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Where The Hammer Meets The Nail
August 11, 2008
For our deployed Troops, down time is a precious commodity. On some of the larger bases, there are quite a few activities that a Soldier can take part in, from attending various classes, to viewing movies, listening to or creating music, as well as other activities. Our Troops tend to be rather crafty individuals, seemingly being able to create something out of what might look like a pile of junk to us. For instance, when my son was deployed to Kosovo in 2000-2001, they took turns rotating in and out of a small camp in the mountains, where they had no luxuries whatsoever. The guys in his unit decided that they needed something to keep their drinks cool during the day, so with a bit of scrap wood, hammers and nails, they built their own drink cooler, complete with a liner to keep the drinks and ice cold.
When Marty was in Iraq during his first tour, he spent a lot of his spare time, creating things from wood. I was amazed at the things he made, again all from scrap wood. He did say that it was sometimes difficult to obtain things such as nails and wood finishing supplies. This past deployment, his brigade built their new TOC (Tactical Operations Center) and often didn’t have the supplies they needed, or supplies that met standard US building codes. I’m sure that he’d love to have had access to G.I. Woodshop, Inc during his deployments.
G.I. Woodshop, Inc. is the brainchild of Richard Ireland, a disabled veteran who lives in Dallas. His brother is currently deployed with the 1st Sustainment Brigade out of Fort Riley, Kansas and is stationed at Camp Taji. In fact his brother is the NCOIC (NCO in charge) at the Camp Taji woodshop. When Richard began getting requests for woodworking supplies from his brother, himself, another disabled veteran and a military family member formed G.I. Woodshop, Inc to help ensure that they were able to receive the supplies that they needed.
“I decided if there was a need at Camp Taji, then other FOBs might be in need also,” Ireland said.1
As things have progressed and he’s sent packages of supplies over, he’s discovered that there is a need for all types of woodshop supplies. Response from the Troops has been extremely positive. Troops aren’t able to tell him how many projects they’ve been able to complete because of the packages that G.I. Woodshop, Inc has sent, but from the sounds of it, there are many.
Unlike those of us here at home, the Troops can’t just hop in their cars and drive to the nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s or other hardware store. Those types of places just don’t exist in Iraq and Afghanistan at this point. On some of the bases that do have AAFES stores, they’re not able to find a bulk supply of things such as screws and nails either. On some of the smaller COBs, they don’t have AAFES stores. So, at times it’s proven difficult to find the supplies they need in order to finish a project.
“Realizing that there are hobby and woodshops on most overseas bases, we envision being able to supply their [noncommissioned officers in charge] with hard-to-get requested … items, as well,” Ireland said. “I’m sure the need for certain items … is still great no matter where troops are stationed.
“Home Depots are not worldwide yet, and [the Army and Air Force Exchange Service] doesn’t have bulk nails, screws, sandpaper, paint brushes, replacement saw blades in their … online catalog,” he added.2
This is a great project and definitely serves a much needed purpose. I took some time to visit the website that G.I. Woodshop, Inc has set up. They have pictures of some of the projects that Troops have been able to make with their help. Take some time to visit their site and see what you can do to help this project expand.
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50739 [↩]
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50739 [↩]
Comments
7 Responses to “Where The Hammer Meets The Nail”
Just wanted yall to know that I think this is a great article. I now wish we had started the G.I. Woodshop back during Kosovo or the start of OEF/OIF. I had no idea the needs were so great! What they left out of the original Pentagon press release was what I told them about my active duty back in the day, when I was usually the designated unit handyman due to my woodworking abilities and background. At every overseas base I was stationed, Japan, Oki, Korea, PI, Greece, etc… it was almost impossible to get the hardware and/or hobby supplies I needed to do the woodworking. (fyi: I made dozens of those wooden plaques they would give to people for awards/decs and PCS etc. I distinctly remember in SEA, when I caught a hop to the PI to buy wood, cut it up, then ship it back to Okinawa through the mail! I also made quite a bit of furniture. I’ve heard some of it is still in use - after over 30 yrs!)
