One for everyone - Last day on Peleliu

March 2007. This was my 3rd trip back to Peleliu, to explore the battlefield... Over the years it's become a tradition that with each trip I bring a couple of sea bags filled with new toys for the kids. To make a long story short - it came to my attention that the kids didn't have their own stuffed animals that they could take to bed with them as we did when we were little - you know the whole comfort thing, and that's important is it not!:) So before leaving the states I get a head count to ensure that no child on the island would be left out or go without. As it turned out on this trip, the count was off and the kids ended up with two new stuffed animals/toys for their very own. What was funny is that some of the baby animals that I picked out at Target were unknown to these little ones - they all knew what a monkey or kitten or puppy was, but when I pulled out say a baby lamb I got blank faces... It of corse struck me that oh HG they don't have these on the island - they've never seen one... So note to self, that next trip get animals that they'll be familiar with as no baby lamb should go back home without an owner (kinda like the whole "Island of Misfit Toys" thing). These kids were so well behaved (they always are) and shy by nature that you could tell that they wanted a stuffed toy but they were ever so polite - this lead me to act out each animal, as it came out of the bag with it's own movements and sounds (as best I could - no comments please) to get one of the kids to smile and knod YES I would like that one!:) I've done this at the end of each trip, so even though you're sad that you're leaving this beautiful island - at the same time your heart is just bigger than a house knowning that you made all these little kids happy - you really do leave there with this soaring feeling that lasts for the rest of the day and 3 hour boat ride back to Koror. Writing this now has got me looking forward to going back and doing it again:)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• peleliu
• harlan
• glenn
• palau
• usmc
• hbo
• battle
• rats
• pacific

[pathduck]

oh man this is super cute. Among all the war stuff this made my day.

[PvtJoker18]

I agree with Master Chief - what a fantastic and thoughtful idea. If more people would expend the effort you do, even to make a simple gesture, the world would be a better place.

[MCPOWest]

HOOYAH! Your sincerity SHINES! You are what ROLE MODELS truly are meant to be.

May God continue to bless and keep you safe in your travels.

Godspeed; Fair Winds & Following Seas,

Master Chief