'Big Deuce' Soldiers participate in day of caring

FORT SILL, Okla. (Sept. 25, 2014) -- Soldiers from B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery "Big Deuce" participated in the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma's 20th Annual David Hegwood Day of Caring Sept. 19, performing community service at four locations around Lawton.

At the Center for Creative Living, a nonprofit senior center near Cameron University, about 20 Soldiers assisted with landscaping, minor construction and cleaning.

"What's happening here is priceless, it's a God thing," said Lorene Miller, the center's executive director. "I've been so touched that I've cried with happiness."

In addition to the center, battery Soldiers volunteered at C. Carter Crane Shelter for the Homeless, Teen Court and Brocklund Elementary School performing similar projects, said Capt. Timothy Davis, B/2-2nd FA commander. Between eight and 10 Soldiers volunteered at those agencies.

Lt. Col. Adam Cobb, battalion commander, challenged his Soldiers to make a difference in the community, and this was how the battery responded, Davis said.

"Community service goes hand-in-hand with selfless service, an Army Value," Davis said. "The Lawton community supports the Army, and I want to instill the importance of giving back in Soldiers."

The Soldiers worked side-by-side with 10 volunteers from Goodyear and 14 volunteers from Home Depot, which provided the supplies, Miller said.

Pfc. Compton Johnson, age 22, a field artillery data specialist, said volunteering got the Soldiers out of their combat-training element.

"Coming out here interacting with people we don't know or see everyday was fun, different and uplifting," Johnson said. "It's a beautiful thing to give back."

Agencies had to apply and were screened by United Way to qualify for the day of caring. United Way matched agencies with the volunteer Soldiers, Davis said.

Miller noted the center has about 40 of its own volunteers and they are all over the age of 70. Although they do much for the center which sees 1,000 seniors monthly, they couldn't have done the landscaping and construction that the volunteers performed.

"Our volunteers aren't young enough and spry enough to do the things they're doing," she said.

A couple projects were the replacement of an aging flagpole that was part of a Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial on the center's grounds and the moving of a horseshoe pit.

Miller said she expected the volunteers to be center until about 4 p.m. A hot dog lunch was provided and the volunteers had a chance to meet the seniors.

Davis said the battery has more community service projects planned.

"One of our co-op partners is Geronimo Road Elementary School, and we are looking to tutor kids in math and reading," he said.