Town raises $3,000 to send socks to war zone

[unhappycamper]

Town raises $3,000 to send socks to war zone
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 7, 2007 5:55:24 EST

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Chaney was the envy of his unit: He had fresh socks.

The sailor was deployed to Iraq this summer with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. Like many troops, his major complaint was that his constantly dirty socks were tearing up his feet. When his little sister Brianna sent him some clean pairs, the rest of his unit was envious, and he promised his men he’d find a way to outfit them all with fresh socks.

But two days later, July 17, an improvised explosive device killed Chaney and Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade.

Chaney was the Iraq War’s first casualty from Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Neb., and his death was felt deeply. So the school’s Air Force Junior ROTC squadron decided to fulfill Chaney’s last request and get his unit the socks they were promised.

For the rest of the summer, cadets gathered loose change from the townspeople and donations from local businesses. By the night of the big cross-town rivalry football game with Bellevue East High on Aug. 24, the unit was able to present a check for $2,557 to Chaney’s mother, Connie, enough to buy plenty of socks.

She plans to buy lots of ‘em, and ship them to other sailors in her son’s unit.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_chaney_socks_071106/



uhc comment: The military can't provide fresh or clean socks to our troops?