KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, Task Force No Fear and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Bronco, partnered with soldiers from the Afghanistan National Army 1st Kandak and local elders in Northern Kunar province Aug. 19, to execute Operation Zakat, an operation headed by TF No Fear’s chaplain to donate provisions to needy Afghans during Ramadan.
Zakat is known as the third pillar of Islam, which embodies serving those in need, especially during Ramadan. Task Force No Fear and their ANA partners, traveled to Naray and Jabah in Northern Kunar to donate rice, cooking oil, tea, potatoes, tomatoes, flour, sugar, school supplies and toys to destitute families within the province.
Prior to the mission, U.S. Army Capt. John Smith, TF No Fear chaplain and Lt. Col. Daniel Wilson, TF No Fear commander, talked with Afghan locals in the area surrounding Forward Operating Base Bostick to ensure they were giving to those who were the most in need.
“I asked our FOB Mullah and the 1st Kandak commander, ANA Col. Aleem Shah Qaderi, who chose all the items we handed out,” said Smith an Elk City, Okla., native, “I also spoke with many of the workers here, and they assured me the Afghan people needed and wanted the items we provided.”
Smith said he and his counterparts were proud to work hand in hand with ANA and Afghan Border Patrol to help families during Ramadan.
“I believe that the interaction with the local leaders, Mullah, families, and the youth of Afghanistan is so important because much of our mission is about building solid relationships with the Afghan people,” said Smith,
“This will go a long way to help them lead a better life and have hope for a better future. We were able to promote peace and the benevolent expression of Zakat during Ramadan.”
“It is a blessing to help those less fortunate,” said Staff Sgt. Toya Alexander-Cruz, brigade chaplain assistant for 3rd BCT, 25th ID, TF Bronco and native of the U.S. Virgin Islands. “We are here to do a job, and it is to win the hearts and minds of the people and show them that we care. I love children and I was happy to see their faces when they got their toys.”
According to Qaderi, Operation Zakat was a display of true partnership between the ANA and TF No Fear.
“The plan was to reach out to the needy families in Naray and Jabah; we accomplished that,” said Qaderi. “My hope is that we do more missions similar to Zakat. The people of Naray and Jabah really appreciated the items we provided. We took care of so many orphans and widows who have been left out for years. These people will never forget this experience.”
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.30.2011 21:18 |
| Story ID: | 76198 |
| Location: | KUNAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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