from the archives: LI volunteers send gifts to soldiers in Iraq

This story was originally published in Newsday on Dec. 24, 2004

On Christmas morning, at a camp north of Baghdad, Spc. Joseph Villabol, 30, of the 69th Infantry will select a gift from among stacks of elegant packages under a plastic tree. Hours later, in a small Brooklyn apartment, his three children will awaken to piles of toys delivered by Long Island "Santas."

The tree, the gifts and the toys are all part of an effort to bring a holiday morale boost to the troops in Iraq - and the families they left behind.

"People have no idea how much these families are struggling, financially and emotionally," said Rhonda Daniels of Centerport, whose husband is in Iraq and who recently formed the Family Bridges Foundation, "because there's not a whole lot set up in support of our families."

On Daniels' recommendation, Villabol's wife, Jovannie, 25, was given $870 raised by St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Smithtown and the Veterans Association of Northport and some gifts for herself, although she had only wanted gifts for her children, ages 5, 4 and 1. "She cried the whole time, she was so grateful," said Jean Weller of Smithtown, who delivered the presents Wednesday with her husband, Bill, Daniels and the Rev. Lawrence De Lion, rector of the Smithtown church, which has "adopted" the Villabols.

Building up support

Daniels, 33, is the wife of Capt. Christopher Daniels, 38, who commands 254 soldiers of the "Fighting 69th," the Manhattan-based former New York National Guard, which was deployed to Iraq in October. Concerned for the isolated spouses and children scattered around Long Island and the metropolitan area, Daniels set up a Web site, www.familybridgesfoundation.com, to provide emotional support and information on accessing various services. Last month, the group sent 500 boxes overseas, including the tree and wrapped gifts to put under it.

Tomorrow the soldiers will pick their gifts, with the lowest rank getting first choice.

The Wellers, both retired New York City police officers, collected excess Halloween candy with the aid of the Accompsett Elementary School PTA in Smithtown, St. Thomas Church, Target and the Girl Scouts. Joining forces with Family Bridges, they shipped off 1,500 pounds of candy.

In a hearty thank-you e-mail, Christopher Daniels said some of the candy will be given to Iraqi children. "When you are on patrol and you see children on the side of the road, it often is an indicator that the area is safe ... " he wrote.

Season of giving

Rhonda Daniels also found allies at Northport American Legion Post 694, which had already adopted a platoon of the 69th Infantry 1/101 cavalry in Iraq, according to Post Commander Damon McMullen, whose son, Spc. Damon Nye McMullen, 26, is a member of the platoon.

Northport Legionnaires, including the elder McMullen, a letter carrier, are delivering gifts to 30 military families recommended by Daniels and the Long Island Parents of the Deployed. "Our ladies' auxiliary did the shopping," said post treasurer John Cooney.

The post recently sent a $1,500 welding machine to the platoon for welding metal plates to their vehicles.

But when McMullen asked his son what he wanted for Christmas, the younger Damon asked only for "coloring books and crayons for the Iraqi kids. It made me proud," his father said.

Jean Dudenhoffer of Islip Terrace sent a box of fun gifts - including a Garfield cartoon movie and a cushion that makes a funny noise when sat on - to her son, Mark, 22, who mans a machine gun on a Humvee in Baghdad. "I just wanted to make him laugh," she said. She included warm socks for him and for Iraqi children. "It's extremely cold there," she said.

Ongoing efforts

Dudenhoffer, 46, is a member of the 69th's Family Readiness Group, headed by Gina Griffin, 39, of Dix Hills. "We meet in the Bay Shore Armory and talk about getting through the next month. The young women need a hug," said Dudenhoffer, whose son joined the 69th National Guard at 17. With her younger son, Chris, 19, she's waiting for a promised phone call tonight or tomorrow.

Dorine Kenney's only son, Spc. Jacob Fletcher, died in Iraq last year. This holiday season the Bay Shore resident, along with volunteers, mailed 79 boxes of presents and 2,000 cards to soldiers. "I get the names of those who don't get packages from home," said Kenney, who founded Jacob's Light Foundation in memory of her son. The foundation's website is www.jacobsprogram.org.

She's looking for someone to donate a 2,500-square-foot space for storing and packing shipments to soldiers. "We're not going to stop while the war is on," she said.

Staff writer Arnold Abrams contributed to this story.