"MARINES HELPING MARINES"
Joe Chavez & John Babcock from
the Alamo Detachment visit with
Cpl. Schick from Bossier , LA
at BAMC
BAMC is known for its Burn Ward, but the need for amputee patients to be closer to home is why BAMC has opened the Department of Defenses second amputee care center. The ward is comparable to the one at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington but with new amenities for U.S. troops who have lost limbs. The need is acute because of the number of troops returning from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. BAMC alone has cared for more than 1,300 soldiers and Marines. The new center has apartment-type rehabilitation facilities, with kitchens and dining areas, where veterans can re-learn living skills. There are specialists in orthopedics, social work, mental health, and physical and occupational therapy.
San Antonian Lois Alva, mother of retired Marine Sgt. Eric Alva, who lost most of his right leg to an Iraqi land mine, said family support was critical to her sons recovery.
The single strap back packs were real big hit at Walter Reed.
They were given to Occupational Therapy and turned over to the Captain in
charge, (in the photo)
and she immediately handed out 3 of them to the wounded in the office.
Sweat shirts and pants were handed out at Navy Med.
Having amputees as close to home and
family as possible, with medical support, makes a big difference, she said.
The center will feel especially homey to Cpl. Jacob Schick, 22, who lost his
lower right leg and had his left leg shattered when a bomb blasted his Humvee on
September 20th near Baghdad. The reservist soon will be put through his paces
in rehabilitation. And he wishes he could be in Iraq, with his friends in
Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines.
U.S. Marine Cpl Jacob Schick rests in Brooke Army Medical
Center's orthopedics ward.
The Department of Texas Marine Corps League provides emotional as well as material support to Marines who are sent to Texas hospitals for treatment of their wounds received in combat in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wounded Marines are usually sent to Germany to be stabilized after injury. Then they are sent on to the States. Depending on their injuries, they may be sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., or Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. The injured Marines arrive at these medical facilities with nothing more than the hospital gowns on their backs. They have no toiletry items, clothes, personal items, or money with which to purchase items they need.
Members of the Alamo Detachment of the
Marine Corps League have taken it upon themselves to provide support for the
Marines that are sent to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio. Along
with visits to the hospitals, the Detachment tries to provide them with the
items they need to make them more comfortable. Items requested by the Marines at
BAMC are:
Disposable Cameras Batteries Handheld Games
International Phone Cards Game
Consoles DVD Movies & Players Music CDs
(Country & Rock are current favorites)
Games Puzzle Books Insoles Body Lotions Marine flags, flag sets, T Shirts, logo labels Chocolate Anything! (Candies, cookies, but NO homemade) Beef Jerky Powdered Drinks (Gatorade Mix, Pre-Sweetened Kool Aid, Tang, etc.) Coffee/Tea Individual Packets of Hot Sauce,
Ranch Dressing, Salt/Pepper.The Detachment also provides, if needed, transportation so the Marine, when far enough along in his/her recovery, can go to a restaurant, entertainment event, shopping mall, or just somewhere to get away from the hospital. Gift certificates to Wal Mart, sporting events, movies, restaurants, etc. are welcomed as donations. It was soon discovered that approximately $100 per Marine was required in order to accomplish this goal and that their coffers were not large enough to continue to do this without financial support. Thus, the "Marine Helping Marines" program was established as a nation-wide program to help fund the Alamo Detachment program as well as needs for Marines in the same situation in other hospitals around the state.
One hundred percent of all monetary donations received are used to provide various items and
activities designed to support hospitalized Marines during their treatment and recuperation. 
Brooke Army Medical Center
BAMC
San Antonio, Texas
For
further information contact members of the
Marines Helping Marines Committee of Texas :
Joe Chavez, Co-Chairman
1101 W. Lynwood Ave.,
San Antonio, TX 78210-5250
Phone: 210-842-9174
Email: joerchavez@earthlink.net
Bernie ODell, Co-Chairman
515 Hall Street
Graham, TX 76450-1412
Phone: 940-549-3944
Email: bernieodell@sbcglobal.net
Howard
Naylor
> 2533 Rutgers Dr. Irving TX 75062
Phone: 972-255-7014
Email:
hnaylor@juno.com
>
Josemaria Lopez
1726 Dawn Breeze Dr.
Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5115
Phone: 361-992-2730
Email: jmilopez@grandecom.net
Russell Bently
Brownwood, Texas
Phone: 325-641-1948
Donations in support of the "Marines Helping Marines" program can be sent to:
Marines Helping Marines
c/o Department of Texas MCL
ATTN: Joe Chavez
Paymaster
1101 W. Lynwood Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78201-5250
Be sure to indicate
Marines Helping Marines on the "memo"
line of your check.
National Marine Corps League Link (scroll
down right side of National page)
>>Home