LONGRIFLEs WEEKLYA publication of the 2/138th FAR

Happy Holidays! This is personally my 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 taking college classes I urge you to notify your leadership. A tough job market will likely await us when we return, but you have the opportunity here to improve your skills. Soldiers are great assets for businesses given our character and work ethic. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa. I’m proud to serve with you! ~Capt. AaronVansickle

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI – “We can fix that!” This isn’t the motto of Task Force Longrifles maintenance section but it should be.

During a recent community assessment meeting, Chaplain Mark Slaughter and Chaplain Assistant Sgt. Thomas Mathews were introduced to Farah Abdillahi Elmi, president of the Association De Handicaps, The association provides personal care, equipment, and education for people with disabilities in downtown Djibouti city. During a slideshowpresentation by the association president, one picture stood out from the rest; a pile of rusting wheel chair parts rising six feet off the ground.

“I was astonished at the number of useless wheelchairs in the association’s compound, several could be restored with minor repairs, although most needed major work!” Slaughter said after witnessing the picture. “I knew if we got those wheelchairs in the right hands, it wouldn’t be long before they were being used again.”

Slaughter knew the skilled men of the maintenance section would be the perfect fit for the job. After a quick phone call coordinating the pickup of the wheelchairs, everything was set in motion to make life-altering impacts for many disabled Djiboutians.

Mechanics Sgt. Charles Vanmeter, Sgt. Arthur Dunn, and Spc. Gabriel Wolney, received

CPT’s Corner

Happy Holidays to all! This is my favorite time of year because it is the time I normally get to act like a kid and open presents with my family. However this year is a little more difficult because we are not with our loved ones. Now more than ever, we need

to be able to lean on each other to have a good holiday since we will not be with our families this year. I challenge each and every one of you to help your battle buddy who may not have much family to make sure their season is as special as yours.I want to commend everyone for their hard work, dedication, and for doing a great job so far. The 2/138th has always set the standard. Continue doing the right thing no matter how hard it might be.Also, I want to challenge all of you to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you. There are many activities to do with the MWR, as well as volunteer opportunities. You can’t help but feeling good if you are helping others. Bottom line, stay occupied instead of staying in your CLU all the time. There are plenty of resources and activities for whatever you decide you want to do.Remember, do what right looks like! ~1SG Richard McDonald

1SG Thoughts

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Wheelchair RevivalStory and Photos by Capt. Daniel Van Horn, 2/138th PAO

December 7, 2012Volume 1, Issue 8

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Spc. Gabriel Wolney shakes hands with the Association De Handicaps President Farid Abdillahi Elmi after a successful delivery of three repaired wheelchairs on Nov. 27, 2012.

Longrifles WeeklyPage 2

their first batch of wheelchairs on Nov. 10th.

“At first, all I saw was a pile of scrap-metal. It wasn’t until we started digging around that we found some usable parts” said Vanmeter. He continued “After assessing what we had, we began the process of piecing together one wheelchair at a time like a puzzle. When we didn’t have a part we simply got creative.”

Using items ranging from zip-ties to sandbags, the Soldiers became expert scavengers, picking parts from as many as three broken wheelchairs to complete just one.

“It was overwhelming! Some of them looked like they had been through a war,” Dunn said after receiving the first batch of wheelchairs.

In keeping with the Warrior Ethos the Soldiers never quit despite the many obstacles, lack of parts, and their sweat soaked uniforms.

After completing their mission, the Soldiers returned a truck-load of fully functioning, cleaned, and working wheelchairs from Camp Lemonnier to the gates of the Association De Handicaps compound. Their hard work was rewarded with warm smiles and handshakes from many greatful Djiboutians.

“The people were thrilled to see the life restored back to these wheelchairs,” said Wolney, after delivering the first load of chairs.

Task Force Longrifles will continue this great mission throughout the deployment. This type of mission serves as one of the defining reasons we are here.

Chaplain Reflections

Christmas is here again, back home the stores are littered with decorations and ongoing sales that enticing us to “BUY,

BUY, BUY!” From every direction we are encouraged to “spend money we don’t have to impress those we don’t like.” If you are like me it feels like the “holiday shopping season” starts earlier every year, and this rush to acquire things has a numbing effect on the importance of Christmas. Unfortunately, this commercialism has come to define Christmas for many Americans.Stores reinforce the message and promote the holiday as one only enjoyed through the acquisition of “things.” Advertisements bombard us with images of bountiful Christmas scenes filled with beautiful packages surrounding a tree.We are told that happiness will be realized with the receipt of this or that consumer product, and over 50 percent of 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. ~Chaplain Mark Slaughter

WEELCHAIR REVIVAL CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > > Soldier to Soldier • Any Soldier interested in participating in a shout-

out should stop by the Public Affairs office located in building 150, Monday through Friday from 1300-1600. POC is Capt. Van Horn, ext. 4807.

• We are trying to reach 2,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook by Christmas, make sure to invite your families and friends to ‘Like’ our page

• Don’t forget to contact your battery Admin NCO to start your 96 hour pass process

• Soldiers who have pictures of training should send them to their battery UPAHR for submission to PAO

Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Spc. Gabriel Wolney, a Task Force Longrifles Soldier, hands a repaired wheelchair to a local Djiboutian volunteer at the Association De Handicaps in Djibouti City, Djibouti on Nov. 27, 2012.

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - A local Djiboutian tries out her repaired wheelchair at the Association De Handicaps in Djibouti City, Djibouti on Nov. 27, 2012.