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Free computers help
deployed paratroopers’ Families
by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MNF - W PAO
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photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod/1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MNF-W PAO
A paratrooper with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), deployed in Iraq since August, uses an online video-chat program to talk with his wife and children back at Fort Bragg, during the Christmas holiday. |
AL ASAD AIRBASE, Iraq — Rebecca Tapia uses the free computer she received from a nonprofit charity for many things. She uses it to share photos from Kaylie’s karate practice and Tristen’s and Madison’s birthday parties. She also takes online college courses for an associate’s degree in art, learns sign language with online video sharing, uses Web-based shopping for distant relatives and conducts online banking.
The mother of three also uses the computer for its intended purpose: keeping in touch with her deployed paratrooper, Pfc. Joseph Tapia, a cannon-crew member with 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade).
Tapia is one of 75 paratroopers whose Families received new Dell notebook computers through Operation Homelink before the unit’s deployment to Iraq in August.
To date, the nonprofit organization has partnered with corporate donors to link 3,200 deployed Soldiers with their Families using Internet-friendly computers.
“He’ll pop up in Yahoo Messenger and say he’s online,” said Rebecca. “We’ll talk about the kids. He’ll say, ‘How are you doing in school?’ I just finished an online class.”
“I text her cell phone from Yahoo and ask her to get on the computer so we can chat,” said Tapia.
Rebecca also uses the ultra-compact notebook to communicate with her Family in Arizona, Joseph’s aunt in South Carolina and his sister in California. When Rebecca’s sister had a baby, she posted the photos to Facebook for Rebecca to see.
Maintaining Family connections make the deployment easier to bear, she said.
“We just had our Family portraits made, and I put the pictures on Facebook. I put everything on Facebook.”
Donor companies share a passion for supporting military personnel and their Families, said Dan Shannon, the founder of OH. The goal, he said, is to provide refurbished computers to spouses or parents of troops in lower pay grades. The companies are working to continue to improve the product they provide servicemembers.
The Tapias computer did not come with a Webcam, but they said they wish it had.
“With the increased use of programs like Skype, many of our recipients told us they would love to have Webcams for the computers,” said Shannon. “This is particularly important for holidays and birthdays. I went to our primary donors, Dell and Raytheon, and suggested we include Webcams with future computers. Both wholeheartedly agreed, so going forward, all OH computers will include a Webcam.”
Shannon said he is continually inspired to grow the program because of the servicemembers he meets.
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