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who are, including the Commanding Offi cer of U.S. Naval Mobile expecting.”When all was said and done, 17 boxes fi lled with all of
Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133. LCDR Rasbach asked the the small luxury items we so oft en take for granted were sent out.
skipper of NMCB 133 if his deployed personnel would like care
packages over the holiday and the response was immediate – yes, Not long aft er the New Year, Caty received the following letter from
they would. Caty then connected with NMBC 133 Battalion one of the recipients, NMBC 133 Battalion Chaplain, Lieutenant
Chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Mark Torres, to organize the Commander Mark Torres:
numbers and addresses.

For those who are unfamiliar, NMCB units are the Navy’s Caty,
construction fi ghting force with two battalions continuously Your care packages supported
deployed around the globe responding to the full range of military approximately 300 Sailors
in fi ve different countries
operations. With half of the NMCB 133 Battalion located in Rota, across Europe and Africa. The
across Europe and Africa. The
Spain and the other balance of the unit dispersed throughout Sailors really appreciated
Europe and Africa, Operation Share Joy packages were destined for them (especially the hand Caty,

servicemen and women on three diff erent continents. “I just wanted warmers for those in cold (especially the hand warmers for those in cold locations)! We
Thank you so much for the care packages! Your care packages
supported approximately 300 Sailors in five different countries
locations)! We mailed a few
across Europe and Africa. The Sailors really appreciated them,
them to feel appreciated and know that people still care about them, boxes to Poland, and I was mailed a few boxes to Poland, and I was able to personally bring
boxes to our Sailors in Cameroon and Ukraine. We mailed four
in Spain as well.
boxes to our Sailors in Djibouti and of course we enjoyed them

especially at Christmas when they probably miss their families and able to personally bring I don’t know how you managed to get all that good stuff from
your classmates! It definitely went a long way helping us stay
focused through deployment. Please extend our gratitude to all
home the most,” said Caty. boxes to our Sailors in of your fellow classmates, teachers and staff for the support,
and have a Happy New Year!

Cameroon and Ukraine. We Sincerely,

mailed four boxes to our Mark A. Torres
During her reach out, Caty also connected with Aquinas alumnus Sailors in Djibouti and of Battalion Chaplain
NMCB 133
“The Runnin’ Roos”
Kevin Brockler ’01, Director of Operations of the 17th Operational course we enjoyed them in
Weather Squadron for the U.S. Air Force. He is currently stationed Spain as well.
at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii where each day, they I don’t know how you managed to get all that
provide detailed weather forecasts for military operations in the good stuff from your classmates! It defi nitely
Pacifi c theater. He, too, was able to provide the name of a member went a long way helping us stay focused through
of his unit – Sergeant Josh Bellew – who was deployed to Iraq to deployment. Please extend our gratitude to all of
support an anti-terrorism mission. your fellow classmates, teachers and staff for the
support, and have a Happy New Year!
Brockler echoed the same sentiments. “Being deployed during the Sincerely,
holidays can be especially diffi cult. Your family and friends are
thousands of miles away, you are working long hours every day, Mark A. Torres
Battalion Chaplain NMCB 133
oft en with no days off for six months at a time. Th ere is an intense “The Runnin’ Roos”
focus on getting the job done right because the stakes are high.
Receiving a care package goes a long way because you know others
are thinking about you. It makes you feel closer to home even Still quite humble about the whole thing Caty simply replied, “I
though you’re so far away.” like giving back to people and the military has always been very
important to me, which defi nitely comes from my dad.”
Th roughout the three weeks that
they collected items for Operation
Share Joy, Caty and Maddie also
asked students during their lunch Caty Collins and her father,
periods to make cards for the care Colonel John Collins, Jr. attend a
package recipients – wishing them special Veterans Day assembly at
Pine Brook Elementary School in
happy holidays and thanking them Greece, where students thanked
for their service. Campus Minister Col. Collins for his service.
Mary Bills also helped the girls
organize a mission collection to
pay for all shipping costs. Th ey
raised $262.00, which covered
nearly all of what they needed.
Finally, on December 20, Caty,
her mother, Maddie and some of
their friends stayed aft er school
to sort and package the items
donated by students, faculty and
staff . “I was so happy with how
much we collected,” said Caty.
“It was even more than I was

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