A couple thousand U.S. Army Recruits went through the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport this past weekend. The USO North Carolina greeted them coming off the buses from Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
The USO-NC aptly dubs it Operation Exodus: Victory Block Leave. USO-NC volunteer and Air Force veteran Don Veazie says there's always a waiting list for people wanting to work this event.
The USO Charlotte Center dished out food, coffee, soda, a place to lay their head for the sleep deprived, electrical connections for techno gadgets, an HDTV screen and video games. The recruits were well cared-for while awaiting homebound connecting flights.
Rest And Relaxation
U.S. Army Recruit Nicholas Pittman from Mississippi says he's looking forward to the "good feeling" of family time... that, also, includes chicken, dressing, gumbo - good Southern food.
Kreshonda Smith of Alabama says the hardest thing about recruit training is keeping in contact with family. "Every Sunday, I got one phone call."
Recruit Donald Roberts of Chicago is looking forward to snow. He says the hardest part about the training is no contact with the outside world. "Letters are a breath of fresh air."
Recruits Daniel Duarte and Matthew Wright live a few miles from each other in New Orleans. Born in Central America, Duarte says he'll be taking in Latin food - "pork shoulders with Spanish seasoning, special rice, flan - all homemade." Wright misses the Creole and Cajun cuisine, like gumbo and boudin.
Contributions To USO-NC
In the midst of hundreds of soldiers, elves, Santa and Mrs. Claus and volunteers, two organizations presented donations to the USO-NC.
Mike Yongue of the Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club says they have donated nearly $2,000 to the USO-NC in the past two years. The funds are collected during Military Rifle and Match Competitions.
"I do it because of having an Army upbringing...a sense of camaraderie, a sense of sacrifice. It's something that ought to be done." Mike Yongue
Patriot Charities of Charlotte donated $50,000. USO-NC President John Falkenbury says, "This is a model for all charities to look at." Board Member Caroline Randel has a son serving in the U.S. Army. He has deployed twice to Iraq. Looking around at the young recruits, she says:
"I see my son in each one of them. I know what they're facing; it doesn't get any easier."
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