4 Legion posts send gift items to Guard unit in Afghanistan

Four American Legion posts raised money for care packages for troops in Afghanistan.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Spc. Thomas Junkin and his buddies in his South Carolina National Guard special operations unit stationed in Afghanistan are in line to receive Christmas presents from four Mahoning County American Legion posts.

Junkin, formerly of Youngstown, was called to active duty with his unit in April and could be in Afghanistan for up to two years, said his mother, Irene Junkin.

On Thursday, members of American Legion Posts 472, 301, 504 and 732 gathered at Post 472 on Indianola Avenue to present to Mrs. Junkin the care packages purchased for the soldiers with the proceeds of a fundraiser involving the four Legion posts, said Gus Guzman of Post 472.

Junkin, a 1991 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, has had a long and varied military career. He served in the Army on active duty from 1993 to 1995, which included a tour in Iraq, followed by several years in the Army Reserve in South Carolina.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 for three years of active duty, including serving on a Navy ship which was in the Middle East, his mother said.

Junkin, 34, lives in Beaufort, S.C., where he is a volunteer firefighter. He works as a deputy sheriff on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Other area relatives include his sisters, Nadyne Junkin, at home, and Maureen Coudriet, of Youngstown, and two nephews, Michael and Robert Coudriet.

Mrs. Junkin said the family has sent her son at least 30 care packages, including coloring books, paper and pencils and stockings, which he and his buddies give to Afghan children. She said the packages take about seven days to get to Afghanistan.

“He e-mails and says not to worry. You worry, but that’s what he wants to do. No matter what my opinion of the war is, you still have to support him. You just got to keep going and do what needs to be done,” said Mrs. Junkin, who described her son as “funny,” and “one of the good guys.”

alcorn@vindy.com