UAB Media Relations

Staff of the UAB Lung Health Center and Caremark RX, Inc., of Birmingham, have sent care packages to U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq this holiday season. Joan Mangan, Ph.D., M..S.T., director of patient education at the Lung Health Center and Jimmy Gann, a pharmacist with Caremark, coordinated the effort through Mangan’s sister-in-law, U.S. Army Maj. Kathy Fox, currently stationed in Iraq with the 45th Sustainment Brigade and Forward Operating Base - Q West.

“We raised more than $1,000 to purchase items that groups of soldiers can share, such as hard candy, gum, sterile water capsules to flush eyes, soup, foot powder, seasoning salt, drink mixes and Christmas CDs,” Mangan said. “We also were able to create individual care packages filled with practical items and goodies for 63 soldiers.”

The individual care packages contain baby wipes, candy, hot cocoa mix, a magnetized picture frame, granola bars, popcorn, potato chips, disposable razors, toothpaste, shampoo, mouthwash pocket sheets, eye drops, lip balm, and a pen with a note card to write home.

“Our military personnel and their families make tremendous sacrifices to serve our country,” Mangan said. “They leave behind families and children during deployments throughout the world. Care packages, cards and letters are a small measure to show we appreciate them, not just during the holidays but throughout the year.”

Gann relates a tale told by family friend William H. “Hap” Johnson of Jasper, a decorated paratrooper who served in World War II, after his family sent him a bottle of Coca Cola wrapped in a couple of pairs of socks.

“He took one sip from that bottle and passed it around to his fellow soldiers,” said Gann. “He says it was the best-tasting drink he had ever had. Our hope is that somehow these packages will be just as meaningful to the soldiers serving in Iraq.”

The packages were shipped this week, to arrive in Iraq in time for Christmas.