Winning one kick at a time

Photo By Spc. Richard Vogt | An Iraqi police officer passes a soccer ball to children in Tal Afar Iraq.  

TAL AFAR, IRAQ

03.17.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

by Spc. Richard Vogt
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TAL AFAR, Iraq (March 13, 2006) -- Proving that there's no such thing as too much of a good thing, Public Affairs Officers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division and members of the Personal Security Detail for the district commanding officer, Ready 65 of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, handed out soccer balls to the children here, who chased both the balls and the Soldiers tirelessly.

Iraqi police officers joined the Soldiers for the mission.

"I'm a police officer and I love it," said Hussein Ali Asgar Rashid, IP, speaking through an interpreter. "I patrol the streets in cars and on foot. I like working with the Americans. It was a very good thing to do, to hand out the soccer balls. The kids liked them. It was bad when the terrorists were here [in Tal Afar], but now they're gone and it's good. The future of Iraq is excellent."

"The people here have obviously seen a lot of fighting over the last year or so," said 1st Lt. Will Bardenwerper, PAO, 1st BCT, 1st Armored Division. "The security and stability of the town have definitely improved."

According to Bardenwerper they got the soccer balls from the states. A friend had seen some pictures that were sent to him. He saw the children in Tal Afar and asked what he could do as far as pitching in and helping to bring a little happiness to the kids.

"The kids go crazy [for a new soccer ball]. They get excited about things a lot more modest than a soccer ball. To them, a soccer ball is a pretty phenomenal treat. They'll be thrilled to get a good soccer ball." Said Berdenwerper, "It's rewarding because we come from a country where we have so much and you go somewhere where people don't have as much. A lot of kids [in wealthy countries] would get a soccer ball like this and wouldn't think anything of it, but to a kid here, it's a big deal, so it's pretty gratifying."

Sgt. Peter Bazo, team leader, Ready 65 PSD, was pleased with his team's performance on the mission.

"I'm really proud of my guys and what they've done," Bazo said. "I've never worked with a crew this good. I feel ultimately confident that they can do whatever mission is brought up for them. They're a good bunch of guys and I look forward to working with them in the future."

• Date Taken: 03.17.2006
• Date Posted: 03.17.2006 12:30
• Story ID: 5771
• Location: TAL AFAR, IQ