1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY
A publication of the 2/138th FAR December 7, 2012
Volume 1, Issue 8
CPT’s Corner Wheelchair Revival
Happy Holidays! This is personally my Story and Photos by Capt. Daniel Van Horn, 2/138th PAO
favorite month on the calendar. The food
is great, everyone is a little nicer, and we
have our annual UK-UL basketball game to
look forward to. This month is especially
important as we take time to reflect on
what is really important in our lives. The holidays can be
difficult times for us and our families as we are separated by
thousands of miles. I encourage everyone to call home as
often as possible to wish their families well. I also want to
challenge everyone to take the extra time to “pick up your
buddy” who may not have much family back home. We are a
‘brotherhood of Kentuckians’, and because of that we should
take care of each other.
Lastly, everyone should be taking advantage of their down-
time to better themselves physically and mentally. We have
educational resources here on post, and if you are interested in CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Spc. Gabriel Wolney shakes hands with the Association
taking college classes I urge you to notify your leadership. A De Handicaps President Farid Abdillahi Elmi after a successful delivery of three repaired
tough job market will likely await us when we return, but you wheelchairs on Nov. 27, 2012.
have the opportunity here to improve your skills. Soldiers are CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI – “We can
great assets for businesses given our character and work ethic. fix that!” This isn’t the motto of Task Force
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa. I’m Longrifles maintenance section but it should be.
proud to serve with you! ~Capt. AaronVansickle
During a recent community assessment meeting,
1SG Thoughts Chaplain Mark Slaughter and Chaplain Assistant Sgt.
Thomas Mathews were introduced to Farah Abdillahi
Happy Holidays to all! This is my favorite
Elmi, president of the Association De Handicaps, The
time of year because it is the time I normally
association provides personal care, equipment, and
get to act like a kid and open presents with
my family. However this year is a little education for people with disabilities in downtown Djibouti
more difficult because we are not with our city. During a slideshowpresentation by the association
loved ones. Now more than ever, we need president, one picture stood out from the rest; a pile of
to be able to lean on each other to have a good holiday since rusting wheel chair parts rising six feet off the ground.
we will not be with our families this year. I challenge each “I was astonished at the number of useless wheelchairs
and every one of you to help your battle buddy who may not in the association’s compound, several could be restored
have much family to make sure their season is as special as
with minor repairs, although most needed major
yours.
work!” Slaughter said after witnessing the picture. “I
I want to commend everyone for their hard work, dedication, knew if we got those wheelchairs in the right hands, it
and for doing a great job so far. The 2/138th has always set wouldn’t be long before they were being used again.”
the standard. Continue doing the right thing no matter how
hard it might be. Slaughter knew the skilled men of the maintenance
Also, I want to challenge all of you to take advantage section would be the perfect fit for the job. After
of the opportunities that are available to you. There are a quick phone call coordinating the pickup of the
many activities to do with the MWR, as well as volunteer wheelchairs, everything was set in motion to make
opportunities. You can’t help but feeling good if you are life-altering impacts for many disabled Djiboutians.
helping others. Bottom line, stay occupied instead of staying
Mechanics Sgt. Charles Vanmeter, Sgt. Arthur
in your CLU all the time. There are plenty of resources and
activities for whatever you decide you want to do. Dunn, and Spc. Gabriel Wolney, received
Remember, do what right looks like! ~1SG Richard McDonald CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >

2. WEELCHAIR REVIVAL CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > >
Soldier to Soldier
their first batch of wheelchairs on Nov. 10th. • Any Soldier interested in participating in a shout-
“At first, all I saw was a pile of out should stop by the Public Affairs office located
scrap-metal. It wasn’t until we in building 150, Monday through Friday from 1300-
started digging around that we 1600. POC is Capt. Van Horn, ext. 4807.
found some usable parts” said • We are trying to reach 2,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook by
Vanmeter. He continued “After Christmas, make sure to invite your families and
assessing what we had, we began friends to ‘Like’ our page
the process of piecing together
one wheelchair at a time like a
• Don’t forget to contact your battery Admin NCO to
puzzle. When we didn’t have start your 96 hour pass process
a part we simply got creative.” • Soldiers who have pictures of training should send
them to their battery UPAHR for submission to PAO
Using items ranging from zip-
ties to sandbags, the Soldiers
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - A
local Djiboutian tries out her repaired
became expert scavengers,
picking parts from as many Chaplain
wheelchair at the Association De
as three broken wheelchairs
Handicaps in Djibouti City, Djibouti on
Nov. 27, 2012. to complete just one. Reflections
“It was overwhelming! Some of them looked Christmas is here again, back home the
like they had been through a war,” Dunn said stores are littered with decorations and
after receiving the first batch of wheelchairs. ongoing sales that enticing us to “BUY,
BUY, BUY!” From every direction we are encouraged to
In keeping with the Warrior Ethos the Soldiers “spend money we don’t have to impress those we don’t like.”
never quit despite the many obstacles, lack If you are like me it feels like the “holiday shopping season”
of parts, and their sweat soaked uniforms.
starts earlier every year, and this rush to acquire things has
After completing their mission, the Soldiers returned a truck- a numbing effect on the importance of Christmas.
load of fully functioning, cleaned, and working wheelchairs Unfortunately, this commercialism has come to define
from Camp Lemonnier to the gates of the Association De Christmas for many Americans.
Handicaps compound. Their hard work was rewarded with
warm smiles and handshakes from many greatful Djiboutians. Stores reinforce the message and promote the holiday
as one only enjoyed through the acquisition of “things.”
“The people were thrilled to see the life Advertisements bombard us with images of bountiful
restored back to these wheelchairs,” said Christmas scenes filled with beautiful packages surrounding
Wolney, after delivering the first load of chairs. a tree.
Task Force Longrifles will continue this great mission We are told that happiness will be realized with the receipt
throughout the deployment. This type of mission of this or that consumer product, and over 50 percent of
serves as one of the defining reasons we are here. Christmas shoppers will go further into debt, trying to
achieve this goal.
If you find yourself swept up in the rush of consumerism,
stop!
iPads will break, Uggs will go out of style. Take a moment
to remember that Christmas is about God’s gracious and
abundant gifts to humanity. The gifts of life, family and
friends, good food, music, worship, charity, mercy, grace,
and love. Discover the true satisfaction and contentment
not because you received th e latest, gadget but because you
have surrounded yourself with friends and family in a real
spirit of Christmas.
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Spc. Gabriel Wolney, a Task Force Longrifles Soldier, ~Chaplain Mark Slaughter
hands a repaired wheelchair to a local Djiboutian volunteer at the Association De Handicaps
in Djibouti City, Djibouti on Nov. 27, 2012.
Longrifles Weekly
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles Page 2