Operation Comfort Warriors

Operation Comfort Warriors is a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded, injured or ill military personnel by providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items like sweat suits, DVDs, puzzles, electronic devices, books, calling cards and more. OCW also provides larger items such as ping pong tables, entertainment centers, computers, kayaks and other recreational goods for use by wounded warriors in common areas.

Since 2007, the American Legion family has raised more than $1.3 million for this effort, which has helped improve the quality of life for military men and women in hospital settings and warrior transition units. Included in this amount is a $250,000 grant awarded by Pepsi Cola after OCW won the most votes in Pepsi’s Refresh Everything project, finishing ahead of hundreds of other charities in an Internet voting competition.

The Department of Defense estimates that more than 40,000 American troops have been injured since the War on Terrorism started; countless others have been hospitalized. There’s always an injured servicemember in need of comfort.

“The money we received from Pepsi was spent directly on wounded warriors in military hospitals and transition units across the country and overseas,” said American Legion National Commander Fang Wong. “Although that money was well spent, it is now gone. It is more important than ever to support Operation Comfort Warriors.  Because all of the administrative and marketing costs are paid by The American Legion’s national headquarters budget, every penny of donated money goes directly to purchasing comfort items and gifts for America’s troops. This won’t make them entirely ‘whole again,’ but it will show them that The American Legion family cares deeply about their service and their sacrifice.”