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Linda Hinton, the mother of Marine Capt. Scott Huesing, said she was "flabbergasted" last week to learn that the Marine Corps does not supply its troops with upgrade kits to make their helmets more effective.

Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she contacted a grass-roots group that has raised money across the country to supply the upgrade kits to Marines. She donated enough money for about 2 1/2 kits, specifying that one go to her 37-year-old son, who is leaving for Iraq in September.

"I hope he will get (the upgrade kit) and have it in hand before he is deployed," Hinton said. "I wish he didn't have to go over there at all."

While the Army has already adopted the upgrades, officials in the Marine Corps have said more studies are needed. The upgrades are designed to provide greater protection from shrapnel.

Hinton doesn't want to wait around for the studies, and has decided to help more Marines than just her son. She wants to organize a fundraiser in Springfield to buy helmet kits for Marines who might not be able to afford them on their own.

The kits cost $71 or $99, depending on the type of helmet the Marine has been issued.

"A lot of those kids are 18 or 19, and some have wives and kids. They can't afford the upgrades," Hinton said.

Hinton saw on CNN last week Dr. Robert Meaders, president of Operation Helmet. He is a retired Navy captain with more than 23 years of experience in the medical corps as an eye specialist.

Meaders learned of the helmet-upgrade kits about two years ago from his grandson, who was in the Marine Corps.

After getting one for his grandson, Meaders started Operation Helmet, which has helped supply the kits to more than 10,500 soldiers.

During a telephone interview from Montgomery, Texas, he explained the need for improving the helmets.

"In the Marine, Navy and Air Force helmet, the helmet rests on the head by means of a series of straps that criss-cross. There is nothing between (your head) and the interior of the helmet except for those nylon straps and air," Meaders said. "That allows the helmet to rock on your head because air is very compressible. If it gets rapped by a blast or big fragments, or if you get tumbled around in your vehicle ... your head becomes a clangor in a Kevlar bell, and the Kevlar is a lot harder than your skull."

The result can be skull fractures or serious and even fatal brain injuries, Meaders said.

The kits provide padding for the helmet's interior to absorb the concussion from an impact. And the better straps that come with the upgrade kits help keep the helmet stable when soldiers are running or bending over.

Families of Marines from across the country have heard about Meaders' initiative and have started fundraising drives.

The actress-singer Cher also has spoken out on the need for the helmet upgrades.

"It's been a purely voluntary thing with folks from all across America helping, including of course Cher, who gave us a really good PR boost," Meaders said.

Hinton said she hasn't finalized plans for her Springfield fundraiser, but she is shooting for Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

"I would love to do it tomorrow, but it takes a lot of organization," she said.

Hinton has not been able to talk to her son since she began her plans because he is training in California.

His deployment in September will be his second trip to Iraq. The first was in 2004; he worked security in the Green Zone in Baghdad.

During this tour, he will command a rifle company.

"He just loves the Corps," Hinton said. "He is absolutely devoted, as all of them are. He is the epitome of a Marine. I am very proud of him."

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524 or john.reynolds@sj-r.com.

Want to help?

To help with the local fundraiser: Call Linda Hinton at 502-9739. Her target date for the event is Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

For instructions on donating to operation helmet: www.operation-helmet.org

Reader Comments

Listen up!! wrote at 6/30/2006 7:15:36 AM