ARGYLE - Dawn Skattum remembers the turmoil of the Vietnam War, even though she was just a little girl at the time. She can still recall soldiers not receiving a welcome-home parade, or even getting picked up by family and friends because of resentment toward the war.
"I swore I would never be like that," Skattum said. "I would help the troops as much I could."
She began sending care packages to troops overseas, and has been ever since her grandmother sat her sister and her down to write letters to soldiers fighting in Vietnam. Skattum sent care packages during the Gulf War, and when the Iraq War started, Skattum continued her care for the troops, including her former son-in-law, who served two tours in Iraq.
"While they are over there, they need a little comfort," Skattum said.
But nothing prepares a mother for her own family being deployed to war. Skattum's son, Ross, signed up for the military a few years ago and was sent to Afghanistan in October.
"I was disgusted because I didn't want any of my children to go to war," Skattum said. "But he said "mom, I could make a difference'."
In May, Skattum sent over two separate groups of boxes, about 20, to the "kids over there." She packed creature comforts, including treats like beef sticks, as well as thank-you letters. Then a local American Legion group decided to help Skattum send care packages to her stepson's unit.
Argyle American Legion Post 251 adjutant and Post 251's historian Jerry Gerber said that it is a common practice forAmerican Legion Posts to adopt a unit.
"We get a list of things they need or want over there and send them the items," Gerber said.
He said that Skattum's husband enlisted to become a new member of the Argyle post, and when Legion members visited him and Dawn one night, they started to discuss Dawn's mission to send over care packages to her son's unit.
"One night, when we had a meeting, we took a couple of hours to package up the boxes," Gerber said, adding that he couldn't believe how much support and donations they received from the community.
In June, Skattum, along with Argyle American Legion Post 251, sent 13 boxes to the 370th Sapper Company of the 54th Engineer Battalion. Skattum said that these boxes were filled with donations that were able to receive from local companies, including more beef sticks, and "Anti-Monkey Butt Powder," an anti-friction powder favored by soldiers for use inside pants and boots.
Skattum will continue to support her son's unit and all of the other troops until everyone is back home. And she hopes that one day everyone will be grateful for their service.
"These troops are very important people," Skattum said. "People need to show them that they are still cared for."
"I swore I would never be like that," Skattum said. "I would help the troops as much I could."
She began sending care packages to troops overseas, and has been ever since her grandmother sat her sister and her down to write letters to soldiers fighting in Vietnam. Skattum sent care packages during the Gulf War, and when the Iraq War started, Skattum continued her care for the troops, including her former son-in-law, who served two tours in Iraq.
"While they are over there, they need a little comfort," Skattum said.
But nothing prepares a mother for her own family being deployed to war. Skattum's son, Ross, signed up for the military a few years ago and was sent to Afghanistan in October.
"I was disgusted because I didn't want any of my children to go to war," Skattum said. "But he said "mom, I could make a difference'."
In May, Skattum sent over two separate groups of boxes, about 20, to the "kids over there." She packed creature comforts, including treats like beef sticks, as well as thank-you letters. Then a local American Legion group decided to help Skattum send care packages to her stepson's unit.
Argyle American Legion Post 251 adjutant and Post 251's historian Jerry Gerber said that it is a common practice forAmerican Legion Posts to adopt a unit.
"We get a list of things they need or want over there and send them the items," Gerber said.
He said that Skattum's husband enlisted to become a new member of the Argyle post, and when Legion members visited him and Dawn one night, they started to discuss Dawn's mission to send over care packages to her son's unit.
"One night, when we had a meeting, we took a couple of hours to package up the boxes," Gerber said, adding that he couldn't believe how much support and donations they received from the community.
In June, Skattum, along with Argyle American Legion Post 251, sent 13 boxes to the 370th Sapper Company of the 54th Engineer Battalion. Skattum said that these boxes were filled with donations that were able to receive from local companies, including more beef sticks, and "Anti-Monkey Butt Powder," an anti-friction powder favored by soldiers for use inside pants and boots.
Skattum will continue to support her son's unit and all of the other troops until everyone is back home. And she hopes that one day everyone will be grateful for their service.
"These troops are very important people," Skattum said. "People need to show them that they are still cared for."