Operation Direct Support (ODS)
Purpose:
To provide morale support to our 7th Infantry soldiers in Iraq. Each deployed company and platoon has an Association member “in direct support.” Through personal correspondence, unit representatives and the Association member determine what kind of items will enhance soldier’s lives. Then those Association members and their local supporting organizations (schools, churches, workmates, businesses, etc.) procure and send things that will help. Past support items have included Mother’s Day cards in bulk, paperback books, phone cards, snacks, and stationary and toys for Iraqi kids. Some have sent personal cards on soldier birthdays.
Panoramic shot of the entire 2-7 INF Task Force
taken 9 Jan 2007, on Cottrell Field at Fort Stewart during the battalion's
last formation on U.S. soil for 2007.
Photo Courtesy LTC Crissman, TF 2-7
Operation Direct Support
Who's Counting? Who is helping?
3rd Battalion will be shortly departing Ft. Stewart for it's next rotation back to Iraq. Second Battalion as you know has been there for almost a year. In case you are not counting, a recent Army Times newspaper article noted how much time - as battalion’s continue to rotate back to Iraq for sometimes the 3rd or 4th time - units are spending in Iraq.
In case you aren’t counting, when 2nd and 3rd Battalions finish this tour they will have been in Iraq for a total of 35 months (It is 38 months if you count time in Kuwait- an Army wide high) over three rotations since January 2003. Who knows which has been the most painful - the 35 months in Iraq - or the 12 to 15 months at home between tours? But today our Cottonbalers are soldiering on.
Operation Direct Support has tried to show today’s Cottonbalers that we who have gone before are thinking of them, and we care about them. Boxes and boxes of goodies, supplies, books, DVDs, etc have been sent to our Cottonbalers over the years. This year David Spanburg sent every man in his company a ball cap with its “E” company logo- plus one to all his supporters. We are constantly looking for new ways to show support. Some great friendships have been established between Association supporters and some of today’s soldiers.
Two current great ideas for the upcoming holidays include Curley and Carol Ann Faulk’s “Christmas gifts for kids at Home,” raising and providing money to the 2nd Battalion’s Family Readiness Group to insure all 2nd Battalion kids have good Christmas gifts. On an entirely different “note”-Ernie and Debbie Jackson have created “Songs for Soldiers” in which local schools in Ernie’s area will serenade 3rd Battalion Soldiers via the Internet during the Christmas holidays.
We need your ideas and your support. Listed below are the company Points of Contact. Most have been doing this for a long time, out of their own pockets, without much help. What have you done? If you are not already providing help through one of these guys - contact someone right now and offer to help. WE NEED YOU.
CSM Coston and SGM Cook casing the battalion colors in preparation for overseas movement, 9 Jan 2007, on Cottrell Field at Fort Stewart
during the battalion's last formation on U.S. soil for 2007.
Photo Courtesty of LTC Crissman, TfF2-7
ODS News and Updates now available.
| Unit | ODS POC | Unit | ODS POC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHC 2/7 | Jim Beckworth | HHC 3/7 | Thomas G. Woods | |
| Med Plt | Looking for Volunteer | Med Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| Mtr Plt | Looking for Volunteer | Mtr Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| Sct Plt | Looking for Volunteer | Sct Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| A Co 2/7 (INF) | LTG (R) John Lemoyne | A Co 3/7 (INF) |
Roland Merson
& Fr. Philip Salois |
|
| 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| B Co 2/7 (INF) | Jesse Campos | B Co 3/7 (INF) | Chuck Ware | |
| 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| C Co 2/7 (TANK) | Gene Owen | C Co 3/7 (TANK) | Robert Ross | |
| 1st Plt | Ray Cordova | 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 2nd Plt | Joe Rice | 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 3rd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| D Co 2/7 (TANK) | John McManus | D Co 3/7 (TANK) | Rick Rhoades | |
| 1st Plt | Roland Merson | 1st Plt | Jock Brownfield | |
| 2nd Plt | James Norris | 2nd Plt | Tom Gwiazdowski | |
| 3rd Plt | Fr. Philip Salois | 3rd Plt | Steve Rhoades | |
| E Co 2/7 (ENGR) | David Spanburg | E Co 3/7 (ENGR) | Ernie Jackson | |
| 1st Plt | Bill Lasko | 1st Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | 2nd Plt | Looking for Volunteer | |
| F Co 2/7 (SPT) | Sam Guy | F Co 3/7 (SPT) | David Strongin | |
| Distro | Dr. Robert Roddy | Distro | Looking for Volunteer | |
| MCO | Looking for Volunteer | MCO | Looking for Volunteer |
ODS News and Updates now available.
| Become a Member of the 7th Infantry Regiment Association |
| Cottonbalers By God! Damn Fine Solders! |
| Website maintained by David Spanburg |
