CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Petty Officer 1st Class James Bowes, 32, a Port Angeles High School graduate, could add a red uniform with white fluffy trim to his collection after this Christmas.
The sailor, who is in the fifth generation of his family to enter the military, played Santa for troops in Afghanistan by coordinating with the Elks Naval Lodge and other organizations to collect more than 100 gifts.
Although Bowes is in the Navy, he passed out gifts to Marines, other sailors, and even the manager of the post office at Camp Leatherneck earlier this month, he said.
Girls Scouts from Whidbey Island, a church group Bowes attended in Tennessee, and the American Legion also contributed, he said.
Bowes, who graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1997, is the son of Deborah and Jeff Bowes, who moved to Spokane about two years ago.
Bowes said the gifts included fun items such as footballs, soccer balls and flying discs from Swain’s General Store as well as more practical items like blankets and toothpaste.
“We are not really allowed to solicit for gifts, so when they asked me what Marines wanted, I told them it was cold out here, so something to keep them warm would be nice,” he said in a phone interview from Afghanistan.
“I basically told them it was their Christmas gift, so whatever they thought sailors and Marines might like, to send it on over.”
One of the favorite items were the flying discs, often referred to by the name given them by one company — Frisbees.
“I had one guy who is from Forks and he was really excited to get the Frisbee from Swain’s just to see something from home,” Bowes said.
Sherrie Riggs, secretary for the Elks Lodge, said the group was happy to help.
“We went and got Christmas stockings and a group of children wrote Christmas letters to let them know how much was appreciated what they were doing,” she said.
“We wanted to send things they can enjoy, even though they are away from home.
“This is the first year we’ve done this, though we have a veteran committee and they do a Christmas party. But this is the first year we’ve actually sent gifts over to the troops.”
Riggs said the group was especially happy to hear that the troops enjoyed the gifts.
“We’ve got to help them out,” she said. “They are helping us a bunch by being there.”
It wasn’t the first time Bowes had caught the spirit of St. Nick.
“I did it once over in Iraq when I was stationed over there in 2008 or so,” he said.
Bowes said he was inspired because his family sent him gifts, but some he served with received none.
“It is important just to make sure to have something during the holidays,” Bowes said.
“Part of what I do is make sure they realize that there are still people in the U.S. that appreciate what they do.”
Bowes said that, although he talks daily to his wife, Lauren, who lives in Georgia where he is stationed, the holiday season is especially hard because he is also missing his 2-year-old daughter Isabella.
“She’s doing all the talking stuff now,” he said.
“That is the hardest part.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
