Photo By Sgt. Kathleen Briere | A young Iraqi girl from Airport village, Victory Base Complex, Iraq, smiles May 27,...... read more read more
BAGHDAD - Dozens of Iraqi children rallied at their village schoolhouse, which was one of three neighborhoods visited, inside an Iraqi compound, May 27, to receive items donated by Americans that had been shipped to a group of Soldiers serving a one-year tour in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Mike Crader, commander of the Director of Public Works, 326th Area Support Group, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Camp Victory, said that the items were sent by a number of organizations and groups back in the states to include churches, schools, friends and family. He and his unit had been collecting and storing the items for approximately three months until there were more than 40 packages.
"There were people who wanted to send care packages to me, but what do I need," he asked rhetorically. "Instead, I asked them to send things for these kids. They're really in need."
After loading two large pickup trucks and a 12-passenger van with, among other items, soccer balls, clothing, shoes, toys, and personal hygiene items, Crader's six-man team convoyed to French village, an Iraqi compound attached to Victory Base Complex.
"We're really excited to get this stuff out there and interact with these kids," said 1st Lt. Lisa M. Turner, from Raymore, Mo., the Morale, Welfare and Recreation public affairs officer, Victory Base Complex, Iraq.
Master Sgt. Robert Heberling, a native of Wichita, Kan., the MWR non-commissioned officer in charge, agreed and added, "Not only are we able to interact with them, we feel good doing it."
Greeted by the smiling faces of Iraqi children, Master Sgt. Justin Womack, a native of Marble Falls, Texas, a project officer, and 1st Lt Matt Dummitt, from Dublin, Ohio, the environmental officer in charge, 326th climbed out of the cab and into the bed of a truck. They began opening boxes and placing their contents directly into the hands of the kids.
The boys wanted soccer balls and laced shoes to play in, and the girls asked for books and dolls. Communication was made mostly through hand gestures and simple words. With their hands they'd create the shape of a ball and say, "futbal mister, futbal." To request a doll: "baby," they'd say, cradling an invisible baby in their arms.
Through an interpreter who lives at French village, it was explained that the children there are, in some aspects, privileged. Because their fathers are employed on Victory Base Complex, they have clean water and a functioning infrastructure. The children have clean clothes and neatly-cut hair. They are however, secluded and cut off from Iraq's commerce for security reasons non-essential items, like toys and even educational supplies, are habitually overlooked.
After three stops and hours spent stuffing arms, the team said goodbye to the children. As they drove off, many of the children followed along the caravan as fast as their feet allowed, smiling and waving. The 326 ASG said they hope to continue collecting items. Their next mission: an Iraqi orphanage.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2009 06:47 |
| Story ID: | 34690 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 308 |
| Downloads: | 256 |
This work, Soccer balls and dolls: Americans make Iraqi children smile, by SGT Kathleen Briere, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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