Army wives provide Fun For Our Troops with videogames

More and more gamers are laying down their lives so we can have the freedom to say or do what we want stateside. (Told you there were gamers in the foxholes.)

While these brave gamers are overseas dodging bullets, cautiously looking out for improvised explosive devices as well as their buddies’ backs, a few find peace in their chaotic lives overseas by gaming. Although she admits it seemed childish to her at first, Army wife Stefanie Shea couldn’t help starting a non-profit group to offer these gamers a bit of relaxation and escape from the war by collecting and shipping games and systems for deployed U.S. military personnel.

Seeing grown men hunkered down over a handheld game controller, fingers racing frantically to throw a football pass, slay the dragon or free a princess seems like kid stuff, Shea admitted.

“You actually hold this controller and you hold it kind of like it’s a bowling ball and you go through the motions,” she said. “It’s really crazy. If you haven’t tried it you have to seek one out.”

Shea first experience with videogames took place when she and her husband, Sgt. Michael Shea, would play Nintendo Wii games together with friends at Fort Campbell, KY, until Michael had to deploy for his second tour in Iraq a few weeks ago (October 2007). She said that since her husband will miss the next two Christmases at home she asked his opinion of what he thought soldiers there truly needed to relax and have a bit of holiday cheer despite being miles away from home. The answer was fun and relaxation to help them decompress the stresses of their duty. It was then she knew the only technology she could find that could provide just that – videogames.

Together with friend Dana Blackman Brady, who owns a consulting firm in Langhorne, Shea applied for nonprofit status for their organization, Fun For Our Troops. Together, they intend to collect money, gift cards and donated game devices from 2005 or newer to send to troops overseas. By word of mouth alone she raised more than $100 in one week to help collect the games for the troops.

“I need to keep myself busy,” Shea said. Keeping busy is something most military wives of deployed soldiers do to keep themselves from fearing the worse has happened to their loved ones when they are unable to call or a news channel announces a fire fight in their soldier’s general location. “Projects are always good.”

Brady, married to a former Army Ranger, said the games could be beneficial as well as provide a comfort from home.

“What they really appreciate over there is the true comforts of home,” Brady said. “The stress relief and the escapism involved in these games, we really think could be beneficial. We’re hoping to get (the games) throughout the year. We don’t want to have [soldiers] wait. We do foresee the issues with Christmas. It’s going to be a crunch for those games.”

Blackman Brady said she plans to write to companies to see if games could be donated. But, in the meantime, she is trying to get schools and communities involved.

At that rate, the duo will need many dollars to pay for the games and systems, which Blackman Brady said range from $80 to $700. Buying warranties for the devices will be another expense, but one worth the money, she said.

For more information or to make a donation visit the Fun For Our Troops website.

Currently the group is accepting gift cards, cash donations that will be used to purchase high-tech game systems and devices for shipment overseas. Contributions can be made on the group’s website or mail letter to:

Fun for Our Troops

c/o Dana Blackman Brady

506 Corporate Drive West

Langhorne, PA 19047

For more information e-mail stefanie.doctor.shea@us.army.mil.

Although the Department of Defense will not officially support these efforts, these Army spouses got together to plan on a website where troops or their family members can register a soldier as a recipients of a game and those who already have a system the registration form will help the group select the appropriate game.

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