Two-Way Radios Received by Soldiers in Need

Two-way radios received by soldiers in need

Written by Katie Weidenboerner

A certificate of appreciation was presented from Bob Thorwart of Letters from Home and Mick and Patty Groll to Smith's Sport Store owner Jeff Buchheit for his assistance and dedication with the speedy delivery of 12 sets of two-way radios to send to the Grolls' son in Iraq.

On Friday evening, thanks circulated between the Groll family and Letters from Home to Jeff Buchheit of Smith's Sport Store. Letters from Home had received a grant from the Cameron-Elk Mental Health Association for the purpose of helping soldiers from Elk and Cameron counties with mental health issues.

Two weeks after the grant was in place, an e-mail was received from a St. Marys man, Mick Groll, who was trying to acquire two-way radios for his son, Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Groll, who is stationed in Iraq.

"Mick told us about everyone he tried to contact. He wondered if we could tell him how to go about it," said Crystal Gornati of Letters from Home. "We realized this was how we could use some of the grant money."

When the organization first received the grant, they were unsure how they would go about fulfilling the given criteria. When the e-mail was received, the program realized this was a scenario in which they could utilize the funds. The services of a local business was used to support a local soldier. By having the radios, the mental health of the soldiers was assuaged knowing they would be able to contact other members of their unit.

"It certainly helps to assure mental health when a soldier knows he or she can get a hold of someone when they need them," Gornati said. "We're tickled to have helped a business in Elk County, and a whole platoon with a local soldier."

Currently Groll is stationed just north of Baghdad running trucks for convoys in a transportation company. The radios will aid those in the convoy in contacting one another, as the main channel is oftentimes flooded with soldiers speaking to one another and is not always the most secure means of contact.

Smith's Sport Store owner Jeff Buchheit acquired 12 sets of radios in time for the holiday mailing last month. The radios were received on Dec. 17.

The St. Marys Daily Press http://www.smdailypress.com