WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Blind Employees Use Their Expertise for U.S. Soldiers

Blind Employees Use Their Expertise for U.S. Soldiers

By Joanna Gaitanoglou
joanna@wlbt.net

During times of war, someone on the home front is making the different weapons and accessories for our soldiers. Jackson's Mississippi Industries for the Blind has been making military products for decades. When demand increases, the soldiers at this local company are ready to increase their supplies.

Beulah Fields says being blind hasn't kept her from being productive, thanks to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind.

"I have a daughter that's attending Belhaven College. It has helped me to help her," said Fields. "I also have another daughter at Millsaps."

Fields is helping sew brown undershirts worn by Army soldiers. Some of the shirts will end up in the Middle East.

"It makes me feel proud that we here at Mississippi Industries for the blind can do something to contribute to our young men and ladies of Iraq," said Fields.

Executive director Joe Carballo agrees.

"It's real pleasing to see the brown t-shirts on some of these fellas on TV and know that you play a part in that, and these people did, too," said Carballo.

Carballo says three-fourths of the work force at this plant is blind. Every person on the assembly line is helping out the military. Along with the t-shirts, they're making belts and sponges for the Navy and barrack bags for the Army.

"Ever since I was born I was legally blind," said Luther Liggins of Jackson. Liggins says he stamps about 2,000 bags a day with the initials "U.S."

"I like to have a good part in the Army doing something, and this is the one part that makes me feel good about myself," said Liggins.

Just before Operation Iraqi Freedom, the federal government increased production requirements for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind. Carballo says having a 75% blind workforce doesn't keep his employees from reaching their goals.

"We have a large sewing operation, and we're one of the few in the nation with such an operation," said Carballo.

"I tell ya, I'm just like a soldier," said Liggins as he stamps another bag with precision. "I work every day eight hours, ten hours, or whatever they want me to work. And on the weekends if they want me to..."

Carballo says the federal government wants his soldiers to make as many products as they can. He says they're more than ready to meet the demands of wartime production.

The state legislature created the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in 1942. Today the company averages 14 million dollars in sales.