Boy's Family Organizes Holiday Care Package Drive For Troops Overseas

For Col. Darryl W. Burke -- former 9th Reconnaissance Wing Vice Commander at Beale AFB, who is now serving in Southwest Asia -- one boy's wish from over a year ago continues to ripple through his life, as well as the lives of the troops under his command.

The story begins with Ryan Penne (above), a 14-year-old boy from Chico, CA who with his family visited Beale AFB last year, as Burke's guests. Penne -- who, according to his mother, has always wanted to be a USAF pilot, although he suffers from a primary immune deficiency --received a tour of the base as part of the Make-A-Wish program.

"I was touched at first by his health struggles and wanted to do something to brighten his life a little," said Burke, who is now the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing commander at a base in Southwest Asia. "After meeting Ryan and talking with him then and subsequently, I’ve become inspired by his drive and determination to serve his country."

As the Air Force didn't have any youth programs around Chico, the Pennes got involved with the US Sea Cadet Corps. The corps is an organization that helps train American youth age 11-17 in sea-going skills while “teaching them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues,” according to the organization’s Web site.

Col. Burke remained in contact with Ryan, his parents, and his older brother, even after the colonel was transferred overseas, to take command of a desert air base half a world away. The 380th AEW flys KC-10s, U-2s (file photo, below) and Global Hawk UAVs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"They’ve been good enough to e-mail me, and I make a point to keep up with how they are," the colonel said. "Ryan asks me for my recommendations on professional reading material and for professional advice. Of course, I'm not in a position to decide whether he'll ever be able to join the military or not, but I've told him of many options available to someone with his motivation and desire to serve."

In October, another ripple was added to the story when Danielle Penne, Ryan's mother, asked Colonel Burke about sending care packages to the men and women under his command. Mrs. Penne is a lieutenant junior grade in the Sea Cadet Officer Corps, an organization of adult volunteers committed to directing and guiding the Sea Cadets.

The 21-member Golden Bear division cadets organized and publicized a collection drive in their community to send goods to Colonel Burke and the 380th. They packaged up the collected items and then put them in the mail Nov. 23.

The local community of Chico, CA donated more than $300 to help with postage for the nearly 70 boxes being sent. The cadets tapped into money from fundraisers for the remaining postage due on the nearly $500 tab.

Colonel Burke said he’s come to appreciate the ripple-effect analogy based on his interaction with the Penne family, and the Sea Cadets.

"It really is amazing to think of all the possibilities and effects of one action," Burke said. "At one point, it was a base tour -- and that one tour resulted in me getting the pleasure of knowing this nice family. Now, they have gone out of their way with their local unit and their community to do something nice for our troops here!"

It started with a boy, his dream and a base tour. The ripples are now traveling across the ocean... carrying 70 boxes of holiday cheer.

(Aero-News salutes by Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.)

FMI: www.beale.af.mil, www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/380aew.htm