Arriving at Radio Shack, Summers and some family members cruised the shelves for a present to send to the other side of the world.
Forrest, a helicopter mechanic, has been deployed for eight months and will miss his Christmas with his family for the first time this year and the first for his 6-month-old daughter.
 ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Sally Summers, left, and Alesia Finch experienced first-hand an example of generosity when Wasilla Radio Shack owner Jim White, right, gave enough remote-controlled toys for all five soldiers in Summers'€™ sons combat troop stationed in Afghanistan. |
One of the people with Summers that day mentioned to the cashier, Radio Shack co-owner Jim White, that the car was going to Afghanistan. With that, White turned over the cash register to another store employee and walked away.
“We thought he had just pawned us off on another young man,” Summers said.
But White had another motive. Soon, he was pilling more electronic toys on the counter. He looked at Summers and said “all these are free.”
Taken aback, Summers said she offered to pay for them, but White would have none of it.
“He said, ‘All service men deserve this,’” Summers said. “I’ll never forget that.”
All in all, White gave enough remote-controlled toys for all five soldiers in Forrest’s group. He even made sure each was on a different frequency so the men in Afghanistan could play with them at the same time.
Thinking ahead, White also sent along plenty of batteries to power the toys.
Summer said upon receiving the gifts in Afghanistan Forrest called to say he and his fellow servicemen were ecstatic. The surprise made their day.
Toys aside, Summers said the generosity and unsolicited kindness of White has stayed with her since that September day.
“It’s so out of the ordinary,” she said. “And I’d hate to say that.”
Summers said she feels bad saying it’s surprising that someone would go out of his way to do something nice, but oftentimes that’s the way the world is now.
White’s kindness struck her so much, she said she “had to call the newspaper” to share the message for the holidays.
For White, giving to the troops was just another day at the office.
At first he didn’t recall the good deed from September, White said.
“I have a horrible memory, but when we know if it’s for the troops, we try to treat them pretty good,” he said.
When he was reminded that Forrest had sent a signed and framed photograph, he quickly recalled.
“That was a really cool picture. They sent a certificate,” he said. “We put together a bunch of toys. Flying things. Some batteries. I wouldn’t call it a donation. It’s for the troops.”
Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252. T.C. Mitchell contributed to this report.
Comments
16 comment(s)Spankles wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:59 PM:
Roger Quiros II wrote on Dec 28, 2008 4:05 PM:
proud airman wrote on Dec 28, 2008 1:33 AM:
Vetran wrote on Dec 23, 2008 7:29 AM:
Vet. "
Related to that man wrote on Dec 23, 2008 12:53 AM:
Aunt Pat wrote on Dec 22, 2008 5:04 PM:
Thoughts and prayer to all our brave men and women serving our country. "
LisaJ wrote on Dec 22, 2008 2:44 PM:
maria quiros wrote on Dec 22, 2008 1:10 PM:
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR GRANDSON FORREST.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LET OUR SOLDIERS KNOW WE CARE. ANY LITTLE DETAIL MATTERS TO THEM. "
Granny wrote on Dec 22, 2008 12:35 PM:
Thank you Radio Shack for helping. You will have my business. God bless the men and women who are willing to lay there lives down for their country. "
to spankles wrote on Dec 22, 2008 11:38 AM:
combatdoc wrote on Dec 22, 2008 11:24 AM:
Caitlin wrote on Dec 22, 2008 12:28 AM:
Spankles wrote on Dec 21, 2008 5:41 PM:
LisaJ wrote on Dec 21, 2008 9:08 AM:
alaskan wrote on Dec 20, 2008 10:18 PM:
Wonderful story wrote on Dec 20, 2008 10:11 PM: