Operation Fore lifts morale during Thanksgiving
by Cpl. Megan Sindelar RC-SW
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – During the Thanksgiving holiday, service members at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, were visited by a group who just wanted to say thank you.
Tom Lehman and Dan Boever, professional golfers, Victor Juhasz, an illustrator, Matt Snook, a Nashville recording artist and Rick Kell, the co-founder of the Troops First Foundation gave up Thanksgiving with their families to travel to Afghanistan, Nov. 24-27, and thank service members for their sacrifices.
The Troops First Foundation is a non-profit organization that strengthens the quality of life in sports-based and wellness activities.
Lehman, who took a trip to Iraq three years ago, said he saw the relief he brought to the service members there, so he was motivated to come out to Afghanistan and do it again.
While the group was at Camp Leatherneck, they spent their time visiting service members, teaching Marines how to golf, drawing portraits, playing music and even served Thanksgiving dinner to service members.
Juhasz traveled around with the group but drew portraits and caricatures of Marines he met along the way. On his return home he will send the original copies to the Marines’ families.
Cpl. Edward J. Goodroe, a lightweight multiband satellite communications terminal operator with 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), said that taking pictures are easy, but having Juhasz here hand drawing Marines as he sees them and sending the drawings to their families is uplifting.
“It’s like having a little piece of home come to you,” said Goodroe.
Snook went from table to table during Thanksgiving dinner and played requested songs by the service members. He also allowed wounded warriors use to his guitar and play their own music during his visit.
“A lot of the people you meet aren’t golfers at all, but the effort we made to come out here means a lot to the service members,” said Lehman. “For me and my buddies it’s not an effort, it’s a privilege for us to be out here.”
Lehman and Boever taught Marines golf techniques while Kell handed out golf clubs, golf balls and DVDs to service members.
“The commitment to come here is my way of saying I appreciate what service members here do,” said Lehman. “It’s easy back showing support from back home but getting the opportunity to come here and say it is different.”
Goodroe said that having that group of people come to Afghanistan just to say thank you and express their appreciation shows they care. It’s Thanksgiving, one of the biggest holidays we have, and as we are constantly working it is easy to forget that the world back home is still turning.
While the group was at Camp Leatherneck, they spent their time visiting service members, teaching Marines how to golf, drawing portraits, playing music and even served Thanksgiving dinner to service members.
Juhasz traveled around with the group but drew portraits and caricatures of Marines he met along the way. On his return home he will send the original copies to the Marines’ families.
Cpl. Edward J. Goodroe, a lightweight multiband satellite communications terminal operator with 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), said that taking pictures are easy, but having Juhasz here hand drawing Marines as he sees them and sending the drawings to their families is uplifting.
“It’s like having a little piece of home come to you,” said Goodroe.
Snook went from table to table during Thanksgiving dinner and played requested songs by the service members. He also allowed wounded warriors use to his guitar and play their own music during his visit.
“A lot of the people you meet aren’t golfers at all, but the effort we made to come out here means a lot to the service members,” said Lehman. “For me and my buddies it’s not an effort, it’s a privilege for us to be out here.”
Lehman and Boever taught Marines golf techniques while Kell handed out golf clubs, golf balls and DVDs to service members.
“The commitment to come here is my way of saying I appreciate what service members here do,” said Lehman. “It’s easy back showing support from back home but getting the opportunity to come here and say it is different.”
Goodroe said that having that group of people come to Afghanistan just to say thank you and express their appreciation shows they care. It’s Thanksgiving, one of the biggest holidays we have, and as we are constantly working it is easy to forget that the world back home is still turning.
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