CAB Donates Toys to Local Children

NAGO CITY, OKINAWA, Japan  — Marines and Sailors from Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, presented toys to young children of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children and spent time with them.

About 40 children, aged 2 to 18, live at the home that has been open for 10 years, said Fumio Iha, the Camp Schwab community relations specialist.

The school year recently ended, so the kids were rewarded with these gifts for their hard work throughout the school year, he said.

"Most Japanese kids are privileged and lead great lives," said Iha. "Other kids are left with a substandard life and personal interaction is the best way to show them we care."

Navy Lt. Steve Benefield, the CAB chaplain, said the visit was a good opportunity for the children and the Marines.

"These Marines and Sailors interacting with the community is a great thing," he said. "It is good for Marines and Sailors to step out of their respective elements and step-up as role models and mentors."

Some of these children need a big brother in their lives, added Iha.

After presenting the toys, the Marines and Sailors helped break in the new toys by playing with the children; throwing around newly-acquired footballs and helping with new toys that needed to be assembled. The end result was laughter all around and smiles on the children's faces.

"Volunteering shows that we have a heart," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Clayton Brownwood, the CAB religious program specialist. "I enjoy helping others, especially these children. They seem to love our company."

Doing community relations of this nature promotes a positive image of the Navy and Marine Corps, he added.

Brownwood was instrumental in putting this event together in three short weeks, said Benefield.

"III MEF had a lot of extra toys in a warehouse collected from various drives throughout the island," said Brownwood. "I really wanted to hand out some gifts to some children."

Iha pointed him to this nearby orphanage, said Brownwood.

It seemed like a perfect place to do positive things, he added.

Brownwood said he plans to work with the orphanage again in the future.

"We want to take this orphanage under our wing," said Brownwood. "In the near future, we plan to come and have lunch with these kids and provide the school with some landscaping."

Benefield said the visit was just one way to show Marines care.

"We really wanted to be a blessing to these kids and give back to our host nation because they have been a blessing to us," said Benefield. "By doing things like this for the community, we help forge long-term friendships."