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December 14, 2005
Soldier's mom wants town to adopt unit in Iraq
By GINA B. GOOD
The unit operates at two sites - a 164-bed hospital in Mosul and an 84-bed hospital in Tikrit, the home town of Saddam Hussein, who is currently on trial in Baghdad for crimes against his own people. Cooks, truck drivers and mechanics from the 47th were deployed along with doctors, nurses and medics at the end of October. At Tuesday's town board meeting, Liakopoulos will ask the board members to issue a proclamation adopting the 47th as the town's own sons and daughters. If passed, Pahrump will be the first town in Nye County to make such a declaration. (Editor's note: Today's edition went to press before the conclusion of Tuesday's night meeting. Look in Friday's edition for, as they say, the rest of the story.) In September, the City of Las Vegas adopted the First Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne. Liakopoulos' son, Michael Benthin, 30, is in his eighth year of a military career and currently a medic with the 47th in Tikrit. He left his wife and two children - a two-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter - at Ft. Lewis. But it's not only her son and his family Liakopoulos is thinking about these days. "When I saw mothers in uniform handing over their own babies to relatives to care for while they shipped out, that just broke my heart," she said. However, she and her husband stand fully behind the war effort and Benthin's choice of career. "My grandfather was in the French Foreign Legion, my father fought in Korea, and now my son is in Iraq," said Liakopoulos. "Michael told us he had to serve for God and his country. It runs in the family. I couldn't argue with him about that." Liakopoulos is not asking the town for funds, just for an official proclamation. "Other mothers who have loved ones in the service will be holding fundraisers for our programs," she said. Liakopoulos is working with the chaplain at Ft. Lewis. She is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Women's Auxiliary in Pahrump. The women will organize fundraisers to buy items such as phone cards to help soldiers stay in touch with their families. "My son told me what the troops think about most is their families. Of course, it's especially emotional and stressful on families during the holidays. The soldiers worry about how their wives and husbands are doing financially and how they are getting along," said Liakopoulos. "We want to ease their worry and let them know people in this great country appreciate their sacrifices." After the holidays, Liakopoulos said she plans to organize fundraisers to send items the troops need, going through military channels for reduced shipping. "The men and women need skin products - lotions to protect themselves from the harsh desert climate," she said. Gift certificates will also be purchased and sent to the base chaplain at Ft. Lewis to distribute to families. The 47th is an Army unit formed in 1928 that has an impressive wartime history. Its men and women served in China during World War II, in the Korean War and in Asia in the defense of Saudi Arabia as well as in the liberation and defense of Kuwait. In fact, the unit was the first U.S. Army hospital to set up for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Liakopoulos named the group she formed in Pahrump thusly: Support Soldiers In Need. Liakopoulos provided American flags to the first 75 people who attended Tuesday's town board meeting. For more information call Liakopoulos at 537-1955. |
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