about, like (lip balm).”
Shannon Asher, president of the 212th Family Readiness Group, said this was the first of three large-scale shipments the group will send to the unit.
The packages are expected to reach the soldiers within 10 days, arriving in time for them to celebrate July 4, she said. Other shipments will be sent out in September or October, and in December for Christmas.
The group began collecting care package items as soon as the unit deployed. Several local organizations and businesses, including the Northwest Georgia Bank in Ringgold, Ga., are assisting in the effort.
Items such as baby wipes, individually packaged snacks, and magazines and newspapers were sent along with small American flags and hand-drawn Father’s Day cards from many of the men’s children. There were also a few fun items tossed in among the goodies, said Mrs. Asher, whose husband is in the 212th but did not deploy with the unit.
“This might sound silly, but the troops, they often ask for entertainment items — DVD’s, CD’s, footballs, Frisbees,” she said. “Just things they can do when they have their downtime.”
Marilyn Fitzpatrick said she can imagine the smile on her son’s face when he receives the package. She said she talks to her son, Pfc. James Fitzpatrick, as much as she can, but “it’s not enough.”
“I’m ready for them all to come home,” she said. “I’m ready for this thing to be over with and every one of them to come home.”