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Operation Rota Comfort Underway

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030415-10
Release Date: 4/15/2003 7:24:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Tina Villalobos, Naval Station Rota Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- What began as concern from a Navy Exchange (NEX) Sight and Sound employee evolved into an outpouring of support from the Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, community.

Wounded servicemembers from Operation Iraqi Freedom began arriving last week to NAVSTA's fleet field hospital. Although the hospital is well equipped to provide medical support, needs such as toiletries, uniform items and underclothes were not foreseen.

"The week before," said Liz Dennis, Navy Exchange Sight and Sound manager, "I had worked at the store, and the injured were just starting to arrive. I saw a lot of the people that were working for the hospital coming in and buying underwear, T-shirts, socks and uniform items out of their own pocket. So, I contacted our general manager of NEX, and we had a meeting."

The Sight and Sound managers then met with Marine Capt. Shannon Geaney, Fleet Hospital (FH) 8 Marine liaison officer-in-charge, to request more detailed information on the exact needs of the wounded servicemembers.

"At the end of our meeting," said Dennis, "she also mentioned that they had no toiletry items. What happened was, I went home and I just kept thinking about it. So I sent an email to my friends and family listing the items that they needed, and then those people turned around and sent that email to their friends and family, and so on. And, before we knew it, corporations were involved, and it was way out of control for me."

New fleet mobile hospitals have been constructed at Naval Station, Rota, to support servicemembers wounded as a result of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), working in conjunction with Geaney, are also caring for the morale needs of the recovering personnel.

"I realized that there were a couple of initiatives in the community," said Bill Bray, MWR director. "Rota is a great place. There is a great spirit here from people that want to help."

The priority objective for 'Operation Rota Comfort' is to develop a central point of collection and delivery of donated items, according to Bray.

"Being able to do something makes them feel like they are actually helping instead of just watching," he said.

Donation sites are strategically located throughout the Naval Station at the commissary, Video Mart, fitness center, Expeditions, Child Development Center, Craftech and Jams Youth Center. Needed items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, razors, washcloths, deodorant, lip balm, toiletry bags, chewing gum, phone cards, shower shoes, new socks and underwear, and T-shirts.

"I took it to Bill Bray, who's the recreation director, and we pretty much decided that there were two needs," Ransome said. "There were the needs of the patient at the hospital, and also there was a need for the community to get involved. We really saw a need for people here to be involved in it. And this is our way of kind of pulling it all together, so that everybody can help."

An idea, sparked as the result of a sharp-eyed, concerned employee just over a week ago, has evolved into a full-scale operation.

"At Craftech, we put out the donation box this morning, and we already had it full at 1 p.m. I had to empty it because it was overflowing," said Dennis. "We just started it today when we put the boxes out. If we get a real influx of too much stuff, we could always ask the Red Cross to put it on planes and get it to the troops."

"Helping gives people a sense of pride," Bonnie Ransome, Craftech manager, added. "Everybody wants to go see the patients. Obviously, you can't do that. Everybody wants to help them. Because we don't have access to the hospital and to the patients, this is a way to help the patients without actually being in contact with them. If you come in and bring the items that are needed for donations, we give you a little 'Rota Cares' button, while supplies last. There are 180 people that work at Craftech and they made the buttons."