A mother's love

By ALEX STRICKLAND

Bigfork Eagle

Kim Jones blends into Bigfork. She's stylish and trim, enthusiastic and earnest. She's the combination of things that most people living in an upscale, beautiful and energetic community are.

But if the light catches her just right, you might notice the thin gleam of concern mixed with pride in her eyes and the glint of gold on her chest.

Jones wears a gold pin inscribed with "mother" with the blue and white symbol of the 3rd Infantry dangling below. Her son, Todd, left Fort Stewart, Ga. last week for the sands of Iraq, part of a 200-person company that Jones has taken under her wing to provide goodies, prayers and as much comfort as she can from half a world away.

Todd, 22, enlisted about 18 months ago and has been stationed at Fort Stewart for a year, waiting for his turn in the rotation that would send his unit to Iraq.

When the time came, Jones wanted to make sure the young soldiers had someone back home they could count on. She volunteered to act as "mother" for the company and coordinate an effort here in Bigfork to send soldiers care packages, write them letters and provide a friendly ear should it be needed.

"There's lots of these guys who don't have a lot of family connections," she said.

For the next 15 months the company, part of the 3rd infantry Division's 4th Brigade, will be in Iraq, stationed first at Forward Operating Base Kalsu between Karbala and Baghdad.

Jones will be blitzing Bigfork in the coming weeks, soliciting schools, churches, businesses and residents to adopt a soldier who could be from any of the 50 states and take responsibility for getting a box out to them — hopefully in time for Thanksgiving.

"This is just a mom's heart going out," she said. "We at home can do something to help."

Jones readily admits that the war in Iraq didn't hit home for her until her own son signed up.

"When something gets close to home like this, you wake up," she said.

A friend's son went over to Iraq three years ago and Jones said it never crossed her mind that soldiers in his unit might benefit from care packages from home.

"Now, when it's a family member, you're involved and aware," she said.

The 3rd Infantry pin she wears carries plenty of history, the blue background represents the loyalty, steadfastness and devotion to the principles of right and justice of the American soldier. The white stripes stand for the three operations up to the signing of the Armistice in World War I, (the Marne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne) and the numerical designation of the division.

The 3rd Infantry's stand at the Marne River in 1918 is considered one of the great U.S. military feats. The division stood fast against a German onslaught while others retreated. "Nous Resterons La," the general told his French allies. "We shall remain here." The division is still known as "The Rock of the Marne."

Jones said that soldiers told her the items most in demand in Iraq were leisure items, anything from a DVD to a whoopee cushion. Unlike many previous conflicts, soldiers at certain stations in Iraq have the stress and uncertainty of a combat situation and then are able to retire to the relative safety and comfort of a base where they might play video games or watch a movie before going out into the field again.

Jones' plan is to have soldiers spoken for and boxes ready to mail by mid-November, by which time she should have their exact mailing address. That time frame would also put care packages in Iraq right around Thanksgiving. While nearly anything can be sent over, there is a ban on any food containing pork or pork products and liquids cannot be mailed.

Jones suggested that rather than filling a shoe box with items, those wishing to give the troops a pick-me-up should grab a flat-rate international postage box from the post office that costs $8.95 regardless of whether it's filled with goose down or bricks.

Jones has a list of possible care package idea given to her by the unit, but encouraged people to also consider what their son or daughter or spouse might enjoy having.

"We just really want to bless these guys," she said.

Possible care packages:

Sports theme package: Sports magazines, taped VHS or DVD of sporting event, Cheetos, popcorn, peronsalized mug, cookies.

Comforts of home package: Febreeze, candle, dryer sheets, phone card, blanket, slippers, cocoa or coffee, coffee mug, book on tape

For more information or to "adopt" a soldier, contact Kim Jones at 837-1088 or bigforkjones@montanasky.net.