Disabled boy receives crutches from Soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Muhammad, an Iraqi army soldier, shows an Iraqi boy, Ali, how to use his new crutches. Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, delivered the crutches to Ali on March 18. (U.S. Army photo/1st Lt. Myles Frohling)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

03.24.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. Myles Frohling
3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Official

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Coalition forces made a difference for one young Iraqi boy with a pair of crutches, March 18.

Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, met the boy during their patrols in Jurf as Sakhr, Iraq.

The Soldiers noticed the boy, Ali, had a problem walking because his feet were significantly disfigured, said 1st Lt. Ryan Daly, 2nd Platoon leader, from Woodbridge, N.J. For years, Ali had walked around by supporting his body weight with wooden sticks.

Seeing this, Daly was moved to help the boy. He worked with his platoon medic, Pfc. Michael Duncan, from Modesto, Calif.

"We tried to locate crutches both at the Jurf Medical Clinic and at (Forward Operating Base Iskan), but we could not find them for a small boy his size," Daly said.

So the pair did some research and ordered and paid for a set of crutches online. Duncan and Muhammad, an Iraqi army soldier, helped size the crutches for Ali and taught him how to use them.

"It felt awesome seeing the boy's face light up when I gave him the crutches," Duncan said. It's nice to see an immediate reaction to what we are doing over here."

Daly said Muhammad's assistance was just one instance of the initiative shown by IA Soldiers in the area.

"They show a genuine desire to go out and interact with their people to show they will defend the people and help them in any way possible," he said.

The Soldiers plan to return to check on Ali and ensure the crutches are working well for him.

• Date Taken: 03.24.2008
• Date Posted: 03.24.2008 09:31
• Story ID: 17653
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