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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Deployed Service members pose for a photo after a USO event in East Africa Nov. 11, 2020. The USO was formed in 1941 as a response to President Roosevelt's call for a civilian organization to boost the morale of U.S. troops during WWII. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager delivers the 3 million USO care package to U.S. Army Spc. Kayla Lystad, a Minnesota National Guardsmen deployed with Task Force Bayonet in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in East Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. Each year the USO sends care packages to members of the U.S. military all over the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
U.S. Army Maj. Louis Cascion, office of security cooperation director, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) reads a book to his children utilizing the Bob Hope Legacy Reading program during a USO event in at Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
U.S. Army Maj. Louis Cascion, office of security cooperation director, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) reads a book to his children utilizing the Bob Hope Legacy Reading program during a USO event in at Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
U.S. Army Maj. Louis Cascion, office of security cooperation director, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) writes a note to his children after recording himself reading a book to his children during a USO event in at Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Alex Hebert, senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager, speak to service members during a USO event in East Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager, draws numbers during a USO bingo event in East Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti had the opportunity to deliver the 3 millionth USO care package in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
U.S. Army Spc. Kayla Lystad, a Minnesota National Guardsmen deployed with Task Force Bayonet in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, receives the 3 million USO care package in East Africa, Nov. 11, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager, hands out care packages and shirts during a USO event in East Africa, Nov. 12, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager, hands out care packages and shirts during a USO event in East Africa, Nov. 12, 2020. The USO is a nonprofit organization that has supported U.S. service members and their families for nearly 80 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
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USO delivers 3 millionth USO care package
Deployed Service members pose for a photo after a USO event in East Africa Nov. 12, 2020. The USO was formed in 1941 as a response to President Roosevelt's call for a civilian organization to boost the morale of U.S. troops during WWII. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable
The USO at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti had the opportunity to deliver the 3 millionth USO care package in East Africa, Nov. 11, 2020.
Each year the USO sends care packages to members of the U.S. military all over the world.
The USO at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti has been supporting military members since they opened their doors on camp in 2015. The USO site on CLDJ is the only physical USO on the continent of Africa and handles a large area of responsibility.
“It's exciting to expand the USO support across the Horn of Africa and just in time for the holidays, the most challenging time to be separated from loved ones,” said Holly Coffer, USO Camp Lemonnier manager. “We hope this trip leads to many more and that we're able to continue expanding USO support across the region.”
Coffer said this is the first trip that has been made to other sites in East Africa in quite some time due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“It's a privilege to be with them in these remote locations and it allows us to bring a touch of home in some of the most far-flung corners of the world,” Coffer said. “We celebrate connections in so many ways—from roasting s'mores in the mountains of Afghanistan, to helping a deployed dad surprise his daughter on her graduation day, to hosting a virtual wedding ceremony for service members separated by COVID. We're in these remote locations to make their deployment and separation from family, home and country a little bit easier.”
For many service members receiving a care package is more than just a gift—it's a reminder that someone cares about them and that they are not forgotten.
“I have been on many deployments and every deployment I have been on the USO has had a footprint where I have been at,” said U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Alex Hebert, senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). “It brings that part of home to you that you can’t find while on deployment and brings a sense of normalcy in the middle of conflict.”
Coffer and Hebert were able to present the 3 millionth care package during a night of Bingo and trivia provided by the USO. The recipient of the package was U.S. Army Spc. Kayla Lystad, a Minnesota National Guardsmen deployed with Task Force Bayonet in support of CJTF-HOA.
“The USO helps with so many aspects of morale,” said Lystad. “You guys put in so much work and effort and have to travel to some not-so-nice places and always have a smile on your face—so I just want to say thank you.”
Hebert and Coffer both agreed they hope this is the first trip of many more throughout East Africa.
“Our goal is to connect service members and create morale-boosting activities and engagements that help alleviate some of the stress brought on by being in the military,” said Coffer. “We focus not just on the service member but the whole family.”
In addition to the delivery of care packages during the recent trip, the USO was able to provide forward deployed service members the opportunity to utilize the Bob Hope Legacy Reading program.
“The USO took our reading program mobile and set up a location where service members can record themselves reading a book to their children,” Coffer said. “The USO will then mail the book and the recording home at no charge to the service member. It's a great way for the service member to keep reading those bedtime stories to their children no matter where in the world they're located.”
According to Coffer, working with the USO is a rewarding experience and a wonderful opportunity to show service members how much appreciation she has for what they do and the sacrifices they make.
The USO was formed in 1941 as a response to President Roosevelt's call for a civilian organization to boost the morale of U.S. troops during WWII.
“This represents almost 80 years of the USO standing side by side with America's military no matter how far from home they serve,” Coffer said. “It also represents the countless staff members and volunteers who've shared their time, talents and treasures in an effort to let our military know we stand behind them every step of the way. Where they go, we go.”
