.jpg "Chain of Command - Sgt. Blaisdell 4th from Left")
Members of the Stuart Sunrise Rotary Club have adopted Recon Platoon of the 1-502D In, 101st ABN Div. (Scouts)
which is returning to the City of Bagdad in Iraq sometime between now and October 15th.
According to Platoon Sergeant Phillip Blaisdell, his all-volunteer platoon (32 men), will be serving their THIRD voluntary rotation in Iraq. Sgt. Blaisdell is the son of Jean Ballou, Director
of Marketing for Galaxy Aviation located at Witham Field in Stuart.
Chain of Command - Sgt. Blaisdell 4th from
Left
Jack Langhorne, a pilot, a Korean War Veteran, and member of the Stuart Sunrise Rotary Club has co-ordinated the fund-raising effort which
has already sent more than $2,500 to the team. 37 contributors representing members of the Witham Aero Club
(Stuart); the Florida Aero Club (Stuart); the Quiet Birdmen (Stuart); Stuart Jet Center;
pilots, aircraft owners, and charter passengers who fly into and from Stuart have elected to
support the effort.
While Stateside the team is purchasing equipment and supplies that
have proven valuable to them in previous missions, but which are not available through regular Army supply channels for a variety of reasons.
Each member of the team invests approximately $1,000 of his own money to supplement his own personal kit.
There are dozens of items including LED nightlights, Nomex gloves, DPT Sniper supplies, concealment periscopes, battle stoves;
tie-wrap handcuffs, etc. According to Sgt. Blaisdell, the team has already purchased rolls of screen needed for urban hide sites; Tripods for their digital gear;
cans of gun oil, (the good stuff), surge strips; and sheets acquired from Goodwill. They also bought a long-range digital camera which can be tripod mounted, plus a couple of footballs for down time. (The men are not too thrilled about missing the football season).
Sgt. Blaisdell's comments have made it quite evident that while the funds received have been extremely important to him and his
men, the moral support implicit by the civilian adoption of their platoon has been an unexpected rejuvinating thrill to each man, and sorely needed.
If you would like further
information, call Jack Langhorne at 772-486-2539.
(Note - Rusty Brink served with the 101st "Screaming Eagles" in Vietnam.)
PFC Merrin on Flat Range
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