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U.S. Army Spc. Jerrod Stranahan was welcomed back from Afghanistan by not only his daughter, Skyler, but also by Friends of Nevada County Military.
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ENLARGE
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Stephen Hibbert of Woodland is welcomed home by friends and family members - along with Friends of Nevada County Military members - earlier this year after returning from a tour in Baghdad.
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U.S. Army Spc. Jerrod Stranahan arrived at Sacramento International Airport to an unexpected hero's welcome.
While Stranahan, 26, planned to see his mother, Sandi, and 2-year-old daughter Skyler waiting for him, he was greeted by a host of strangers who cheered his return as well, carrying banners and bearing mile-wide smiles.
"It was a real warm welcome home," Jerrod Stranahan said, "and I had no idea."
Friends of Nevada County Military played a prominent role in the memorial services for Marine Lance Cpl. John Lucente, 19, who died Nov. 16 in Ubaydi, Iraq, and for Marine Lance Cpl. Adam Strain, 20, who died in August in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
The group, which celebrated its first anniversary last week, hosts monthly "packing parties" assembling care packages for overseas military veterans with ties to Nevada County and provides continuing support for those wounded in combat.
On Nov. 19, Stranahan returned home after a 11Ú2-year hitch in Afghanistan, his spirits lifted by a group of strangers who became friends united behind their support for locals stationed overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Nobody had ever done anything like that before," said Jerrod's mother, Sandi, who lives in Penn Valley. "He hadn't really seen any military appreciation until that. It's beyond cool, and that's all I can say."
Stranahan was met by members of Friends of Nevada County Military, a group that has met for the past year to support active military members and their families. The group might be familiar to local residents who pass the signs along Highways 20, 49 and 174 or to anyone who has signed memorial quilts for Nevada County military supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While Stranahan, 26, planned to see his mother, Sandi, and 2-year-old daughter Skyler waiting for him, he was greeted by a host of strangers who cheered his return as well, carrying banners and bearing mile-wide smiles.
"It was a real warm welcome home," Jerrod Stranahan said, "and I had no idea."
Friends of Nevada County Military played a prominent role in the memorial services for Marine Lance Cpl. John Lucente, 19, who died Nov. 16 in Ubaydi, Iraq, and for Marine Lance Cpl. Adam Strain, 20, who died in August in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
The group, which celebrated its first anniversary last week, hosts monthly "packing parties" assembling care packages for overseas military veterans with ties to Nevada County and provides continuing support for those wounded in combat.
On Nov. 19, Stranahan returned home after a 11Ú2-year hitch in Afghanistan, his spirits lifted by a group of strangers who became friends united behind their support for locals stationed overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Nobody had ever done anything like that before," said Jerrod's mother, Sandi, who lives in Penn Valley. "He hadn't really seen any military appreciation until that. It's beyond cool, and that's all I can say."
Stranahan was met by members of Friends of Nevada County Military, a group that has met for the past year to support active military members and their families. The group might be familiar to local residents who pass the signs along Highways 20, 49 and 174 or to anyone who has signed memorial quilts for Nevada County military supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Last Wednesday, the group got together with about 125 people in attendance, including eight to 10 local members of the military who were either on leave, were about to be deployed, "or in some cases were finishing their military services and were settling back into the community," said Fred Buhler, the leader of the 220-member group and veteran of the U.S. Army, who served as a tank platoon leader in Korea in 1963-64.
Buhler himself has played an important role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A banker with 30 years of experience in international finance as a Bank of America executive, he spent three months in early 2004 helping the provisional Iraqi government set up a central bank.
Buhler and Friends of Nevada County Military co-founder Gina Gippner, whose son Glen served in the Iraqi conflict as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, have managed to keep the group strong by focusing solely on supporting the troops.
"We said to ourselves, we want to welcome everyone in the group and support the troops and their families, and we've been steadfast in that view," Buhler said. "The community response has been terrific."
In a satchel, Buhler keeps letters from overseas military personnel that indicate the value of such a group.
A note sent in April from Adam Strain thanks the group for sending him cookies and dental gear.
U.S. Army Spc. Forrest Gielenz, a Bear River High School graduate, wrote a letter recently to Friends of Nevada County Military expressing his gratitude.
He wrote how there are four things an enlisted man enjoys while in combat: three square meals and the mail.
"It's a really good feeling to know this means a lot to them," Buhler said.
Buhler himself has played an important role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A banker with 30 years of experience in international finance as a Bank of America executive, he spent three months in early 2004 helping the provisional Iraqi government set up a central bank.
Buhler and Friends of Nevada County Military co-founder Gina Gippner, whose son Glen served in the Iraqi conflict as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, have managed to keep the group strong by focusing solely on supporting the troops.
"We said to ourselves, we want to welcome everyone in the group and support the troops and their families, and we've been steadfast in that view," Buhler said. "The community response has been terrific."
