2ND QTR 2011

OPERATION CARE
Operation Care is a 100% volunteer
organization comprised of military and
civilian members serving in
Afghanistan, dedicated to the welfare
of both the people of Afghanistan and
International Security Assistance
Forces.

Operation Care accepts donations of

basic necessities including shoes,
clothing, blankets, and school
supplies from donors across the US.

For Coalition service members

at remote bases, we provide
snacks, personal hygiene items, and
personal comforts such as CDs ,DVDs,
and reading material.

The American people are not only

active participants; they are the key to
our success.

SINCE OUR LAST NEWSLETTER:

*RECEIVED OVER 250 BOXES OF DONATIONS
*DELIVERED OVER 400 BAGS OF HUMANITARIAN AID
*SENT 100 BOXES TO SERVICE MEMBERS ACROSS AFGHANISTAN AT
REMOTE OUTPOSTS
*40 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 600 HOURS OF PERSONAL TIME
*MAILED OVER 100 THANK YOU LETTERS TO OUR DONORS

OPERATION CARE OFFICIALS:

PRESIDENT: SSG Robert Green
VICE PRESIDENT: MSgt: Hope Skibitsky
EVENT COORDINATOR: SSgt Melissa Wright
CULTURAL ADVISOR /EDITOR: SSG Derek A. Melendez

1 “Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.”
 EGYPTIAN HOSPITAL

SPRING-ING INTO ACTION

By SSG Derek A. Melendez
Parwan, Afghanistan-On 17 April, volunteer Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and
Marines from across Bagram Air Field joined members of the Egyptian Army
for a humanitarian aid mission at the Egyptian Hospital. This effort was part
of an ongoing partnership between Operation Care and the Egyptian Hospital
located on Bagram Air Field, which directly supports the local population
through medical care and humanitarian aid.
Each month, service members join each other at the Egyptian Hospital
delivering clothing, shoes, school supplies, and personal hygiene items during
each visit. On this occasion, over 200 bags of humanitarian assistance were
provided, much to the delight of the Afghan children who waited patiently in
anticipation to receive their new school supplies, just in time for the
beginning of the new school year.
“Today was a great success,” said Colonel Tarik Eid, the Commander of
the Egyptian Hospital, adding that he would like to continue working with
Operation Care in the future.
Egyptian Soldiers perform 5-month combat deployments to Afghanistan in
a primarily humanitarian role, providing routine as well as urgent medical
care to the Afghan community, six days a week. The hospital has been a
mainstay at Bagram Air Field since 2003, and has completed 16 combat
rotations over the past 8 years.
The Egyptian Soldiers and medical staff are greatly respected and
appreciated by the Afghan people for the dedicated service which they
provide. Afghans travel from as far as 250 miles for treatment at the Egyptian
Hospital, for issues ranging from the common cold to Leukemia.
“I have been bringing my younger brother here for the past 3 weeks,” said
Ahmed, a local villager from the Bagram area. “Nasir fell and broke his leg a
month ago. I brought him here to receive care at the hospital and the doctors
fixed him up,” he added, wearing an ear-to-ear smile.

EGYPTIAN HOSPITAL QUICK FACTS:

*SERVES OVER 6,000 OUT-PATIENTS PER MONTH
*600 MAJOR MEDICAL SURGERIES AND OPERATIONS
PERFORMED SINCE DECEMBER 2010
*SERVES 15 IN-PATIENTS DAILY, AVERAGING A 3-DAY
STAY
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” 2
 Jordanian Nashmi Task
Force

A LASTING PARTNERSHIP
By Major Ashraf Al Adwan
LOGAR, Afghanistan-Members of the Jordanian Army
recently performed a humanitarian aid mission distributing
clothing and personal hygiene items provided by Operation
Care volunteers. Approximately 400 Afghans, ranging from
infants to the elderly received aid from Task Force Nashmi on
the most recent mission. Participants received medical care in
addition to school supplies and clothing.
“It is a great honor for us to be ambassadors for the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, working side by with our US
partners and other Coalition Forces in Afghanistan,” said
Colonel Mukhled Al-Samim, the Nashmi Task Force
Commander. “It gives us great satisfaction to wipe the tears
from the children’s faces and replace them with smiles,” he
added.
In a relatively short period of time, the Nashmi Task Force
has garnered the trust, respect, and admiration of the Afghan
people of Logar Province, who share with them the common
beliefs and traditions of Islam. The positive working relations JORDANIAN TF NASHMI QUICK FACTS:
*Started operation in Logar Province in DEC 2010.
that the Nashmi Task Force has established with the people of *Provide theater specific training on the Afghani cultures and
Logar Province has allowed them to reach out to local villages traditions
in order to provide humanitarian aid to those in need. *Provide visited villages in the area with free medical care days,
The Jordanian Soldiers are always welcomed with a warm food, religious seminars, and humanitarian aid
smile by the Afghan villagers in the Logar area. *Broadcasts organized religious talk shows on several radio
stations for the Afghan people
*Excellent team of female soldiers capable and well qualified to
provide medical, educational, religious and social support to the
Afghan women
* Facilitate the Coalition Forces mission in the area

