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Marines


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Jennifer Smart peers over a copy of Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul June 23. The book is one of many books she hopes to discuss during her weekly book club meetings for Marine wives with deployed spouses. Smart is the wife of Staff Sgt. Scottie J. Smart, administrative chief with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Smart's husband will deploy with his battalion next month to Iraq.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

3/2 Marine wife provides ‘reading rainbow’ for Marine wives with deployed husbands

22 Jun 2006 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

A Marine wife might have the hardest job in the Marine Corps.Marine wives have to single-handedly clean house, take care of the kids and hold down the fort while their husbands are away at war.One Marine wife here is providing a “reading rainbow” for such situations.Jennifer Smart started a weekly Book Club here to help military wives cope with their husband’s upcoming deployment to Iraq next month.“I think it’s a good idea,” said Staff Sgt. Scottie J. Smart of Dover, Ohio, Jennifer Smart’s husband and administrative chief with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment who deploys next month. “It’s another way to get wives together to share the same thoughts and interests of what wives are going through.”However, Jennifer Smart credits her friend for the idea.“I have a friend in Italy that has a husband that is deployed to Afghanistan,” said Jennifer Smart from Marlboro, Md. “She started a book club to her through his deployment. She got support from women over there so I thought I would bring it back to Lejeune.” The book club is actually a support system, Jennifer Smart said“I thought we could read books then have theme parties at restaurants to experience different culture and share experiences to remind ourselves we’re not going through it alone,” Jennifer Smart said.In the future Jennifer Smart plans to get her book club involved in other activities.“There so many things we can add,” Jennifer Smart said. “We can add scrap booking, bowling or just making posters for our husbands.”However, It will all start with the book club, Jennifer Smart said. “This would be a great opportunity to make new friends, discuss good books and support each other while our families are away,” Jennifer Smart said.The book club officially starts in the fall, Jennifer Smart said.For more information on Jennifer Smart’s Book Club contact:jennmckinley@yahoo.comEmail Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis: raymond.lewis@usmc.mil
Photo Information

Jennifer Smart peers over a copy of Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul June 23. The book is one of many books she hopes to discuss during her weekly book club meetings for Marine wives with deployed spouses. Smart is the wife of Staff Sgt. Scottie J. Smart, administrative chief with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Smart's husband will deploy with his battalion next month to Iraq.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

3/2 Marine wife provides ‘reading rainbow’ for Marine wives with deployed husbands

22 Jun 2006 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

A Marine wife might have the hardest job in the Marine Corps.Marine wives have to single-handedly clean house, take care of the kids and hold down the fort while their husbands are away at war.One Marine wife here is providing a “reading rainbow” for such situations.Jennifer Smart started a weekly Book Club here to help military wives cope with their husband’s upcoming deployment to Iraq next month.“I think it’s a good idea,” said Staff Sgt. Scottie J. Smart of Dover, Ohio, Jennifer Smart’s husband and administrative chief with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment who deploys next month. “It’s another way to get wives together to share the same thoughts and interests of what wives are going through.”However, Jennifer Smart credits her friend for the idea.“I have a friend in Italy that has a husband that is deployed to Afghanistan,” said Jennifer Smart from Marlboro, Md. “She started a book club to her through his deployment. She got support from women over there so I thought I would bring it back to Lejeune.” The book club is actually a support system, Jennifer Smart said“I thought we could read books then have theme parties at restaurants to experience different culture and share experiences to remind ourselves we’re not going through it alone,” Jennifer Smart said.In the future Jennifer Smart plans to get her book club involved in other activities.“There so many things we can add,” Jennifer Smart said. “We can add scrap booking, bowling or just making posters for our husbands.”However, It will all start with the book club, Jennifer Smart said. “This would be a great opportunity to make new friends, discuss good books and support each other while our families are away,” Jennifer Smart said.The book club officially starts in the fall, Jennifer Smart said.For more information on Jennifer Smart’s Book Club contact:jennmckinley@yahoo.comEmail Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis: raymond.lewis@usmc.mil