Anyway, since there are still no reliable hardware stores at most overseas locations, and AAFES isn’t going to be getting into the bulk nail business anytime soon, I found out that there will probably always be a need for this type of service for our troops overseas. We intend to continue supporting remote and overseas bases as long as there is a need.
We are having difficulties getting packages into Afghanistan. The contacts I had moved around a lot when they were there, so packages to their APOs would sit undeliverable… or worse. The guys I knew there are gone, so what I am asking is for ANY overseas hobby or woodshop NCOIC/OIC personnel to contact us at our email to sign up for goodies. Send us your wishlists, we might not get it all, but we can try. ( giwoodshop AT yahoo DOT com )
For now, we are only supporting OIF/OEF troops. I know there are bases in AK, Greenland, Iceland, Europe etc. that have the same problems… but due to limited funds we are currently only focusing on the Forward Deployed Areas.
Thanks for all your support! Sierra Hotel and “Hammer Strong!”
Richard “reeko” Ireland
President and Executive Director
G.I. Woodshop, Inc.
http://www.giwoodshop.com
Heard there will be a True Value Hardware store near the Baghdad airport in Iraq.
Just to let you know that there is a controversy starting about our troops overseas sleeping next to wooden crosses in Muslim countries.
The non-profit group G.I. Woodshop, Inc. here in Dallas provides woodshop supplies to our troops on the front lines. Some of these troops started building “BRO Buddies” at about the start of the Surge. These BRO Buddies are used to hang their armor vests, helmet and equipment on next to their bunks. But to see what these BRO Buddies look like, take a peek at their pictures on the G.I. Woodshop website:
http://www.giwoodshop.com/5_aug_gi_woodshop_008.htm
These are obviously 3 ft tall wooden crosses that our troops are sleeping next to! There are now 1000s of them in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some troops and even Chaplains are starting to attribute miracles to them. But the sad controversy would be if somebody in our own government decided to remove them for fear of “offending” any Muslims. The Pentagon press release about the G.I. Woodshop is here:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50739
Please pray for our troops! Thank you!
(third attempt to comment on this post)
Just to let you know that there is a controversy starting about our troops overseas sleeping next to wooden crosses in Muslim countries.
The non-profit group G.I. Woodshop, Inc. here in Dallas provides woodshop supplies to our troops on the front lines. Some of these troops started building “BRO Buddies” at about the start of the Surge. These BRO Buddies are used to hang their armor vests, helmet and equipment on next to their bunks. But to see what these BRO Buddies look like, take a peek at their pictures on the G.I. Woodshop website:
http://www.giwoodshop.com/5_aug_gi_woodshop_008.htm
These are obviously 3 ft tall wooden crosses that our troops are sleeping next to! There are now 1000s of them in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some troops and even Chaplains are starting to attribute miracles to them. But the sad controversy would be if somebody in our own government decided to remove them for fear of “offending” any Muslims. The Pentagon press release about the G.I. Woodshop is here:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50739
Please pray for our troops! Thank you!
Richard Ireland
Executive Director
G.I. Woodshop, Inc.
http://www.giwoodshop.com
Sorry I didn’t get to approving these comments sooner Richard. I was in San Antonio all day today at a Conference on PTSD and TBI and how those injuries affect families as well as the Soldiers and the agencies in the state of Texas that are providing services to them. I think what you’re doing is wonderful! Keep up the good work. When things slow down a bit for me, I will be contacting you, since I’m in the Fort Hood area and not all that far from you.
thanks Terri! sorry i posted it repeatedly… thought something was wrong with my computer! LOL anyway, haven’t heard anything else about the “wooden cross” thing and think it blew over anyway. we got much bigger problems brewing in Afghanistan… more to follow… - reeko
PS: the Texas Rangers gave us some tickets for this sunday’s afternoon game against the Angels. the Angels have the best record in MBL right now, and may even be in the World Series. its also Fan Appreciation Day 21 Sep. so, if anybody wants to go and don’t mind sitting in the G.I. Woodshop section - send me an email:
Wish I could, but I’ll be in Las Vegas for the MilBlog convention. Enjoy the game.
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