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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Aug 21, 2008 - 7:13:55 AM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Marine lieutenants from 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion play with children at a baby orphanage in Djibouti. Servicemembers from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, volunteer their time to visit the baby orphanage three times a week to feed, hold and play with more than 60 orphaned babies and toddlers. The Marines are deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
DJIBOUTI - Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is one of the forces supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, but the difference between the Airmen assigned to embedded training teams to teach Afghans how to defend their land is much more diverse than the Airmen supporting the mission in the eastern region of Africa.
Airmen, along with fellow servicemembers and coalition forces are winning hearts and minds through projects that include military-to-military training, civil military operations and senior leader engagements.
Personnel supporting the mission to protect coalition interests, promote regional stability, prevent conflict and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism, also differ through a large number of community outreach and volunteer opportunities.
These opportunities include English discussion groups and visiting orphanages in Djibouti.
Three days a week, servicemembers are given the opportunity to assist French nuns at the Djibouti baby orphanage to help care for more than 60 babies and toddlers.
The visits to the orphanage are the highlight of the week for one communications and information officer who deployed in September from the Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.
"For a period of time, I am allowed the luxury of forgetting about myself, about being deployed to Africa, about being 7,000 long miles away from my family, my home, my wife and my daughter," said Air Force Maj. Lanny B. Greenbaum, CJTF-HOA information management officer. "In the simple act of feeding a bottle to a baby, my heart fills with love for the children and reminds me of my family waiting for me in America."
The nuns who care for more than 60 children at the orphanage have volunteers feed the children during their visits, which can last up to three hours.
"We usually feed the boys and girls bottles of formula or soft, solid food," said Major Greenbaum, a 36 year-old from Plain City, Ohio. "With the remaining time, we play with the children."
With each volunteer, there is a special reason for donating their off-duty time. Some miss their children and are looking to connect in some little way, while others may have wives expecting and looking for a way to prepare for fatherhood. For Major Greenbaum, it’s not only a way to connect with his daughter, but it is also a way to give back after going through the adoption process.
"My wife, of 11 years, and I have a precious daughter who will turn three next month, while I am still deployed," he said. "Together my wife and I had the joy of traveling to China to make her part of our family. She is an absolute joy, and even though I am not home with my daughter, going to the orphanage helps fill the void. Personally, the trip is the highlight of my week.
"It is a chance for me to give back to those truly in need, to impact the life of a child who doesn't have a mommy and daddy," he said. "Our part, however limited, does make a difference."
Going through the experience of adopting a child gave the major a unique perspective of orphanages and what is involved with caring for children who don’t have families of their own.
"The caretakers at my daughter's orphanage took exceptional care of her, and I see my efforts as a small way to make a difference for deserving children here in Djibouti," said Major Greenbaum. "It gives the sisters a break and also brings a fresh face and another human touch into the children’s lives. For that short timeframe, the kids have someone to connect with, and it tugs at your heart when they latch on to you and don't want to let go. The hardest part is putting them down for the night and having to walk away."
Major Greenbaum is one of many dedicated volunteers who are seen at the orphanage every week.
"I see the same dedicated Camp volunteers boarding the bus each week," he said. "Some volunteers have been going to the baby orphanage the better part of their year tour."
The major, who has served in the Air Force for 12 years, makes it a point to attend the orphanage at least once a week, but to assist in his absence, when the mission allows, the Information Management Office is represented with the attendance of other Airmen.
"Three other people from my section also go to the baby orphanage," said Major Greenbaum. "We try to have someone represent our section each time a baby orphanage trip is offered."
The Camp Lemonier Ministry Support Team coordinates the trips to the baby orphanage each week.
"The major introduced me to the orphanage visits," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez, IMO Data Systems noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "He is always busy during the week attending meetings, and dealing with management-level tasks, but he puts his busy schedule on pause when it is time to go to the orphanage. It is one day out of the week where the major's professional life stands still, so he can give his time to the kids. The orphanage workers jokingly treat him as the father to Bethlehem, a little girl that he practically pushes all the other volunteers aside for, so he can have her all to himself."
A member of the camp’s ministry support team knows Major Greenbaum through his frequent visits to the orphanage.
"The major does very well with the children and seems to have a lot of fun with them," said Navy Religious Programs Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary A. Wood, Camp Lemonier Ministry Support Team leading chaplain's assistant. "He shows a dedication that is mostly only seen by those who have a family. Sometimes the sadness of seeing those children is just too much for people, yet for the major, he simply shows the children there is someone that cares for them. I am both honored and grateful that I have had the privilege to have worked with so many volunteers like Major Greenbaum."
While visiting the orphanage is a volunteer opportunity, it’s still helping to support in the CJTF-HOA mission.
"We are providing much needed assistance to the women who work at the orphanage and also providing attention and comfort to the children, which helps them to grow accustomed to new people, in turn, helping to make them more desirable to prospective adoptive parents," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Wood, a Cassville, Mo., native. "The orphanages along with the English discussion groups are the primary sources of our outreach to the community of Djibouti, where the majority of the population lives. We strive to win the hearts and minds of the young who will eventually grow to be the leaders of tomorrow. Through the actions of servicemembers like Major Greenbaum, we are striving to make a better and brighter future for the children of Djibouti. The country of Djibouti is growing so fast that these children can easily be forgotten, but our many caring and generous volunteers are ensuring that will never happen."
The dedication of volunteers runs deeper than coordinated trips through the chapel.
"I personally have witnessed people going out on days the chapel does not have a trip planned just so they can help that much more," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Wood, who is deployed from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. "There are a lot of highly dedicated people on camp."