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” 3
 BAGRAM KOREAN HOSPITAL

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
By SSG Derek A. Melendez
Parwan, Afghanistan - It’s Mother’s Day in
Afghanistan and Operation Care is at the Korean
Hospital located on Bagram Airfield, distributing
humanitarian aid to Afghan women and children.
During this particular visit, the Korean Hospital
provided a medical health education class for
approximately fifty Afghan women.
First established in 2002, the Korean Hospital has
been instrumental in the provision of medical services
to the local population, and is supported by KOICA
and Seoul Paik Hospital. The Korean Hospital also
has the distinction of being a civilian led organization
since 2008. The hospital is a 16 bed facility that
provides care for illnesses ranging from hypertension
to pneumonia and sees an average of 160 patients a
day. In addition to offering health education classes
which are open to Afghan females, the hospital also
provides elective surgery for medical issues such as
tumors. The staff has stated hopes to begin offering
medical health classes for Afghan men in the future.
Dr. Lee Su Hyeon, Deputy Director of the Korean
Hospital, stated that “Operation Care represents the
mindset which had prompted me to volunteer to work
at the Korean Hospital; the desire to work with people
and to give them what aid we can.” Dr. Lee
commented with a warm smile.
“Hopefully, we will be able to continue working
shoulder to shoulder with Operation Care in the
future.”

“If you haven’t got charity in your heart, you’ve got the worst kind of heart trouble.” 4
 Those who help make it happen
OUR DONORS CAPTAIN MATTHEW FREEMAN

The Matthew Freeman Project

Bob Williams
ATTENTION: DETACHMENT 3-PHX
Cindy St. John
Deployed Service Member,
If you are in need of toiletries, CISCO Vets
personal comfort items, or items Diane Ratley
that are difficult to gain access to Helping our Heroes
due to your current location, Eddie Bauer Clothing
please let us know ASAP. Jennifer Mueller
Operation Care will do whatever June Duft
we can in order to provide you Mary Anne Lecos
with what you need to improve Michael Brown
your quality of life. Requests can Operation Hometown Gratitude
be emailed to Philip Groll
Robert.Green2@us.army.mil. Project Mail Call
Please bear in mind, Operation Rexford Canady
Care is limited in what we can Richard Moody
provide but will work to find a Robert Bilbruck
way to meet your request. Santa Barbara Angels
T.E. Shade
Terry Soave
Thompson Lightning Protection
Our sincerest gratitude VFW Post 423
Dear Donor, Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Zarguna Saleh
It goes without saying that Operation Care
could not survive without your generosity.
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to each and
every one of you who have helped to bring
so many smiles to faces across Afghanistan.

Your selfless donations have helped to

provide warm coats and blankets to
children in need. Your kindness has helped
to give basic school supplies to eager young
students and has prepared them to be
successful. Your generosity has given
hundreds of people something to smile
about in Afghanistan.

Thank you for all that you do!

5 “Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
 Operation Care
Needs
For Service Members:
• Toiletries • Large Back Packs
• Ground Coffee • Wet Wipes
• Dry Coffee Creamers • Books and Magazines
• Beef Jerky/Slim Jims • DVD and CD’s
• Microwave Popcorn • Travel Size Febreeze
• Sunflower Seeds • Ziploc Bags
• Rice Krispie Treats • Chewing Gum
• Large Black Trash Bags • Batteries (all sizes)

For Afghan Men & Women:

• Toiletries (travel sized) •Sneakers (Sizes 7,8,9)
•Socks and Thermal Underwear • Jackets & Shirts
• Work Shoes (sizes 7,8,9) •Snow Boots (Sizes 7,8,9)
• Tennis Shoes (sizes 7,8,9) •Winter Jackets and Coats
• Boots (sizes 7,8,9) • Feminine Hygiene Items
•Winter Clothing

For Afghan Children:

• Soccer Balls •Baby Bottles
• Volley Balls •Snow Boots and Socks
• Kick Balls •Thermal Underwear
• Tennis Shoes •Liquid Baby Formula
• Sandals •Plastic Bottle & Nipples
• Infant Shoes & Socks •Hats, Gloves, and Scarves
• Blankets •School Supplies
• Stuffed Animals •Backpacks and Book Bags
• Diapers & Wet Wipes •Coloring Books & Crayons

To donate, please contact the President @robert.green2@us.army.mil or the Vice President @hope.l.skibitsky@afghan.swa.army.mil
6 “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
 Our volunteers at work

7 “You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”