Called back to action

Denise Dhane helps troops get needed supplies

By Marguerite Cleveland on October 13, 2017

Denise Dhane is long retired from her role as vice president of the DuPont subchapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), where she ran the Single Soldier Program.  But when she received a plea from Sgt. Maj. Jeffery Goodman that his soldiers needed help, she jumped right in to rally support.

Dhane's friendship with Goodman and his wife, Irene, goes back to 2011, when Irene reached out to Dhane for help in welcoming home her husband's unit, 22nd Engineer Company, 14th EN Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade. A great friendship began, and there have been several deployments over the years.

"Denise's love and support for military families, surrounding communities and charities would fill up a novel," Goodman said. "She has spread love and support to JBLM and deployed soldiers around the world.  She didn't have to do it, but she felt a calling to give back and support the men and women in uniform. Whether you are deployed or not, Denise has your six."

Dhane grew up in the Vietnam era and remembers how horribly servicemembers were treated when they returned home.

"My worry is that people will forget that soldiers are deployed and put them on the back burner. People need to move that pot to the front burner and put it on boil because our troops need our help," she said. "It is important for soldiers to know that people back home haven't forgotten them."

Goodman called Dhane with a request for recreation items and snacks for more than 900 1st Armor Division troops deployed to Iraq.

"Sgt. Maj. Goodman is a great leader. He is all about the soldier and wants to make sure they are taken care of. His guys (and gals) are in remote areas with no access to the USO and snacks. With soldiers eating lots of MREs, snacks are a delicacy and in high demand," Dhane said. "These soldiers work so hard, and it is nice for them to have recreation items for their downtime. The recreational donations take a soldier's mind off war and even if it is just an hour, that is time they can focus on something other than war."

Following is the list of requested items:

Items can be dropped off at Dahlke Orthodontics in DuPont. Hours vary each week, so please call to confirm. Someone will be available to take your donation. Donations will be accepted through the holidays.

Donations not only benefit the deployed soldiers, but they also let family members know their soldiers are not forgotten.

"It means so much to me that people don't forget we still have troops overseas that need our support," said Irene. "I'm very thankful that we have been fortunate enough to receive so much love and support for our troops and can't even begin to express my gratitude."

For more information, contact Dhane at denisedhane@yahoo.com.

Dahlke Orthodontics, Monday-Friday, hours vary, 1100 Station Dr. #281, DuPont, 253.912.9383