Scouts pledge their support to troops during encampment

Money to purchase Army and Air Force Exchange Service cards and phone cards was collected at the weeklong Boy Scout Camp held at Cape County Park South as a community service project.

The Cub Scouts and Webelos typically work on skills like firing BB guns, building fires, tying knots and pitching tents through hands-on activities which help them earn badges. Special activities like karate demonstrations, visits from the fire department and participating in their own Soap Box Derby make it even more fun, but part of the day camp experience focuses on community service. This year was no different except that while working toward the goal of purchasing AAFES and phone cards, the Scouts were visited by National Guardsmen, some who had served in Iraq. One of the facilitators, Betsy Anders, a four-year veteran of the Boy Scout summer camp said, "Last year the boys learned about the geography of Iraq since there were no soldiers who had yet returned."

Showing support to the soldiers in dollars and cents was a decision made early on by 7-year-old Dayton Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau. His mother, Lisa Seabaugh, said they'd had a discussion at home after he was asked at day camp to think about how much money he would like to contribute. The discussion included how lucky they were and how nice it would be for a dad who was far away serving in a war to be able to call home. Dayton made up his mind, and contributed all the money he'd saved up for a video game -- the money he made from cookies sold at his garage sale and allowance. Dayton said, "I didn't really need it. The soldiers did."

Typical day in Iraq

Visiting the Scout encampment, SFC Douglas Block of Cape Girardeau, who had served in Iraq from February 2004 to 2005, presented his version of a typical day in Iraq and supervised while boys examined the weapons soldiers were responsible for while serving their country.

"Do you remember the movie 'Groundhog Day,' where every day was the same, day-in and day-out?" Block began, "Well, that's kind of what it was like."

To describe the summer weather he drew a parallel to a beach with no sand -- only dust -- and summed it up with "Imagine your mom and your sister's hair dryers blowing on each side of your face."

Block said the winters got down to 34 degrees at night with a daytime high of 61. He explained how even though 61 didn't seem cold, when you're used to 120 degree temperatures, comrades were wearing fleece and Thermaloft.

"We slept in four- to eight-man tents with air conditioning and a diesel generator to run our electric so we could have phones and computers. There was a PX, which was a lot like Wal-Mart and we ate four times a day. We had to use an outhouse for our bathrooms and showers were real short," he said.

Block explained that soldiers were never to be without their weapons even at meals, sleeping or taking a shower. "These weapons, assigned to soldiers, would have to be paid for if stolen or lost. If you were in a battle and it got blown up you'd have to produce what pieces were left so you wouldn't have to pay for the weapon," he said.

Video game diversions

There were shouts of approval from the Scout audience when Block told them that leisure time included playing PlayStation and computer games. "If they told you it was rough over there they weren't from the 1140th. We had it pretty nice," Block said.

When asked how often they were fired upon, Block replied, "When we were over there it was about once every three or four months that we got hit. Not as often as they make it seem."

The presentation included Humvees for the Scouts to investigate, shown by SPC James C. Childers and Spc. Beau Morrison. Morrison of the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau, has served in Iraq but Childers was soon to be deployed. "I think it's a wonderful opportunity for them [the Scouts] to get involved with the National Guard and to know what they're doing," Childers said.

Pam Petzoldt, Scout Camp facilitator, said so far the effort has collected $603.25 and 1,500 domestic minutes in phone cards. Anyone can go to www. aafes.com and purchase gift cards to be sent to specific soldiers or just any soldier.

AAFES does not charge tax. The phone number is 877-4438.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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