Published: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 / Updated: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 09:41 AM

Donations pay for Fort Mill Guard unit's Christmas at home

FORT MILL -- Dori Kimbrell, a 10-year-old with a smile that lights up a school hallway, wanted three things for Christmas.

“I want an iPod, a laptop computer, and for my daddy to somehow come home for Christmas,” Dori said after her mom picked her up from school.

Dori and her sister, Hailey, both got that wish Wednesday. And so did every other wife and daughter, son and mother of a soldier in the Fort Mill unit of the National Guard. Donations from regular people, with the $25,000 kicker from Lowe's Home Improvement, means Staff Sgt. Eric Kimbrell will spend Christmas at home before going to Afghanistan on his third deployment in six years.

All the soldiers in the Fort Mill National Guard unit training in Wisconsin will get to come home for holiday leave. The donated money, more than $35,000 total, poured in Tuesday and Wednesday after a story ran Monday night on heraldonline.com and Tuesday in The Herald.

Dori's mom, Tammi Kimbrell, broke the news to Dori and Hailey after picking both girls up from school.

“Remember how I told you girls that the military didn't have the money to get daddy home?” she asked the girls. “Well, the money was raised.”

Hailey stood there, shocked. Dori pulled out that smile and squeaked: “You mean daddy's gonna be here for Christmas?

It sure does, Tammi said.

And from Hailey, 12, came this: “I can't wait to give my daddy a hug on Christmas morning.”

The military does not pay for soldiers to return home on leave before they deploy overseas. Buses to get about 200 soldiers from the Fort Mill unit and another unit from Wellford near Spartanburg were reserved a few days ago, but the Family Readiness Group that assists families during deployments needed to raise the $35,000 to pay for the buses.

More than $10,000 came in cash and checks from great people, said Wanda Bennett, the president of the unit's Family Readiness Group. Her son, Alan, is in the unit. After employees at the Fort Mill Lowe's contacted their corporate office Wednesday, Lowe's offered to pick up the balance of $25,000.

“I am just floored, stunned, flabbergasted, by the response from people who wanted our guys to be at home for Christmas,” Wanda Bennett said. “We thank them all. I heard from veterans, parents, even little old ladies who wanted to help. People offered whatever they had, and some offered what they didn't have. One lady sure didn't have the money to spare but she gave anyway and vowed to call Congress and complain. They all gave what they could. And Lowe's - I just don't know how to thank them. $25,000!”

Lowe's, with more than 1,700 stores worldwide, has more than 12,000 employees who are veterans. The company offers extended benefits to deployed employees, and was founded in the 1940s by a World War II veteran.

After employees in Fort Mill asked what Lowe's could do to help the local soldiers, the answer came down from the Mooresville, N.C., corporate office in a flash — get the guys home and pay whatever it costs.

“Home is a special place at the holidays and we at Lowe's wanted to make sure all these men and women were able to make it home,” Lowe's spokesperson Julie Yenichek said. “These soldiers are giving the ultimate sacrifice. This is the least we can do, and we are proud and happy to do it.”

The news spread by telephone and text message among the unit's wives, the kids and the soldiers. The word unleashed cries of joy heard outside in the dusk and inside kitchens.

“Wow!” screamed out Pierson Young, wife of Staff Sgt. Will Young, who is off at training. Pierson, with a 4-month-old daughter, was home stringing up Christmas lights hoping for a miracle.

The miracle happened right there in the dusk.

“Unbelievable!” she screamed. “Awesome!”

Her husband, responsible for dozens of men, sent a message saying he was, “floored and speechless.” Now Will Young doesn't have to worry about the men under his authority worrying each night if each will get one last kiss, or hug, at home for Christmas before leaving in early January for Afghanistan.

Bonnie Hoagland, with two sons and a husband in the unit headed to Afghanistan, shouted out over the telephone: “Oh my gosh! Man, oh man, this is perfect!”

And from a soldier named Mark White training in Wisconsin, where the topic of Christmas leave had been at the front and back of every conversation with these 105 men and women in the Fort Mill unit, came this text to his wife, Kelly: “Everyone is thrilled that we are receiving that kind of support. It has been a constant topic throughout the unit.We are all looking forward to seeing and spending time with our families.”

Staff Sgt. Eric Kimbrell missed Christmas in 2003 when he was in Iraq. He missed Christmas in 2007 when he was in Afghanistan.

“He missed a lot of milestones because he has given so much to his country,” Tammi Kimbrell said of her husband.

“My dad does his duty,” said Hailey.

Said Dori of her father: “I'm proud of him.”

But Eric Kimbrell won't miss Christmas 2009 before he heads to Afghanistan again. Hailey Kimbrell, 12, can't wait to get that hug on Christmas morning. It will be delivered, in person, by her father.

And Dori Kimbrell, age 10, just found out that what her momma and daddy told her all these years is true.

When you are 10 years old and you make a Christmas list, wish real hard. Be a good girl.

Then you find out there sure is a Santa Claus.