Operation Fireside: A home away from home

Monday, November 29, 2010

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

On a typical day at boot camp, recruits wait in line for “chow,” at the Coast Guard’s Training Center in Cape May, N.J. standing in a straight line, with shoulders to the “bulkhead” as Company Commanders bark orders. This past Thursday, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, recruits found a small reprieve from this daily routine at boot camp as they settled onto comfortable sofas, surrounded by the aromas of a home-cooked meal.

The recruits, who have endured weeks of grueling training, earned the privilege to go off base on Thanksgiving Day as part of Operation Fireside. A holiday tradition since 1981, Operation Fireside is sponsored by both the Cape May County chapter of the American Red Cross and the Coast Guard and allows recruits to spend time with families in the community for a break from their now regimented lives.

Recruits at Kaufman's house

A total of eight recruits visited the home of Dr. Jim and April Kaufman, a host family participating in Operation Fireside. The recruits were able to visit homes of the local community in celebration of the holidays. Photo courtesy of Fr. Miles Barrett, CDR CHD USN.

This year, Operation Fireside matched up 372 Training Center Cape May recruits with 111 host families who took in the recruits for a day of food, fellowship, and of course well-deserved rest and relaxation

Used to starting their day at the crack of dawn and not hitting the rack until 10 p.m., the recruits’ day off started at 9:00 a.m. where they were picked up by a host family and soon found themselves in the warm homes of the local community where smiles and handshakes were a welcome replacement from verbal commands and orders.

The recruits who participated called home to talk to loved ones, watched television, especially football, or for many recruits who welcomed the break from their regulated schedule, just sitting and talking felt good.

One of the participants was Seamen Recruit William Sinclair, who traveled off base with one other recruit to enjoy amenities that were dearly missed. Originally from Whitney Point, N.Y., this was Sinclair’s first time away from home for Thanksgiving, so being able to talk to his family was a highlight of his day.

In between eating both breakfast and a traditional thanksgiving meal and watching television, Sinclair found time to video chat with his family who was back home and eating their Thanksgiving dinner without him for the first time.

“It really means a lot to share in something like this after being stuck here for so long,” said Sinclair. “Here at boot camp everything looks exactly the same as every other room, so it was great just being able to get off the base and being in a home atmosphere.”

The home-cooked food that nourished the recruits was only part of the affects the day had on the recruits. For many of the young men and women, who arrived in Cape May from all across the country, missing family and friends was a daily occurrence.

Recruits served dinner

A highlight of the day for many of the recruits included the delicious dinners the host families served. The relaxation and camaraderie around the dinner table was a welcome break from their typical boot camp routine. Photo courtesy of Fr. Miles Barrett, CDR CHD USN.

Seaman Recruit Christopher Stevenson was far from his hometown of Chicago, but his participation in Operation Fireside surrounded him with the comfort and hospitality that can only come from close friends.

“From the time we stepped into the house until they dropped us off back at the base, they acted like we were family,” said Stevenson. “It was such a great thing to go off base and have someone welcome you with open arms and make you feel like you are home, when you are so far from it.”

Stevenson was overjoyed with the camaraderie he shared with his host family and their generosity, but also made sure to note how delicious the food was.

“I think it was the best turkey I’ve ever had in my life,” said Sinclair.

Being away for the holidays is something that often comes with service, and for both Sinclair and Stevenson, recruits from Delta 184, this may not be the last time they are not home for the holidays. Delta 184 will be graduating this Friday and both recruits will be stationed at units far from their hometowns. For them, this holiday and Operation Fireside, was a reminder that despite the fact they are away from their own families, they can still find their way “home.”

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  • Marjorie Williams

    My nephew, Douglas E Williams, is in the Coast Guard. This is a great idea. While I live inland and don’t have Coast Guard recruits here, I would gladly do this for any of our military. I don’t have family here, so there is always room for friends and guests at my table.

