OOA seeks help to cover Marine’s passage home
Operation Open Arms is hoping the surrounding community steps up to help a soldier on leave return home to Cape Coral.
The United States Marine is due to visit family in Cape Coral, but he had to buy his own plane ticket home from a foreign embassy. He is a highly decorated guard and was one of the very few to be selected to guard the American embassy.
Operation Open Arms founder Captain John “Giddyup” Bunche said the State Department won’t pay for his ticket home, so the Corporal had to charge the $1,687.40 round trip ticket. He said that the twist is that the state department will pay for the ambassador and staff, but will not pay for our Marines who guard the United States against terrorism to come home.
“Here’s this kid guarding our ambassadors and staff at the embassy, and they can’t pay his way home,” Bunch said.
The Pine Island fishing guide is offering to sell his own personal Marine Corp. Officer sword to help raise money to help him.
The sword is in mint condition, he said.
“There’s one attack after another on these embassies, don’t we owe these guys?” Bunch said. “I’m hoping out community can help resolve this.”
Operation Open Arms is a non-profit effort that focuses on helping soldiers returning from, or on leave from, combat duty.
Their focus has been helping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, giving veterans the opportunities to rest and relax and helping to provide money for weddings, among other endeavors.
Bunch said he doesn’t want to stray too far from that mission and calling an emergency meeting with the Board of Directors might not happen in time to help him out.
“I want to be clear, those coming back from combat are of the highest priority. But these kids are guarding our embassies, and they are not cushy duties,” Bunch said.
Bunch is asking that anyone who is willing to help out, make checks payable to Operation Open Arms at PO Box 101, St. James City, 33956.
Operation Open Arms asked The Breeze not to use the Marine’s name due to military regulations.