Stories from soldiers

FACTORYVILLE - An army doctor with local ties has started a project in Iraq for soldiers who are away from their children.

Major Brett Sachse, M.D., who is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, began filming soldiers reading bedtime stories to their children at home. Donations of books, DVDs, and money are being accepted for the program.

According to Brett’s mother, Debby Sachse, a Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center employee, the process is simple. Books are sent to Brett and he stores them in a room in the hospital where he is a surgeon. The troops come in and Brett records them reading one of the books to a troop member’s child. Next, he makes a DVD of the reading and the troop can send the DVD home. According to Sachse, the idea of the project is not new. “I believe the USO (United Service Organization) first began it,” she said.

“Brett decided to start the project at Al Asad because he left a 4-month-old daughter at home and wanted to read The Giving Tree, his favorite childhood book, to her,” said Sachse. Sachse said the DVDs are being supplied by private donations. “Brett’s brother-in-law has a small production company in the Washington, D.C. area, and has sent many DVDs, but private individuals have also sent some,” she said.

Recently, the Lackawanna Trail PTO helped to get things started in conjunction with a book fair. Faculty, staff, and students purchased books and put them in a specially-designated container. That drive resulted in about 100 books.

Sachse said that the architectural firm Hemmler-Camayd has also donated about 100 books, as well as funds to help defray other costs.

“Friends of mine also donated books and the Youth Group at Saint Catherine of Siena Church in Moscow is currently running a book drive. Books from around the country are arriving at Al Asad,” she added.

“I am incredibly proud of Brett’s endeavor. He is not the only parent who has had to leave a small child or children for an extended period of time. As a parent, I miss him dearly, but can only imagine how much each troop (member) misses his or her own small child. I think that often people would like to help support the troops, but don’t know how. This was so easy. I am so thankful to all of the people who were able to make book, DVD or monetary donations. The support was so far beyond what I anticipated,” said Sachse.

According to Sachse, Brett was awarded the Army Medical School scholarship in return for his service in an Army hospital. Shortly after his active duty began in 2006, he was sent to Iraq for his first tour of duty. This was during the surge and he was assigned to the hospital in Baghdad, she said.

In August of 2009, he was redeployed to Iraq, this time to Al Asad Air Base, where he will be stationed until March.

Anyone interested in mailing books can send them to: Major Brett Sachse, TF Al Asad, 47th Combat Support Hospital, Unit # 73325, Al Asad Air Base, APO AE 09333

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