Photo By Spc. Jesse Gross | An Iraqi federal police officer hands water filtration systems to 1st Lt. James Teeter...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — Something as simple as clean water can easily be taken for granted. In Iraq, however, purified drinking water is a luxury not everyone enjoys.
Soldiers of C Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Airborne Reconnaissance Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, found that a simple filter can have a profound impact during their visit to the tiny village of al-Tameem, in eastern Baghdad here, Sept. 21.
U.S. troops and Iraqi federal police from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Bde., 1st Federal Police Division arrived in the village and set up shop in an open area, and from there the combined goodwill team moved on foot from street to street with an FP truck laden with water filters.
"What we did was we went house to house and met with the people," said Capt. Jeffrey Black, commander of C Troop. "The FPs hadn't been in there in awhile so we went in to talk to them just to get to know the people, let them know that the FPs and the U.S. forces are here for them."
Each person who answered the knock received a water filter for their home and the knowledge that U.S. and Iraqi security forces had come to help.
They were also given information to use should the need arise, according to Black. "We passed out little tip-line cards, saying, 'Hey, if there's a problem, call us, call the FPs,'" he said.
The act was one of charity; more meaningful than the typical aid mission, according to 1st Lt. James Teeter, assigned to C Troop. "That's like the poorest area that we've got and those people desperately need it," said the native of San Diego. "The place is run-down, there's sewage in the streets and they've got no clean water, so it feels good to go out there and be able to give them something useful as opposed to a trinket or a soccer ball - we gave them something that can help them stay healthy."
The FPs and paratroopers were met with smiles and kind words from children, parents and elders. "It's nice to be able to put a smile on someone's face," said Teeter.
The people of al-Tameem will now be able to provide clean drinking water for their families, showing that a simple act of generosity can have profound effects.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2009 02:10 |
| Story ID: | 39160 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 383 |
| Downloads: | 328 |
This work, U.S., federal police, bring gift of clean water, by SGT Joshua Risner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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