CARRYING ON TRADITION
I have to admit that my memory fails to recall far too many details of
how I became connected with some of the recipients of my care packages.
The internet was, without a doubt, the most significant means of
locating troops I would ship to throughout their deployments. I
cannot remember how some of those troops found me or how I found
them.....possibly through Marine forums, through friends, through
previous recipients.......a multitude of possibilities.
Back in 2006 I received an email with the name of a Marine who was
looking for support for his unit deployed to Fallujah. They were a
reserve infantry unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, Charlie Company,
"New England's Own" out of Enfield, CT. The Marine who was the author
of that email was 1stSgt Ben Grainger. I immediately replied that I
would be honored to support his Marines and Sailors with care
packages. That was the beginning of a most unique friendship.
Ben was a prolific writer and every evening before he retired after a
long day he would sit at his computer (when the power was working) and
send an email out to all the families of his troops calling it "The
Daily Life Corner." I say he was unique because daily communication
with their families was high priority. He wanted to reassure all of
them back home. So, no matter how exhausted he was after all day
patrols or missions outside the wire, he would pour himself a strong cup
of java and write....always with a sense of humor. Describing daily
life in "the Ville", sharing names of Marines not getting mail, tips for
men only, tips for women only, marriage tips, always acknowledging and
speaking proudly of his Marines...he would write until his eyelids were
closing. He should have been a journalist and I told him that many
times because he had a gift, bringing alive what he expressed with
words. He was able to reassure the families with his humorous
descriptions of everything going on around them. He dubbed Fallujah
"The Ville" and their building that they secured as their home the
"Holiday Inn Express". He loved to write about the unpleasant problem
they encountered with rats and other crawling insects and rodents, how
the rats chewed through electrical cables and rendered their electronics
useless (reason for computer blackouts). He described the rats as
"stealthy insurgent rats that took a liking to his favorite snacks I
sent him like trail mix and beef jerky" and in detail shared his plans
to eliminate them. He referred to his Marines as 'the boys.'
In their building Ben set up a gallery with photos of family and
friends, explaining to me that the guys were motivated by the support
from home and seeing their photos was a great comfort. He even had a
version of the USO shows.....with photos! He would place a photo of a
famous person like Brittney Spears in a frame in the chow hall and tell
them she was the server that day. Creative, always thinking of new
ways to keep their spirits up. He was there for his boys no matter what
the need. They respected and trusted him.
One of Ben's creations caught the attention of their local press back
home, the Hartford Courant. They sent a reporter over to Iraq to spend
some time with Ben and his Marines. Back home everyone was talking
about his nightly reports and his 'new religion', as Ben called
it....."Americantology". At night, for an hour on the sandbagged roof
of their building they would meet, erect a flag pole from a radio
antennae, haul a boom box up there, and play requests from each of the
Marines. Their favorites, from patriotic to country to heavy
metal.....whatever music made them feel closer to home. Ben would be
their chief prophet, preacher and proselytizer of Americantology. I
truly felt honored to be included in the 1/25 family.
Ben and I corresponded almost daily and stayed in touch when his unit
returned home, but not often. We did communicate a few times a year.
I knew that Ben had kids, but back in 2006 they really were just kids
but did not recall how old his boys were. Just the other day I got a
message from Ben on Facebook. He was inquiring whether I would
consider sending care packages to his son, now enlisted in the Army and
serving in Afghanistan!!!! Well, you can imagine how excited I was to
be able to support the son of a Marine I had shipped to years ago.
Carrying on the tradition with the next generation really touched my
heart. Today my first box will be shipped to Ben's son, Ben Jr!!!!!
When I started writing for the The Glidden Graphic, I knew one day I
would share the story of Ben Grainger and now I had a perfect reason to
write it....a father and his son serve their country. What a blessing
for me to keep the tradition going forward!!!
