Bring our Troops home for Christmas

[wordsmythe]

CJOnline - Send donations adjutant general's office

Send donations adjutant general's office

The Capital-Journal
Published Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Donations to bring 430 Kansas National Guard members home from training in Texas for the holidays can be mailed to:
Kansas National Guard Foundation
2800 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, Kan. 66611

Donors should put on the check’s memo line that the donation is for the 161st Field Artillery.

Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, based in Wichita and south-central Kansas, are at Fort Bliss to finish training for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.

They will have Dec. 23 through Jan. 2 off, but federal regulations prevent the Kansas National Guard from using any of its own money to bring the troops home for Christmas.

[Army_of_One]

OK..I KNOW i'm going to SOUND like the bad guy here but I don't understand this scenario. These National Guard Soldiers are at Fort Hood, TX on active duty right? I know a LOT of active duty soldiers that go home for Christmas and pay their own way home. We are not talking a $2000.00 ticket to fly half way around the world here...just a bus ticket from Killean, TX. The NG guys get paid active duty pay and all of the benefits. What makes them different than any other soldier in the Army that goes home at Christmas? If there is an extenuating circumstance I will be glad to donate.

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

OK..I KNOW i'm going to SOUND like the bad guy here but I don't understand this scenario. These National Guard Soldiers are at Fort Hood, TX on active duty right? I know a LOT of active duty soldiers that go home for Christmas and pay their own way home. We are not talking a $2000.00 ticket to fly half way around the world here...just a bus ticket from Killean, TX. The NG guys get paid active duty pay and all of the benefits. What makes them different than any other soldier in the Army that goes home at Christmas? If there is an extenuating circumstance I will be glad to donate.

yeah save that money for the next turkey drive

[Highwayman]

From last week;

Greetings from the 1-161

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello:
I am joining in to say hello but to see some assistance for the 1-161 FA. We have 436 soldiers from over 400 miles in the State of Kansas. We are seeking donations in reponse of Operation Home for the Holidays. I ask that you read the letter below and support our troops in coming home for the holidays. My husband is the commander of the 1-161 FA and it is key that we get all the soliders home from Bliss prior to their deployment. Our deadline to raise the funds for the Fuel only will be December 15, 2007.
You may also go to NGAKS.ORG – National Guard Association of Kansas,,

Thank you for supporting our troops!

161st Field Artillery Regimental Association

“Taking Care of Our Own”

Dear Patriots:

The 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery Regiment will be mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom on November 24, 2007 and report to Ft Bliss, TX on November 25, 2007. The Soldiers will be allowed to take block leave from December 23 through January 2, 2008. Our Soldiers are afforded the opportunity to return home to spend the Holidays with their families. The trip from Texas back to Kansas will be at the Soldiers’ expense. This will place a financial burden on many of our Soldiers.

The Regiment has established a fund for monetary donations to assist our Soldiers in getting home for the holidays. Current price quotes indicate the cost to each Soldier will be $120 for a round trip bus seat. Soldiers will receive financial assistance on a need basis in order to make sure that all Soldiers are able to leave Ft Bliss – if desired.

I ask for your assistance in supporting our Citizen Soldiers and their families who are already making enormous sacrifices for our nation. I assure you this trip will be as rewarding for the Soldiers as it is for those who contribute.

Donations may be made to:

161st Field Artillery Regimental Association
P.O. Box 19031
Topeka, KS 66619

Please call (785) 862-1066 if you have questions.

Thank you for your support of these great Americans.

Sincerely,

COL (Retired) Butch Dowse
Association Chairman

Greetings from the 1-161

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by wordsmythe

yeah save that money for the next turkey drive

You are a funny guy Wordy but I still don't understand why they are different than any other soldier on active duty that has to pay their own way home. My brother in law came home before thanksgiving because he is headed to Iraq next week and he paid his own round trip ticket to here from Hawaii.

[SGT T.]

I know its mean and cold hearted, but I'm with AOO on this one. I had to shell out when I was a young PVT in basic training to get home for the holidays, nothing like a bus ride from South Carolina to Kansas. 3 days each way, and only half a months pay for a young E-1 in 1994. If I could do it then, they can do it now. I have a VERY hard time buying that they can't get a "blue bird" bus to go down and get them. I know the NG has a few of them hanging around.

[wordsmythe]

See above.

Do what YOU think is best and everyone else should as well.

If you don't want to help then don't.

AS far as I'm concerned no member of the millitary should have to pay a cent to get home on leave.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by wordsmythe

See above.

Do what YOU think is best and everyone else should as well.

If you don't want to help then don't.

AS far as I'm concerned no member of the millitary should have to pay a cent to get home on leave.

REALLY? Here's the deal. We get 30 days leave (paid vacation I like to call it) a year. As a recruiter I usually try to take 6 - 7 days a quarter. (doesn't always work out because I have 60 days saved up). When I go on leave sometimes I go home to see the family, sometimes I go on vacation to whereever. Why should it be the military's responsibility to send people all over the country on their time off?
Imagine if SGT BIGDADDY was stationed in New York and took leave to go to his home in Hawaii four times a year. Do you think the military should foot the bill for that?

[booger]

ah, come on youse peoples, $60.00 will not hurt ya. You know that a NG soldier gets yanked out of the civilian sector, with little notice. Often the family is not ready for the culture and monies shock. Light'n up their just as much of a soldier as active duty, when they get there and get shot or blown up. Get your dam billfold out, and get-r-done. I have already sent my check. Charge on, Army Strong.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by booger

ah, come on youse peoples, $60.00 will not hurt ya. You know that a NG soldier gets yanked out of the civilian sector, with little notice. Often the family is not ready for the culture and monies shock. Light'n up their just as much of a soldier as active duty, when they get there and get shot or blown up. Get your dam billfold out, and get-r-done. I have already sent my check. Charge on, Army Strong.

I am not saying that they (NG's) are any less of a soldier than someone on active duty whether they are in Iraq or not. They don't get "yanked" out of the civilian sector either. They knew about their deployment months and months ahead of time and should have had time to prepare for it. I'll probably still help though.