Local efforts to supply the nation's wounded warriors with comfortable clothing during their hospitalization are in full swing, according to Patti Erlandsen of Tetra Tech.

Donations of large and extra-large sweatsuits have been pouring into the local environmental engineering company whose employees are conducting Operation Warrior Comfort to supply some of the basic comforts for service men and women wounded in Iraq.

“I have been repeatedly thanked by callers, who stated that they were grateful to have this opportunity to help the troops, that they felt helpless concerning the war; they wanted to do something but didn't know what or where or how to help or contribute,” Erlandsen said.

“We want people to know that we want to continue this effort, on-going, until our troops come home,” Erlandsen said. “There has been an incredible response to our initial efforts.”

The effort began when Senior Master Sgt. Craig Howell of Vandenberg Air Force Base recently arrived in Iraq and discovered that wounded men and women are brought in with nothing but the clothes on their backs - which are cut off and discarded. The most severely wounded are then stabilized and dressed in hospital gowns for a five-hour flight to a medical base in Germany.

That leaves many of the wounded with nothing to wear but the hospital gown and booties for days at a time.

People who want to contribute to the cause may drop off new sweats, pajamas, or shower shoes during business hours Monday through Friday at Tetra Tech's Santa Maria offices at 3201 Airpark Drive, Suite 108, or in Lompoc from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at JoAnn's Candies and Cakes at 718 N. H St.

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People who would prefer to make a financial contribution can call Master Sgt. Mark Guerin at 588-3064.

For more information, call Tetra Tech at 739-2600.

Todd Cralley can be reached at 347-4580 or

tcralley@santamariatimes.com.

July 13, 2007