September 2008 - The Fort Lewis Chapter delivered boxes of foodstuffs to the Puyallup Armory of the Washington Army National Guard for a food locker for families of deployed service members requiring assistance. Chapter member Herb Schmeling collected those items at the Support Americas Armed Forces Care Package Collection and Mail-Out on 14 September at Top Food in Puyallup. The items provided to the WAARNG unit family food locker were items unsuitable for care packages such as bulk foods, entrée mixes, soft lidded containerized fruit, and many other family type “to be prepared” food stuffs. The unit rear detachment representative, SSG Rowlett appreciated the donation. The unit was also provided copies of the DVD “Coping with Separation”, and instructional set of DVD’s used to understand the difficulties children go through when their parents deploy. Local unit food lockers have worked well for the families of deployed units at Fort Lewis and should have the same effect for national guard units
August 2008 - On 18 August, Vicky and Herb delivered soda pop, water, potato chips, cakes, hotdogs, hamburgers, macaroni salad, potato salad, and sliced cheese to CPT Gehring at the Puyallup Guard Armory for the A-1-303 CAV family picnic. He expects over 400 soldiers, family members and guests at the picnic. Unlike the last time the 81st deployed in 2004, the Brigade is undergoing final deployment training at Fort McCoy and will deploy to Iraq from there. The units have been on block leave with soldiers reporting back to their armories this past weekend. The 81st includes units throughout the state of Washington and attached units from Oregon and California. Therefore, each Guard Armory is hosting their own departure event and most have selected to have a small community ceremony and family picnic rather than the large brigade size event they had in 2004. No Chapter funds were required to support this event. The Chapter’s support for this event was through the time and energy of Vicky Mohler and Herb Schmeling to network and coordinate the BBQ meal for this event. On behalf of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, the Schmeling family donated 210 cheese slices and 75 cans of soft drink for the event.
Chapter member Herb Schmeling distributed cookies and bid farewell to troops from 2:30 to 10:30 AM at the Troop Holding Area at McChord AFB as four flights of the main body of the 81st Brigade, WANG of about 400 soldiers departed for training at Fort McCoy today in preparation for their second deployment in support of OIF.
February 2008 - The Ft Lewis Chapter, AUSA provided monetary and volunteer support to Wounded Warriors hospitalized at Madigan Army Medical Center (Ft Lewis) or assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion, Ft Lewis. Support included gathering items from 14 November - 14 December 2007. And hosting a work party on 15 December to sort items and fill 60 Holiday Stockings. The hand-made stockings were filled with a variety of treats including ornaments that were donated from homes in the Puyallup/South Hill communities and holiday cards signed by families of deployed service members at the Family Deployment event held in November 2007. The stockings were individually sealed in plastic zip-top bags, with games, a mug, CDs, DVDs, and hygiene items. Over 100 volunteer hours went into the collection and preparation of the Holiday Stockings by Chapter individual and corporate members.
December 2007 - On December 19, 2007, CSM (Ret) Herb Schmeling, Ft Lewis Chapter VP for Individual Membership distributed 50 Holiday Stockings to wounded warriors of the Warrior Transition Battalion, Ft Lewis WA. The soldiers greatly appreciated the unexpected packages of comfort and joy. The Chapter also delivered 10 additional Support Americas Armed Forces Holiday Stockings to the Red Cross office at Madigan Army Medical Center on December 21, 2007 for current inpatient and future inbound wounded warriors.