Photo By Sgt. David Hodge | Butchers prepare to slaughter a cow on Oct. 1, 2008, in the Rashid District of...... read more read more
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By Sgt. David Hodge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – A prominent community leader from southern Baghdad's Rashid District provided fresh beef for poor Iraqi families Oct. 1, 2008, in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.
Dr. Muayad Hamed, a philanthropist responsible for many community events in Rashid, donated live cows to feed needy families during the beginning of the Eid al Fitr, the festivities after the month of Ramadan.
Partnering with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Fort Dix, N.J., attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Muayad donated the livestock to three different communities in eastern Rashid: Abu T'shir, Saha and Mechanik.
"We found that we would be able to give many poor families a good meal during Eid," said Muayad.
Originally, Muayad provided three cows, but once he arrived at one of the locales and noticed the overwhelming number of Iraqis, he immediately doubled the amount of meat.
"Since there are so many people, I spoke to my people to see if they have more cows and we doubled the quantity – six cows – two at each location," Muayad explained.
"The cost for fresh meat is about $10 per kilogram. As you see, there are a lot of people here so we think we will make everyone happy," said Muayad, surveying the crowd at the Abu T'shir locale.
It is an Iraqi tradition for the cows to be killed in front of the people, said Capt. Neville McKenzie, Civil Affairs Team 1-4, Company D, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to the 1st Special Troops Bn., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
"It's a tradition the animal is slaughtered in front of them because they know the meat is fresh and they trust it," McKenzie said.
The civil affairs team coordinated between Muayad, the Iraqi National Police in each area, and Soldiers from the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., to ensure all aspects of the humanitarian assistance drop went according to plan, said McKenzie, a native of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
"It was the second day of the Eid al Fitr celebration and a good time to donate to the poor families," stated McKenzie, a team leader in charge of three civil affairs Soldiers.
"It was a great contribution by Muayad, and it showed he cares about the Iraqi people," he explained. "It also showed the support from the NPs and neighborhood council members who helped distribute the meat."
Muayad said he believes Iraq will grow to be a good place, not with the army or the government alone, but it will build with the people in the communities. He insisted that providing for the members of his community who cannot provide for themselves is not a form of generosity.
"It is not generosity, it's my duty," Muayad explained.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2008 00:42 |
| Story ID: | 24507 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 372 |
| Downloads: | 357 |
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