New dayroom brings needed comforts

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Washburn
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Dormitory building 208 had a new dayroom unveiling at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13, 2013.

Late in 2012, a main line in the fire suppression system broke, flooding the dayrooms from the fourth floor down to the first. Everything was destroyed. A group of 374th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen banded together with the goal to raise enough money to rebuild and refurnish the damaged dayrooms.

"We went around to different private organizations to see if we could gather the money needed to get the Airmen some new stuff," said Tech. Sgt. Frank Uecker, 374 CES housing maintenance section chief. "We asked Route 56, the Chief's Group, Yokota Striders, First Sergeant's Council, along with some others."

Along with the private organizations, money also came in from personal cash donations.

"I think once the word got out and people started to realize that the Airmen didn't have anything, they wanted to help out," Uecker said.

With the donations, Uecher was able to purchase new furniture, TVs, a ping pong table and even a new PlayStation 4. During the unveiling, it was evident that the Airmen of dorm 208 greatly appreciated the new amenities.

"Having a dayroom like this really means the world to dorm Airmen," said Airman 1st Class Ryan Mendenhall, 374 CES electrical system apprentice. "Being overseas away from friends and family can be very stressful and having those little things in life like a place to relax and unwind is just awesome."