In a satchel, Buhler keeps letters from overseas military personnel that indicate the value of such a group.
A note sent in April from Adam Strain thanks the group for sending him cookies and dental gear.
U.S. Army Spc. Forrest Gielenz, a Bear River High School graduate, wrote a letter recently to Friends of Nevada County Military expressing his gratitude.
He wrote how there are four things an enlisted man enjoys while in combat: three square meals and the mail.
"It's a really good feeling to know this means a lot to them," Buhler said.
Gielenz was one of a handful of U.S. Army troops honored in September for his role in freeing American hostage Roy Hallums from Iraqi captors, who had held Hallums for almost a year.
"We just want to relieve some of the burden and some of the hardship that they have at this incredibly difficult time in their lives," said Patti Unger, who helps coordinate the packing parties.
"We just want to relieve some of the burden and some of the hardship that they have at this incredibly difficult time in their lives," said Patti Unger, who helps coordinate the packing parties.
A year ago, when the group was getting off the ground, Buhler said they sent six manila envelopes full of prepaid phone cards, DVDs and other items to assist servicemen in keeping in touch with the community. The most recent packing party produced 48 full boxes.
"This is financed entirely through the generosity of the community," Buhler said. "It's very important that our troops know just how much we support them. There's always an upsurge (in support) during the holidays. And that support is absolutely wonderful. But we also think it's important not to forget our soldiers the other 11 months."
Generally, the care packages sent by Friends of Nevada County Military include food, toiletries, letters, DVDs of local sporting events and copies of Nevada County's daily newspaper. Many share stories and experiences of the war during the parties, Unger said.
"It's a real safe place. Everybody's there for the same purpose," she said.
Buhler said sometimes his group even goes beyond the county's borders in finding someone to support. When Woodland's Stephen Hibbert, a U.S. Army staff sergeant and bronze star winner, returned from a tour in Iraq in April, Buhler and company headed for the Sacramento International Airport.
"His mother called and said they were new to the area and wondered if we'd help welcome him home," Buhler said. "I told her 'You bet,' and we showed up with several people."
Kristine Mason, the mother of John Lucente, said Friends of Nevada County Military helped ease the burden of planning a funeral while she and her family grieved.
"This is financed entirely through the generosity of the community," Buhler said. "It's very important that our troops know just how much we support them. There's always an upsurge (in support) during the holidays. And that support is absolutely wonderful. But we also think it's important not to forget our soldiers the other 11 months."
Generally, the care packages sent by Friends of Nevada County Military include food, toiletries, letters, DVDs of local sporting events and copies of Nevada County's daily newspaper. Many share stories and experiences of the war during the parties, Unger said.
"It's a real safe place. Everybody's there for the same purpose," she said.
Buhler said sometimes his group even goes beyond the county's borders in finding someone to support. When Woodland's Stephen Hibbert, a U.S. Army staff sergeant and bronze star winner, returned from a tour in Iraq in April, Buhler and company headed for the Sacramento International Airport.
"His mother called and said they were new to the area and wondered if we'd help welcome him home," Buhler said. "I told her 'You bet,' and we showed up with several people."
Kristine Mason, the mother of John Lucente, said Friends of Nevada County Military helped ease the burden of planning a funeral while she and her family grieved.
"Fred just basically took care of everything. It was the most wonderful thing I'd ever seen," Mason said.
Because of her experience with Buhler's group, Mason said she'd like to highlight the needs of locals overseas.
"It brings me more at peace to know they bring the community together," she said. "The war needs to be more of a reality for people."
The war is real, Buhler said, and it's as serious as the tone Buhler uses when he talks about honoring those willing to defend America in exchange for some correspondence from home and a reminder that this community cares.
"At the end of the day, these guys volunteered to serve their country," he said. "Over the course of our history, it seems to me, when any young person stands up to defend their duty, the least we can do is show them our support."
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To make a donation or for more information on the Friends of Nevada County Military, write to the organization at P.O. Box 2262, Nevada City, CA 95959, or call Fred Buhler at (530) 265-4878.
Because of her experience with Buhler's group, Mason said she'd like to highlight the needs of locals overseas.
"It brings me more at peace to know they bring the community together," she said. "The war needs to be more of a reality for people."
The war is real, Buhler said, and it's as serious as the tone Buhler uses when he talks about honoring those willing to defend America in exchange for some correspondence from home and a reminder that this community cares.
"At the end of the day, these guys volunteered to serve their country," he said. "Over the course of our history, it seems to me, when any young person stands up to defend their duty, the least we can do is show them our support."
ooo
To make a donation or for more information on the Friends of Nevada County Military, write to the organization at P.O. Box 2262, Nevada City, CA 95959, or call Fred Buhler at (530) 265-4878.
