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Cell Phones For Soldiers

Oct-30-2004 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT , Homefront

[Link to Full Article]
By Bob Hill

[...] One of those soldiers is David Hill, 28, a St. Xavier graduate who earned a degree in political science at the University of North Texas. He then enlisted in the service, earned his wings in airborne at Fort Benning, is now driving an armored vehicle with the 25th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade in northern Iraq. He married his girlfriend of four years one month before he went over; he won't get home until next October.

"David's always talked about the military," said his mother, Ellen Eirk. "He played soldier as a little boy. ... Now he's already been shot at and you name it."

About six weeks ago, she saw a television segment about a program called Cell Phones for Soldiers — see cellphonesforsoldiers.com. It was started in Massachusetts by two children, who, after hearing a news report about a local soldier running up a $7,600 phone bill, started a campaign to raise money for calling cards.

It's now a national not-for-profit program in which people donate old cell phones at local drop boxes, or donate cash. The phones are reconditioned and resold. The income is used to buy calling cards for soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

"David's been able to afford to call us," said his mother. "Not everybody in the military is that fortunate."

Ellen Eirk's cell phone drop box is located at Bob Hook Chevrolet, 4144 Bardstown Road, where her husband works. She's already collected 50 old phones; more than $150,000 has been raised for phone cards nationwide.

She's heard from her son by phone three times — "He was in the middle of a lot of bad things" — but the cell phone program did not pay for his calls; there are other voices to be heard.

"I'll do anything I can to support the troops," Eirk said. "I never appreciated what military families are going through. ... Now I'm living it."


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