  • http://coastguard Dana Limbaugh

    My daughter is currently at USCG Training Center and will graduate on December 10th. I am so thankful for the wonderful people there that opens up their homes for these young people away from their families. I would love to write them personally and let them know how much I appreciate their generosity. May God Bless them all.

  • karen

    when i was in bootcamp y147, 1995 we were there for thanksgiving families hosted us it was the best thing that could of ever happened to us!!

  • Rick Draper

    I sincerely commend the great citizens of the Cape May area. From a distance of 42 years and the other coast, I clearly remember boot camp at this time of year. No such program existed then, but I can tell you sincerely, it would have been greatly appreciated. Your local citizens provided a “care and feeding” in the names of all of us who would like to. Thank you to the community and thank you to the Recruits who chose to work the seas for our benefit. Government Island, D66.

  • Phil Howard

    I really believe that this is a nice thing being done for the Recruits these days. I was at Cape May…Company Delta 60 back in 1965, and had Thanksgiving Dinner right there in the Mess Hall, had everything from soup to nuts…what a fantastic meal!!!! We had “Holiday Routine” for the rest of the day, but we were not allowed off the Base on that day……the way it was back then, the Good Ol`Days!!!!

  • BMC B J Willey, USCG, RET

    I to was at Cape May NJ in boot camp during December 1959. We were the skeleton crew while everyone was on vacation for the holidays. The USO put on a wonderful dance/social for us at Wildwood, NJ It was great. Guess times are changing. To all you brand new recruits I say “SEMPER PARATUS”. Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEARS. “Boats”

  • ET3 Robert Perkins, USCG

    I was in Cape May in November 2008 part of S/T-180. The day to relax from the company commanders was greatly appreciated, if I were to get stationed near TRACEN, I would DEFINITELY take part in this. If I could remember who took me and and another recruit in, I would thank them, But I can’t even remember where we were in the Cape May area.

    SP

    Rob

  • Terri Phillips

    A big thank you to all the host families for opening your homes, hearts and lives to the Coasties during the Thanksgiving holiday. Being a mom of a Coastie who is away from home on Holidays, its nice to know there are still wonderful, caring people who are willing to share!! THANK YOU!!
    My sons first Thanksgiving away from home, he was out to sea and I was so upset not knowing what he was having for dinner that day. He sent us a picture of the wonderful meal the chef prepared for them. His looked better than mine ;-)
    Thank you, Coasties, for your dedication, hard work, and sacrifice!!!!!

  • Gib Tompkins

    A big thank you to all the host families for opening your homes, hearts and lives to the Coasties during the Thanksgiving holiday. Being a dad of a Coastie who is away from home on Holidays, its nice to know there are still wonderful, caring people who are willing to share!! I can not tell you how thrilled I was when my daughter called me on Thanksgiving!I am proud to be her dad and proud she choose the Coast Guard!
    THANK YOU!

  • Deb Manion

    I would like to say thank you to the host families. What a wonderful give you have given the recruits and their family. My daughter, Shauna Rafferty, is part of Golf 184 and was able to be in Atlantic City and call me all day long. It really made my Thanksgiving. Thank you.

  • MKCS R H Fichter Ret

    Like “Boats” above, I went thru Cape May end of Aug to end of Dec (13 weeks Alpha-41) and a few of us were lucky enough to have a shipmate that lived close. I went up to Trenton with 2 others and our host fellow recruit. It meant so much just to be off base for a day and spend time with others that were away from home. I will never forget our hosts name for that Thanksgiving in 1959. In addition to the traditional food, the phone call home with hopes to be there in another 5 weeks was a high point for the day. Semper Paratus.
    MKCS Rich Fichter USCGR Ret.

  • Paul Logan

    My nephew, Logan Kellogg was lucky enough to go home with a family for the day! Had an opportunity to call home and his uncle! He and 2 of his friends had a great day they will not soon forget. God Bless all the families who participated!

  • Eva Gifts

    Thanksgiving is a family celebration and it should be in such atmosphere for coastguards or soldiers as well, we all need to relax sometimes.