(Staff Sgt. Angela Gammage is unit training manager for the operations training flight of Detachment 2, 18th Intelligence Squadron at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea)
On April 17, my unit – Detachment 2 of the 18th Intelligence Squadron – hosted children from the Chamsarang Orphanage for a visit to the Osan bowling alley. The children were excited from the moment we arrived. Even with the language barrier, they were anticipating a good time. We even had two Korean Linguists from the 303rd IS help us out with communications.
Along with about 13 children, we “stormed” the bowling alley. Some of the older children bowled, whereas the younger ones were more content with playing in the jungle gym with other children from unit families. We provided lunch and of course candy for the younger ones. Having the linguists there really helped us communicate with the children – you could see the comfort level they had with us. Happiness was radiating not only from the children, but from us as well.
Mahatma Ghandi once said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I believe by making a positive impact on the lives of these children, in the future when they are adults, they will show kindness and charity to others as well. I know I speak for everyone in my unit when I say one can take a lot from these visits with the children. I personally take away a sense of selflessness. All they want is an afternoon of fun … what we get lasts a lifetime.
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