9 January 2009
Eric Fretz – Victory Base Council
Posted by admin under: scouters .
Anne Sullivan of Michigan’s News-Herald gives a background story of Eric Fretz and his involvement in getting the Victory Base Council started in Iraq while stationed there with the Navy.
A Navy Reserve lieutenant commander for nearly 20 years, Fretz, 41, of Southgate, helped start Victory Base Council while stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.
Victory Base Council combines Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, but because of cultural restrictions, the groups meet separately and everyone is more comfortable that way, he said.
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In March, he and a few others stationed at Victory Base wanted to help with the Scouts’ Green Zone Council, formed in 2004 at a base about 15 kilometers (about nine miles) from where Fretz was stationed.
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When they realized that traveling to the other base to assist a Scout troop wasn’t going to work, Fretz, and Navy Chaplain Lt. Andrew Wade, Army Major Mike Hugo and British Squadron Leader Officer Louise Parker formed a Scout troop at Victory Base.
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Victory Base Council was built on a five-acre junk lot. About 150 volunteers and 80 children attend the meetings.
“It’s a really, really robust program,” Fretz said. “Everyone does so much work, even though no one has free time. It’s amazing what people will sacrifice to make the Scout program a success.
“We started from nothing, and developed programs the kids enjoy.”
The Scouts work on a craft, skill or a team-building exercise. Or, they play sports such as dodge-ball, kickball, football, baseball and soccer. They also have learned how to build a fire from twigs.
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“This is going to be the last big thing I do in the military,” he said. “I often feel I should acknowledge the fact that a lot of leaders in Iraq, generals on the American side, were very supportive of efforts, made sure we had supplies we needed to do it.
“I’m grateful they allowed me to make this happen.”
3 cheers for LTC Fretz! (I hope I got the acronym right)
Update: I should have included a link to Victory Base Council. Now I have.
- Another Iraq Council Created by U.S.A.
- Preview the Victory Base Council Newsletter
- USA-Baghdad Cultural Exchange
- Victory Base Makes The News
- Scouting Teleconference
One Comment so far...
July News for Boy Scouts of Iraq | BoyandGirlScouts.com - News, Opinion, Advice Says:
29 July 2009 at 8:18 pm.
[...] so I sent over a note asking if things hadn’t died down. Lieutenant Commander Eric Fretz, the energy behind the original volunteers’ organization, says that our soldiers overseas are still volunteering to help the kids and their parents keep the [...]
