Mark Wahlberg visits 1st MLG

‘Secret Santa’ delivers Christmas cheer
Story and Photos by
Cpl. Shannon McMillan
1st MLG (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan
– ‘Twas the month of December and all
through desert lands, service members
were prepared for the missions at hand.
Though they would not be home for the
holiday season, there was laughter and joy
that came with great reason.
Much like Santa Claus spreading
holiday cheer around the world, service
members with 1st Marine Logistics
Group (Forward), were visited by a
brother in arms, with gifts in hand.
Petty Officer 1st Class James
Bowes, safety and environmental chief,
1st MLG (FWD), collected wrapped
presents from various organizations
from the United States so he could
distribute them to Marines and sailors
this holiday season to lift their spirits
while deployed.
“I wanted to make sure the Marines
and sailors have something to open for
Christmas,” said Bowes, 32, a native
of Port Angeles, Wash. “It keeps them
conscious that there are people in the
States who care about them.”
This is the second year Bowes has
organized trinkets and pieces of home
to be given out to service members.
This year, he collected more than 100
wrapped presents for the troops.
“I am lucky because I get stuff from
my wife and parents,” said Bowes. “I
want to make sure that the others are
taken care of as well.”
Growing up in a family with decades
of military history, it was tradition to do
something for the service members who
couldn’t be home for the holidays.
“If we were back home, my family
would invite [over] whomever to enjoy
the holidays,” Bowes said. “I try and do
it every holiday season.”
Bowes presented gifts to service
members in various offices including
postal, medical, supply, food service,
administration, landing support, and
engineer support.
“It makes it feel like home,” said Staff
Sgt. Alicia Grady, staff noncommissioned
officer in charge, Food Service,
Headquarters and Service Company,
1st MLG (FWD), who received a
wrapped Secret Santa gift from Bowes.
“Receiving a wrapped gift and being
able to open it is amazing.”
Marines with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) open Secret Santa holiday
gifts at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 13. Petty Officer 1st Class James
Bowes, a native of Port Angeles, Wash., collected the holiday gifts from various
organizations in the United States to distribute to the service members in his
unit as a way of spreading holiday cheer while they are deployed.
Marines open Secret Santa presents.
It’s very thoughtful of Bowes to be
thinking of everyone else, said Grady,
30, from Gary, Ind.
“Making sure the Marines and sailors
are getting something for the holidays,
especially since it’s on his own time, [is]
very nice of him,” Grady said.
Lance Cpl. Kenneth Morales, a
food service Marine, didn’t expect to
receive many gifts this year since he is
deployed.
“It was like being a kid all over
again,” said Morales, after opening his
present.
Inside his gift box was a thermal
blanket and matching pillow case.
“[It was] really nice since it is getting
really cold here,” said Morales, 21,
Lowell, Mass. “You can see that the
people who sent out the gifts put a lot of
thought into them.”
Service members received an array
of presents including thermoses, stuffed
animals, hygiene products, sweets,
board and card games, books, puzzles
and other comfort items they can use
during their deployment.
“It not only shows character amongst
those who donated their time and
service, it shows core value of Bowes,
that even though we are deployed and
fighting a war, it is the holidays and that
we are here with each other and taking
care of each other,” said Lt. Cmdr. Paul
Schiermeier, safety officer, 1st MLG
(FWD), who works with Bowes.
Even though it took a lot of time and
effort to collect the gifts to distribute,
Bowes said it was worth the effort.
“Seeing the expressions on their
faces and how much it made them
happy made it worth it,” said Bowes.
shannon.mcmillan@afg.usmc.mil
The Convoy Page 4
Dec. 24, 2010