Soldier surprises SOS with visit

In December, more than 150 local volunteers put together hundreds of gift packages for a local soldier serving in Iraq, Pfc. Cory J. DeArmitt. On Sunday, the young soldier made a surprise visit home to express his thanks.

DeArmitt handed out the packages he received to his fellow soldiers in Ramadi.

On Sunday, he told a local gathering of Operation Support Our Soldiers, "We greatly appreciated it."

He presented project coordinator Gary Clare with an SOS flag signed by the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, of which he is a member.

After the flag presentation, DeArmitt, a 2007 graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School, said, "It's nice to know they support the troops regardless what they may think [of the Iraq war]."

DeArmitt spent the afternoon surrounded by SOS members, representatives of the American Legion and its auxiliaries and the Swineford family, including Maxx, 8, Mitchell, 6, and their parents, Tina and Craig.

The two young boys put together a project called Operation M&M, Maxx and Mitchell, to collect items for the troops in their Penn Farms neighborhood near Hollidaysburg.

Maxx said he and his brother did it "to help the troops."

They contacted more than 100 neighbors by distributing fliers, and over a period that included two Saturdays of work, the boys collected two SUV-loads of items that were taken to SOS for packaging and mailing to Iraq Dec. 1.

The parents helped the boys, but Craig, a veteran himself, said his sons "really appreciate everything [the troops] do."

Barbara "BJ" Lysic of Lilly, representing the American Legion Auxiliary, gave DeArmitt a box of hand-crafted helmet liners to take back to his fellow soldiers when his 15 days at home end.

A note inside each helmet liner stated, "They were made with much love and prayers for your warmth and safety while you are performing your duties for God and country."

The reception for the 20-year-old soldier was held at Clare's business, Smith Furniture/House of fashion near Duncansville.

DeArmitt, son of Beth DeArmitt of Altoona and James DeArmitt of Carrolltown, is halfway through his yearlong deployment and came home on leave unexpectedly to visit his wife, Katelyn, and other family members and friends.

Of course, with the temperature hovering near zero and 20 inches of snow on the ground, he was asked how he felt coming from a land often regarded by Americans as stifling hot.

He explained the temperature sometimes reaches 130 degrees, but this time of year it can be cool. He said his brother, Adam, who is serving in Kirkuk, reported snow in northern Iraq yesterday.

He said he liked the cold weather of central Pennsylvania and spent last night snowboarding at Blue Knob All Seasons Resort.

DeArmitt called the experience "pretty cool," but not in reference to the temperature.

The Support Our Troops operation sent more than 350 boxes of food, hygiene items, phone cards and other amenities to 475 soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division. DeArmitt received 200 of those boxes to distribute.

DeArmitt's wife of only 13 months, Katie, was among the volunteers who packed the boxes for mailing Dec. 1.

Walt Edwards of Williamsburg, a veteran of 30 years in the Marine Corps, said it is important to send packages because a lot of things civilians take for granted are not available to the troops serving in various outposts and bases.

He said he just received a report that one group of soldiers wanted anything having to do with Penn State, something they can throw up on the wall at their outpost.

"Just a reminder of home," he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.