New school in Kirkuk province named in honor of U.S. Army major

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Soldiers speak with residents of the city of Khalkalan in Kirkuk province, Iraq, during a ceremony honoring the opening of a new school, Sept. 14. The school was named in honor of Maj. Thomas Weiss, the former executive officer for 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, who was injured in a rollover accident.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

09.15.2009

Story by Spc. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— Residents of the city of Khalkalan in Kirkuk province, Iraq, and their partners in the U.S. Army both had something to celebrate, Sept. 14 as a new school opened in the city.

The school was named in honor of Maj. Thomas Weiss, the former executive officer of 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, who was injured recently in a vehicle rollover.

Prior to this school opening, there was only one other school in the city to support the more than 500 children there.

"Four students were packed into desks built for two students at the old school," said the manager of the old school, Hadie Ahkmed Mustafa.

"About 250 students that live close to this new school will be being attending it when school starts," he said. "This will reduce the number of students in the school by half."


Members of the district council in the city of Shwan, which is a larger nearby city responsible for Khalkalan, had tried unsuccessfully for years to have a new school built in the city, said Jabar Hassan, a member of the district council.

But this changed when Maj. Weiss started visiting the city in the early months of 2nd BCT's rotation in Kirkuk.

"Maj. Weiss was essential in establishing a representative democracy in Shwan, and that government helped build this school," said Lt. Col. Terry Cook, the commander of 3rd Bn., 82nd FA Regt. "The government was basically untouched before he came. No one really put a lot effort into helping the city. He started dialogue with them."

According to Cook, Weiss helped the government in the Shwan understand the process of getting projects finished in their area. With the aid of Weiss and others in his battalion, council members in Shwan were able to put in for the school project today.

"This was a very important project to members of the district council," said Jabar. "It's going to make a big difference to the city."

"They will be more comfortable, which will help them learn better," said Hadie about students in the city. "The fewer the number of students , the better the teacher can give his knowledge to his students."

"This will help us improve our children's lives," he said.

3rd Bn., 82d FA Regt., also has plans to begin a project to renovate the old school in the city.

Weiss is currently going through rehabilitation at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to make a full recovery. "He's a friend to all the people out here," said Cook.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2009
• Date Posted: 09.17.2009 16:54
• Story ID: 38938
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