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Operation Santa Claus lifts spirits downrange

FRG, staff and children build care packages for deployed staff

The men of MAMC pose with Shannon ‘Shambo’ Walters of “Survivor: Samoa” fame at their Operation Santa Claus event. From Left: Lt. Col. Jon VanSteenvort, Capt. Scott Martin, Col. Jerome Penner, Walters and 1st Sgt. Kristopher Rick. /Melissa Renahan

Operation Santa Claus

Photo by Melissa Renahan

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    Kind Words

    Children and family readiness groups created and decorated cards, which will be placed inside care packages being sent downrange to the 75 staff members currently deployed from Madigan’s Troop Command.

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For the third year in a row, members of Madigan Army Medical Center's Troop Command and their family readiness groups got together on a Saturday to collect donations and assemble boxes that will be sent downrange to deployed hospital staff. At any given point, MAMC has anywhere from 60 to 80 staff members deployed and while the nurses and doctors deploy in six-month rotations, the medics are gone for a full year.

Capt. Scott Martin, company commander for B Company, was the project manager this year and has 20 of his own soldiers currently deployed.

"Our people are often attached to some other unit and as a result they sometimes get overlooked by that command or FRG," Martin explained. "So we instituted this program for them."

Item donations came from various sources, including the Tacoma VFW, the Tacoma subchapter of AUSA and many departments in the hospital, such as Pharmacy, Dermatology and the Developmental Child Clinic. Children of both the deployed servicemembers and other MAMC staff came to make cards and letters that will also be enclosed in the boxes.

"We have doctors, nurses and staff that are in harm's way so we do this in the most personal way we can," said Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jon VanSteenvort. "That way they know how much we care when these packages are delivered to them in theater."

Neil Nilsen, owner of Jersey's Sports Bar in Federal Way, not only brought donations, but also served as the event's Santa Claus. Not to mention, he brought along Mrs. Claus, some elves and even a special guest: Shannon ‘Shambo' Walters of 2009's "Survivor: Samoa," who lives in Renton. Walters took time over the course of four hours to pose for photos with anyone who asked and to sign anything handed to her.

"Some people give and some people take," Nilsen said when asked why he volunteered his time. "Let's just say I've never taken. Plus, I love seeing how happy the kids are when Santa shows up."

For the second year in a row, America's Credit Union donated the funds for postage and at close to $12 per flat-rate box, Martin was quick to point out how generous a gesture that is.

"This is the best group of company commanders, 1st Sgts and FRG members ever," said Col. Jerome Penner, MAMC commander, who was also on hand to participate with is own family. "An event like this tickles my heart. It is great to witness."

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