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380AEW Article

California Girl Scouts send a sweet reminder of home to deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 380th Air Expeditiionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Letters and care packages from home have always uplifted the spirit of warriors serving their country in a foreign land thousands of miles away.

Recently the hearts of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen were warmed when they received a sweet gesture from California Girl Scouts in the form of 1,800 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

"The squadron members are really loving it," said Lt. Col. Johnny Barnes, commander of the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a non-disclosed base here. "It's something you can't otherwise get here, and I think it reminds folks of home."

When the girls from Junior Troop #361 in Vacaville, Calif. went door-to-door selling cookies, they also asked neighbors if they'd be interested in donating a box of cookies to the troops.

"The scouts were overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Vacaville who have proven to be generous for several other causes with which I've been involved," said the commander. "The town is just full of great people."

Colonel Barnes is deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., which is about 20 miles from Vacaville where he and his family live.

Colonel Barnes' daughter, Amara, along with former 908th EARS commander Lt. Col. Matt Lloyd's daughter, Alex, initiated the effort and were assisted by Alyssa Higashi, Amber Lindsey, Audrey Combs, Kori Vaudrin, Kari Yamada, Kylie Wetzel, and Sara Teeters.

"It was a lot of work for a lot of people, but it was truly a labor of love," said Colonel Barnes. "From selling the cookies, collecting the money, to loading up the cookies, to all of the steps in between...it took someone working to make this happen."

"Everyone here is very grateful for the thoughts and labor that went into this endeavor," said Colonel Barnes whose personal favorite are Tagalongs -- peanut butter on top of a cookie covered in chocolate.

He said the Berry Munch and Thin Mints seem really popular too. "But honestly all of them are greatly enjoyed," he said.

The cookies have made their way all over base and Airmen always seem to have a favorite that makes them smile.

"What could be more wholesome than Girl Scouts sending cookies to the troops?" asked the lieutenant colonel.

The 380th AEW is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.