Deployed personnel continue to receive support from district

Posted March 17, 2010
By Brittany Brown, Norfolk District Public Affairs

03/17/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Employees from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, have a long-standing history of supporting fellow team members who volunteer for deployments in overseas contingency operations.

Nearly five years ago, Jerri Wehrle, district computer engineer, started the family support group – a team of volunteers who provide support and guidance to civilian employees and their loved ones, many of which have never experienced the challenges that deployments bring.

Since starting the initiative, Wehrle and the support group have packaged dozens of boxes destined for Iraq and Afghanistan, exchanged countless E-mails, coordinated numerous video-teleconferences, placed countless phone calls and provided resources to family members spanning from administrative and financial to legal matters. The group also tracks and sends birthday cards, gift cards and even flowers on special occasions, such as Mother’s Day and anniversaries.

In response to the holiday care package he received last December, district construction representative Johnnie Saunders expressed his gratitude to district employees and partners who made it possible. In the past, donations have been provided by district employees as well as people from the Abingdon regulatory office, Fort Lee, Great Bridge, Target, private architectural and engineering firms, and a large host of individuals.

"This was such a blessing, and so generous of everyone to send such a big box of goodies, which gives me the opportunity to share these gifts with my friends here in Kabul," said Saunders.

While deployed, district employees in Kabul and other areas fulfill important functions as resident engineers, program managers, construction representatives, architects, real estate specialists, economists and geographers.

"Some of my friends did not even receive a gift from their family, so your kindness and generosity is being felt by many others here. Thank you so much for that," Saunders added.

Newly appointed Family Support Group Coordinator Lois Wilkins plans to continue sending care packages destined for district employees thousands of miles away from their co-workers and loved ones. "We would like to let our folks know we are thinking of them by sending care packages quarterly," said Wilkins.

The Family Support Group is scheduled to box goods March 30 for currently deployed employees and those scheduled to deploy in support Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. To help with shipping costs, the Fort Norfolk employee’s welfare council provided a $200 donation to the support group.

"Because there is not funding for this effort, we will continue to rely on donations for the care packages," said Wilkins.

Individuals interested in joining the Family Support Group, donating goods or providing monetary donations for shipping costs are encouraged to contact Lois Wilkins in the emergency management office for more information.

Currently deployed team members:

• DebbiSu Cassady, Ft. Eustis area office – Afghanistan
• Chuck Copeland, logistics - Iraq
• Travis Davidson, planning, programs and project management division - Afghanistan
• David Linn: operations division - Afghanistan
• CPT Chris Pelton, Ft. Lee Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) office - Afghanistan
• Johnnie Saunders, logistics - Afghanistan
• Glenn Seay, logistics - Iraq
• Jerry Swean, hydraulics and hydrology - Afghanistan
• Herman Wine, planning, programs and project management division - Afghanistan

Team members scheduled to deploy:

• John Bernard, Ft. Lee BRAC office - Afghanistan
• Walter Kloth, technical services division - Afghanistan
• Rob Marshall, real estate – Afghanistan
• John Rowland, Langley resident office - Afghanistan
• Debbie Santiago, programs and project management division - Afghanistan