Based on the services and types of deployments each servicemember is on, deployments can range from three-month to one-year tours. When it is time to redeploy, servicemembers like Major Greenbaum will be excited to return to their own families and children at the orphanage, like Bethlehem, will always have a special place in their hearts.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lts. James D. Lasley (right) and Tim S. Heffington (left) donate their time to help French nuns who run the orphanage feed babies and toddlers. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, and Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, are executive officers for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lts. James D. Lasley (right), Tim J. Lockhart (center) and Tim S. Heffington (left) play with babies after helping French nuns feed the young children. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, and Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, are executive officers for 3rd LAAD. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lts. James D. Lasley (right), Tim J. Lockhart (center) and Tim S. Heffington (left) visit with babies after assisting French nuns feed the young children. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, and Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, are executive officers for 3rd LAAD. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lts. James D. Lasley (left) and Tim J. Lockhart (right) play with orphans after assisting French nuns feed the young children dinner. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, is the Alpha Battery 3rd LAAD executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. James D. Lasley spends time with a baby after assisting French nuns feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Alpha Battery executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. James D. Lasley spends time feeding and playing with a few babies during a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Alpha Battery executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. James D. Lasley spends time with a baby after assisting French nuns feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lasley, a Portland, Texas, native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Alpha Battery executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. Tim J. Lockhart spends time with a toddler after assisting French nuns, who oversee the facility, feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage, Marine 1st Lt. Tim J. Lockhart spends time with children after assisting French nuns feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. Tim J. Lockhart spends time with children after assisting French nuns feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism. Servicemembers deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, visit the orphanage three times a week. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. Tim J. Lockhart spends time with a child after assisting French nuns feed more than 60 babies and toddlers cared for at the facility. Lockhart, an Arlington, Va., native, is the Bravo Battery platoon commander for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the Marine battalion provides security to those who are supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lt. Tim S. Heffington feeds a baby to help French nuns who take care of more than 60 babies and toddlers. Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Bravo Battery executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. Marines assigned to 3rd LAAD are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Marine 1st Lt. Tim S. Heffington feeds a baby during a visit to a Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26. Heffington assisted French nuns who take care of more than 60 babies and toddlers. Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Bravo Battery executive officer. Servicemembers from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, visit the orphanage three times a week. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| During a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26, Marine 1st Lt. Tim S. Heffington spends time with a child after helping feed some of the babies at the facility. Heffington, a Memphis, Tenn., native, is the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Bravo Battery executive officer. The battalion is deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif. Marines assigned to 3rd LAAD are currently deployed to provide security to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez (left) and Air Force Maj. Lanny B. Greenbaum (right) enjoy playing with two babies at a Djibouti orphanage near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. Greenbaum, a Plain City, Ohio, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa information management officer, and Hernandez, a Merkel, Texas, native, is the CJTF-HOA Information Management Office Data Systems noncommissioned officer in charge. Servicemembers supporting the CJTF-HOA mission donate their time three times a week to help French nuns who run the facility feed the babies at dinner time. More than 60 babies and toddlers are cared for at the facility. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Maj. Lanny B. Greenbaum spends time with a baby at the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26. Greenbaum, a Plain City, Ohio, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa information management officer. The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Maj. Lanny B. Greenbaum feeds a baby during a visit to a Djibouti baby orphanage to help French nuns who run the facility for more than 60 babies and toddlers. Greenbaum, a Plain City, Ohio, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa information management officer. Servicemembers supporting the CJTF-HOA mission donate their time three times a week to help French nuns who run the facility feed the babies at dinner time. More than 60 babies and toddlers are cared for at the facility. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez spends time with a baby at the Djibouti baby orphanage near Camp Lemonier. Hernandez, a Merkel, Texas, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Information Management Office Data Systems noncommissioned officer-in-charge. Servicemembers supporting the CJTF-HOA mission donate their time three times a week to help French nuns who run the facilitate feed the babies. More than 60 babies and toddlers are cared for at the facility. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez spends time with a baby at the Djibouti baby orphanage near Camp Lemonier. Hernandez, a Merkel, Texas, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Information Management Office Data Systems noncommissioned officer-in-charge. The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez uses both hands wisely to hold one baby and feed another during a visit to the Djibouti baby orphanage near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. Hernandez, a Merkel, Texas, native, is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Information Management Office Data Systems noncommissioned officer-in-charge. Servicemembers supporting the CJTF-HOA mission donate their time three times a week to help French nuns who run the facility feed the babies. More than 60 babies and toddlers are cared for at the orphanage. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco J. Hernandez cuddles with a baby at the Djibouti baby orphanage Jan. 26. Hernandez is the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Information Management Office Data Systems noncommissioned officer in charge. The Merkel, Texas, native, is among servicemembers from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, who donate their time to visiting the facility, which houses more than 60 babies and toddlers, three times a week to help feed the children and play with them. Servicemembers serving under CJTF-HOA are working toward the mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| Servicemembers deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, spend time with children at the Djibouti baby orphanage after feeding them dinner Jan. 26. Camp Lemonier is home to more than 1,800 servicemembers supporting Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| A servicemember, from Camp Lemonier, uses his dog tags to entertain a baby at an orphanage in Djibouti Jan. 26. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines visit the orphanage three times a week to help feed and play with more than 60 babies and toddlers at the facility. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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| A baby at the Djibouti baby orphanage plays with an Air Force major's dog tags during a visit from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, servicemembers Jan. 26 to help feed and play with more than 60 orphans cared for at the facility. Camp Lemonier supports the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente (RELEASED) |
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