Supporting Oregon Troops and their Families Please sign up today as a volunteer or to partner with Operation Homefront of Oregon • Mechanics • Locksmiths • Transportation Providers • Towing Services • Computer Rescue • Plumbers • Electricians • Refurbished Computers • General Handyman • Appliance Repair • Movers • Car Repairs • Other Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, to the families they leave behind, and to wounded warriors when they return home. Operation Homefront partners with local businesses who offer pro-bono or discounted services to help miltiary families in crisis. When a need arises we use donated dollars to help offset the costs to military families so that their loved one serving does not have to worry about the homefront, but can concentrate on the very important task at hand. Operation Homefront Oregon Chapter Contact: Dale Clark Phone: (541) 745-5990 Toll Free Number: (800) 291-0131 28709 Robison Rd. Monmouth, OR 97361

Rally for the Troops,Corvallis, Oregon View Album More pictures coming soon! Mark Johnson, rally organizer, invites all who wish to show their support for the brave men and women who serve in the U.S. Military and to honor our veterans to join the weekly rallies which are usually held from 4:30pm to 5:30pm at 9th Street and Circle Blvd. in Corvallis. Please check the "Announcements" on the HOME page for the next rally date. Mark has extra flags and signs available for those who need them. See additional photo collections: 2007 Benton County Armed Forces Day Tribute 2007 Benton County Memorial Day Celebration 2007 Freedom Walk, Albany, Oregon 2007 Operation Christmas Hope

Saturday, May 17: Join us for an Armed Forces Day Flag Rally in Corvallis!

Operation Homefront/Oregon is sponsoring a "Support the Troops Flag Rally," 11:00 a.m., in front of the Oregon National Guard Armory, 1100 NW Kings Blvd. in Corvallis and you're invited to participate! Download flyer here (MS Word.doc).

Mark your calendar for July 5th! It's OPERATION HOMEFRONT night at Willamette Raceway. Be sure to be in attendance to support the families of our deployed Oregon Military troops.

Also, mark your calenders for July 12th for National Guard night at the races. I will see you there. --Dale Clark

We are proud to announce that the Albany Timber Carnival Association has partnered with the Oregon Chapter of Operation Homefront. We will be honoring soldiers and their families at this year’s event, which will be held on July 4 and 5, and will be inviting them to participate with us. We will have special activities in the Family Zone for the kids of deployed soldiers and will do all we can to assist the families in having a wonderful and fun filled weekend while their loved ones are away or at home recovering. We will also have many fundraising activities to support Operation Homefront. -- Albany Timber Carnival Association

Some of our soldiers in Iraq have been exposed to radiation and have had subsequent serious medical issues such as leukemia and cancer. This site is dedicated to those soldiers and their families. www.iraqradiation.com.

Returning soldiers should request a Gulf War Examination. We need to get the word out, loud and fast. Lives depend on it. Please spread the word to your family and friends and contact Christine Strawn immediately with any info you hear. The only way we can help them is if we band together. They have fought for us and now we must fight for them.

On Saturday, March 8th, Operation Homefront Oregon held a 9-pin no-tap tourney at AMF Albany Lanes in Albany, Oregon. Chapter president Dale Clark reports, "We had a good turn out and all had a lot of fun. Jeanie Conrad was a 'genie' because she did almost all of the door prize collections and also the presentations of the trophy's and prizes. Great Job I must say!!! We had about 45 bowlers, a quilt raffle, a 50/50 raffle, items donated for our gift box program and a lot of friendly contacts. Net totals were about $500.00 to be used for Operation Homefront's gift box program and support for our troops families." Jeanie and Christine Strawn were the event organizers and, as always, they did a wonderful job. Many thanks to all who attended.

Dale Clark, President of Operation Homefront—Oregon informs us that the organization has begun collecting quilts and afghans to mail to our Wounded Warriors who are medical-evacuated from Germany to the United States. "We are calling this program 'BLANKETS FOR SOLDIERS'. When our injured soldiers arrive in Germany, they often have nothing on their backs but a hospital gown. This is also how they arrive back in the USA. These quilts will bring comfort and warmth to them on their trip home. We will also be hand-delivering quilts to those already at Military Hospitals on the West Coast. Please help us get your quilts and afghans around the shoulders of our Wounded Warriors." For more information on “BLANKETS FOR SOLDIERS,” please contact Christine Strawn, Director of Gift Boxes for Operation Homefront Oregon, (541) 258-8593.

On February 8th, Dale Clark, President of Operation Homefront Oregon, put out a call for help for the family of a deployed soldier who suffered a house fire and requested assistance for basic needs until they could return to their home. Clark wrote, "I met with Melissa today at the Armory in Albany. They have insurance and are living in a hotel in Silverton for a month. The hotel has a small kitchen but no pots or pans or cookie sheets and other supplies. Her request right now are for these kinds of items because she does not know what will be salvaged from her home. Anyone who might have extra things like this that she could borrow or have would be most appreciated. Of course food and clothing are a need and also clothing. Girls are age 5 and 7. National Guard 224 unit gave them some food today but that can't last to long. This is a long haul until their home is repaired. Other needs will be addressed by Operation Homefront when they are able to get back in their home. I will be the contact for now so lets see what we can do to help our military family."

