Roscoe Turner, a 64-year old Cambridge is a man on a mission in Thailand. The Southeast Asia nation is not unknown to Mr. Turner as he been there 7-times before and is again returning later this month.
As a former member of the US Army Reserve Special Forces, he joins other former military parachutist at locations as remote as Argentina, Greece, Serbia, Slovakia and Poland to do what they love to do: skydive out of planes. Its also an opportunity for the group to meet with old service pals and remember when.
"I'm going to skydive as long as my health holds out," he said about his love of parachuting. "My knees are shot from pounding them back when I was in my 30s and 40s," he added with a grin that indicated he had no intention of stopping any time soon.
In November, 2003, he was in Thailand for 3-weeks, in Buri Ram Province. "The inhabitants of the village held a celebration for us," he said. "The people of Thailand are very kind to us when we visit them."
Over there in Thailand, there is a little country school that operates in a place called Sutuk. About 65 children, ranging from 5 to 14 years of age are learning to speak English.
"Problem is, that the teacher can't speak English," Roscoe said. "She can read a little English and knows some English words but the English language she is teaching these kids is horrible. The pronunciation is not what you would recognize as English."
The 46th Special Forces Company Association, Thailand, is an association made up of personnel who served with the American Special Forces (Green Berets) in Thailand since the year 1954, are trying to help those little remote schools in Thailand in as many ways as they can, primarily with school supplies, money and their free time.
"There are a lot of children and grandchildren of US soldiers who served in in Thailand," Roscoe said. "I myself was not with the 46th Battalion, but I have gotten to know a lot of guys over here in Thailand who were."
When Mr. Turner goes back to Thailand this month, he is hoping to take as much school supplies with him as he can. "The Thai government supports schools in the big cities," he said. "But all those little country schools are receiving next to nothing."
Now retired, Mr. Turner and his wife Janice have 5 children between them. "I have 2 sons and a daughter: 43, 42 and 40," Roscoe said. "My wife has two kids, 40 and 38. They all have what they need. So, for a while now, they know that Christmas money will be going to kids who really need it.
"Last year, we sent money for livestock to kids in Peru. This year, our Christmas money is spend toward what I'm taking to Thailand for a building project."
What Mr. Turner needs are basic English-Flashcards, basic Math-Flashcards, old sets of dominos, first grade primer English reading books and basic piano music books. "I'll take as many as I can to Thailand," he further stated.
And then, there is the matter of the building project. At present, the little school at Sutuk in Thailand has a pole structure with a roof under where the children gather during rainy days. Mr. Turner and others hope to enclose that pole structure to allow a secure, dry place for school activities during monsoon weather.
"Building costs in Thailand are not expensive," he said. "We made a cost estimate of 120,000 Baht (US$ 3,000) to enclose the school-building and lay a concrete floor in the 50x30 classroom.". Mr. Turner and a friend had agreed to split the difference in that building expense.
"I came up with my 60,000 Baht (US$ 1,500) share but my friend only came up with 12,000 Baht (US$ 300)," he said. "But I am going to make it happen one way or the other, and if someone out there wants to contribute toward making it happen, that would be great."
Mr. Turner met Mary Handley of the Dorchester County Public Library during a cruise aboard the skipjack "Nathan of Dorchester." After learning of Mr. Turner's mission to Thailand, Ms. Handley took up a collection with library staff and friends. "I have collected dominos and some calculators so far," Ms. Handley said on Thursday. "I have books that are waiting for me to pick up from friends. I am just very happy to help with this."
Mr. Turner is quick to clarify he does not represent an organized charity. It would not be for a tax deduction that anyone would help with books, supplies or money. "It's just for those Thai kids who have nothing and may never have anything otherwise," he said.
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Roscoe Turner US Army Reserve can be reached by emailing Flyaway@crosslink.net or by calling (410)901-2646.
Original story by Richard Kendall for the Daily Banner
