Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Sept. 16, 1987, edition 1 / Page 26
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Page 14B-KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Wednesday, September 16, 1987 Local Guardsmen Spread Good Will There’s a big difference in a helping hand and a handout, and Kings Mountain National Guardsman Dwight Cooper, a sergeant in the Gastonia guard unit, was glad to be one of about 300 local guardsmen to lend a helping hand to Ecuador recently. . Since April, guardsmen from several states have used their two-week summer training commitment to help build roads, repair roofs of schools and other buildings, and assist in various other projects sponsored by the U.S. government. Cooper and fellow guardsmen from 505th Engineering Batallion in Kings Mountain, Shelby and Gastonia helped in a road-building project which they hope will someday result in a more direct route from Archodonia to Pouyo, some 60 miles. The present road is a winding, four-hour trip through Andes mountains. : National guardsmen from this area usually spend their two-weeks training at an area army base such as Fort Bragg, but Cooper said he welcomed this opportunity to help people less fortunate than most Americans. “I read where a woman said that if the National Guard wanted to build roads, they could patch the pot holes in front of her house,” Cooper noted. “But I feel good about spending this time in Ecuador. It was a new job experience for us and brought us into contact with people who need a helping hand...not a handout. We really do have it good here in the United States.” North Carolina legislators also saw the project as a fresh, new approach at helping others in ways other than handing them money which often does not end up going to the purpose it was designated for. “The American troops are involved in some real humanitarian projects,” noted State Rep. Coy Privette, R-Cabarrus, who toured the area recently. “They're doing more to build good will with the people there than the millions sent to governments during the years that went into Swiss bank accounts.”’ Privette and Sen. Daniel Simpson, R-Burke, and Sen Robert Shaw, R-Guilford, visited Ecuador in early September, where they saw the road project that local troops worked on. Shaw said he was also impressed with medical teams that went into the area, dropping leaflets announcing their visits and then helicopters with doctors, dentist and veternarians who treated 1,200 to 1,400 people a day. “It was a kind of person-to-person thing,”’ Shaw said. “I don’t think either side will ever forget it. It was a tremendous experience for both sides, where the people really saw the American citizen. HOME FOR SIX - South of the base camp, this house on a hill is home for a family of six, and is one of the better private homes in town. Subscribe To The Herald “I don’t know of a better way for our people to train,” Shaw added. “It’s better than spending two weeks at Fort Bragg in a mock attack and it makes us many, many friends in that country.” Cooper said language was somewhat of a barrier, but he found the people who he was able to communicate with were very appreciative of the American effort. “We saw a lot of poverty, the housing is bad and their an- nual income is about $250,” Cooper noted. ‘‘But they seem to like it that Americans are over there. They take care of each other. They’re clean and well-fed and if they have a problem, they go to the church and not the government.” The area is largely Roman Catholic, but there are a lot of Protestant missionaries in the area, Cooper said. “Where we were, it was mostly a community-living type situation,” he said. “Some people own cattle and others garden. Food is pleniifil out in the jungle. They seem to take care of each other, but there are a lot of medical needs. They're very hard-working people.” Many of the Reopie there helped in the road project and were paid small salaries by the American government for their assistance. The work is slow, however. Cooper noted hol ihe one-lane road has progressed about two miles since pril. “It moves only about eight feet a day, partly because it’s a slow process and also because it rains two or three times a day,” Cooper said. “They’re just coming out of their rainy season.” The project will continue through December, and begin again next summer if the government there remains Democratic. “If the upcoming election there goes well, another Task Force will go in next May or June,’ Cooper explained. “I don’t know when our batallion would go back.”” Guardsmen who worked on the projects hope to see them finished, he said. “I think it would be great if more people would support pro- jects like this,” he said. “The National Guard is not getting the support it should from the public. Our job is to go into these areas and create mobility needs. We met people who really appreciated it.” While in Tena, Cooper met a missionary from Scotland who is conducting a prison educational ministry and is in need of paper, pencils and vitamins. Any persons or organizations interested in helping may contact the Herald for Cooper’s telephone number and the missionary’s address. END OF THE ROAD - This picture shows the end of the construction site at this time. A path has been cleared by locals with matchettes and the picture shows some timber which is being saved for corduroy for the road. “K-MART” - Soldiers refer to this building as K-Mart. It’s located on the west side of Rio Hollin bridge and is owned by Sekora Solorazano and his two granddaughters. They sell coca colas to soldiers working on the bridge, earning about $4 a day. The drinks are 25 cents each and bottles must be returned. National Guardsmen are pic- tured working on the old Rio Hollin bridge. I Am NOT Obligated To Any Group, Club, Organization Individual, But To ALL Citizens Of The City Or. IS THE HOME LOAN YOU’ RE SEEKING “OVERRATED” Don’t underestimate the value of compar- ative shopping. Do some investigative work before signing loan commitments for a home loan. Everyone looks for low rates. But that may mean overlooking hidden costs and high monthly payments. You'll find First Federal Savings and Loan counselors can provide straightforward an- swers and simple explanations to all the aspects of our home loan program. We'll set up a loan program that’s best for you - with competitive rates. And, affordable monthly payment plans. Get a First Federal home loan that’s first- rate but, not overrated! Call a First Federal Savings loan counselor today to set Up an appointment! ELECT WM. CLAVON KELLY 1 District 3 4 Commissioner | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH Lifelong Citizen Of Kings Mountain 8 I’M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE a ena? TA 5 pa FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION Pd. Pol. Adv. GASTONIA OFFICE KINGS M 529 SOUTH NEW HOPE ROAD 300 ro rio SFrie E PHONE (704) 865-1111 PHONE (704) 739-4781
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Sept. 16, 1987, edition 1
26
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