Soldiers at Baghdad camp send storybook videos home to kids

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004 | 8:16 a.m.

Nevada service members and spouses of service members with small children may want to take a page from the book of Air Force Capt. Tim Sites when it comes to keeping together a family separated by war.

In a recent Air Force News Service release, the captain, who is deployed to Camp Sather (Baghdad Airport) is credited with the idea there of soldiers and airman videotaping bedtime stories for their children back home.

"The family of airmen and soldiers assigned to Camp Sather here are making storybook videos for their children back home as part of a 'read to your child/video greeting program' operated by the 447th Air Expeditionary Group services flight," says Sgt. Michael O'Conner, an Air Force public affairs specialist.

The program, which began Nov 19, lets troops record a video of them reading a book to their children or of a holiday greeting for their family. Sites, the services flight commander, came up with the story book idea initially.

"The captain asked me one day if I'd like to read a book to my child on camera. I said yes," said Tech. Sgt. Felicia Gomes. "Then he asked if I thought others in the camp would like to do the same. I said yes."

From that point on, she said, the captain put her in charge of making it happen. Gomes said it took a little while to get it approved, but it is already a hit with the camp.

"I love it," said Staff Sgt. Todd Duquette Sr., a working-dog trainer for the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. "I could kick myself in the butt for not doing this sort of thing before I left home."

Duquette was the first person to use the program. He read "Tod and Copper from the 'Fox and the Hound' " to his five children, who range in age from 19 months to 11 years old. He said he has seen the movie and reads the book to his children often; it is a family favorite. The book is one of 13 books donated by the library staff at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Tanya Evans, a supply specialist from the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, was the second in line and read "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car" to her 3-year-old daughter, Tierra.

"When the camp-wide e-mail went out, 18 people responded immediately, (and) a steady stream of folks (are) making appointments every day," Gomes said.

In brief