Courtesy Photo | Spc. Jake Butler from Pekin, Ill., with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry,...... read more read more
Spc. Ricardo Branch
Task Force Baghdad PAO
ABU GHRAIB, Iraq -- The platoon of U.S. Soldiers donned their combat gear, climbed aboard humvees and prepared to roll out for another day's duty in Baghdad.
This time, however, the Task Force Baghdad Soldiers were on a different kind of mission.
The Soldiers"from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division" were not out to fight terrorists, but to do something special by cleaning up a soccer field for the children in their sector of Abu Ghraib July 29.
"It's really sad when you see kids walk around barefoot playing soccer in a trash-filled lot," said Spc. Jake Butler of 2/130th Inf.
"They (Iraqi kids) don't have much and are always asking for things," said the Pekin, Ill. native. "We can't give them everything, but we'll do what we can to make them happy."
The desire to make a difference for the children prompted one member of the team, Cpl. Samuel Shehorn, of Mt. Carmel, Ill., to coordinate the effort to visit and set up a soccer field for the kids.
"Back at home, I have two girls who can go play soccer anytime," Shehorn said. "Over here, the older kids use the soccer field while the younger ones play in a small trash-filled lot."
Bothered by the fact that small children played in a trash dump, Shehorn gathered soccer supplies, coordinated the construction of goals and planned with his company commander, Capt. Eric Kampwerth, to visit the small 'soccer" lot along with his platoon.
"I thought it was a great idea, which showed a junior noncommissioned officer taking the initiative and getting the support of his entire platoon in coordinating the effort (for this mission)," said Kampwerth, of Godfrey, Ill.
The commander credits the soccer field cleanup as a success when Soldiers are permitted to go above their duty to achieve something.
"This is a fantastic example of what Soldiers are capable of doing if you allow them to," he said. "I can't say enough about these men. They've always done extremely well and it's gratifying to see them and perform what they want to do."
Armed with shovels, rakes, and trash bags, the Soldiers of 2/130th Inf. began the task of clearing years of neglect from the small lot.
Many of the infantrymen, some who volunteered on their day off, realized their goodwill gesture may be overlooked, but if their work brings happiness to even one child, then their effort will have been worth it.
"What we're doing is showing the kids we care," Shehorn said. "If the area looks good, the kids may get a little pride in their surroundings (and keep the area up)."
It also helped put a personal face on the U.S. Soldiers who patrol their neighborhoods, said Spc. Kevin Briner, B Co., 2/130 Inf.
"We don't mind doing more than just combat missions out here because it helps assure the people in our area that we're concerned about their community just as much as they are," Briner said.
After their two trailers were loaded with broken glass, stones, and hundreds of pounds of trash, the infantrymen got out the soccer balls and played with the children.
"The Soldiers enjoy playing with the kids," said 2nd Lt. Henry Mullins, platoon leader, B Co., 2/130 Inf. "When we interact with the kids, people see that we're out to do positive things because a lot of our time is devoted to force protection which involves searching homes."
"Doing this (cleanup) can make the kids growing up realize we're out to make a difference helping their community as well as searching for the insurgents," said Mullins, a Thomaston, Ga., native.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2005 19:08 |
| Story ID: | 2752 |
| Location: | ABU GHRAIB, IQ |
| Web Views: | 330 |
| Downloads: | 130 |
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