Thanks to all who pitched-in to help.

Below is a new list supplied by Christine Strawn, Gift Box Director of the Oregon Chapter of Operation Homefront. Your contributions may be dropped off at Republican Headquarters, 980 NW Circle Blvd (behind Citizens Bank) in Corvallis. These goods will be distributed to Kay Hunnemuller for deployed soldiers from Benton County and to Oregon’s Operation Homefront Gift Box Program. (Download this list HERE (MS Word file).

Food items (this is something the troops really like to get)

• Cookies
• Coffee
• Beef jerky
• Salted nuts
• Cup of soups (just add water)
• Trail mixes
• Sunflower seeds
• Granola bars
• Breakfast bars
• Fruit snacks
• Canned fruits (with pull top lids)
• Bean dip, salsa & chips
• Crackers
• Canned soups, canned chicken (again pull top lids)
• Tuna pouches
• Powdered drink mixes (that can be added to bottled water)
• Instant coffee
• Sugar and cream packets
• Sauces to help liven up the taste of foods, BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, salsa, soy sauce, hot sauce and catsup

Items to help with off time:

• ***Canned air (to clean dust and sand from computers, weapons and other equipment)
• DVD Movies (new or used - not all units have access to VHS players to watch VHS tapes)
• Music CD's (new or used)
• CD's containing Ipod or MP3 music
• Video taped Oregon State or University of Oregon sporting events
• Games (small travel size are best)
• OREGON NEWS PAPERS
• School Supplies and toys to hand out to the local children

Personal hygiene and comfort items

• Baby wipes
• Female products
• Female protection products
• Eye drop
• Bug repellants
• Ibuprofen, Advil, Tylenol and other pain relievers (helmets get heavy by the end of the day and can cause a headache)
• Deodorant
• Vitamins
• Boot Socks
• White cotton T-shirts

Thank you,
Benton County Republican Women

Supporting Deployed Troops from Benton County

Sponsored by Kay Hunnemuller

Please pick up some of the comfort goods from the "items requested by our troops" list while you're out and about and drop them off at Republican Headquarters. Kay tells us that the troops especially appreciate white cotton boot socks as they never seem to have enough!

Supporting Nationally Recognized “Troops Support” Organizations

BCRW has contributed to Soldier's Angels Valour-IT, a program which provides voice-activated laptop computers to injured U.S. Soldiers undergoing treatment for arm and hand injuries or amptutations at major military medical centers. Theses computers give our servicemen and women the instant capability to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net' and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. This capability is important to their recovery. The Club has also made a contribution to Spirit of America, a civilian organization that responds to the requests and needs of our troops.

Individuals are encouraged to look into these organizations and projects. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of contributions given go directly to the vital programs these organizations provide.

Soldier’s Angels - This organization is ‘highly’ regarded by the troops and by many Milbloggers. Please read about Valour-IT.
Spirit of America - Be sure to read about the "Snake Eater" and other projects this organization is engaged in.

Rest in Peace, Young Warrior

Remembering Andrew Rounds (22) of Lebanon, Oregon. Andrew was deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in 2004 with the 1st and 62nd Air Support units, called Tropic Lightning, out of Hawaii. His duties included soldier support services at the Kirkuk base. After returning home, Andrew lived with his parents in Waterloo. He was diagnosed with leukemia in January 2007 and succumed on October 20, 2007. Our sympathy to Andrew's family.

From: Christine Strawn
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007
Subject: Democrat Herald Article

SODAVILLE - When Cruz Gutierrez joined the Army in March 2006 to "straighten up," he says, winning medals wasn't on his mind.

But within the last year, Gutierrez, 25, has earned two Purple Hearts from injuries sustained during the year he spent with the 212nd Infantry out of Fort Carson, Colo. He was stationed in Baghdad and later in the Dora Province. Continued...

Letter from Coos County RW Member & soldier formerly deployed in Afghanistan

Cheryl Ivanov, a member of the Coos County Republican Women and a member of the armed forces was serving in in Afghanistan with her husband, Ogi Ivanov, when, unfortunately, Ogi was severely injured. The Ivanov family is now in San Antonio where Ogi is undergoing treatment at Brook Army Medical Center. We are linking to the letters Cheryl writes to her club members.

Our best wishes to Ogi and a huge 'thank you' to both Ogi and Cheryl for their service to our country. If you wish to send a note their new address is 21121 Gregory Lane, San Antonio, TX 78264.

"When we returned from Iraq in 2004 the City of Albany closed the streets and gave us a parade; they lined the streets, doing everything but putting olive branches in our hair and treating us like Caesar's of old." -- SFC Scott Nyquist

"We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty." -- John F. Kennedy

"A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." -- John Stuart Mill