Courtesy Photo | Iraqi Army soldiers from 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, hand out...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Jonathan J. Springer
2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment PAO
Zuhari, Iraq – Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and Iraqi soldiers from 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, spent a day together dropping off humanitarian aid supplies in the village of Zuhari on April 29, 2008.
The village, which lies southeast of Balad, has around 300 people and lacks clean water, medical supplies, and consistent electricity.
"This was great opportunity to show the people of Zuhari that we truly care for there well-being. I think that by working together, the Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers made a huge difference for some really great people during this mission," said Capt. Adalberto Rodriguez, battery commander for Alpha Battery, 2-320th FAR.
During the HA mission, IA and US Soldiers handed out hundreds of shoes, shirts, pants, hygiene and sanitary items, food and water, schoolbooks, book bags, and soccer balls for the children. Also, medics from the 2-320th FAR were on hand to give much needed medical attention to the people of Zuhari.
"It's one of our priorities to do as many of these HA drops as we can while we are deployed; these types of operations have a great impact on the local community," said Rodriguez.
Fostering good relations between coalition forces, Iraqi security forces, and the local populace is vital in the battle for democracy in Iraq, and Rodriguez believes that HA missions are an imperative component to winning this war.
"The more times we can do this kind of thing, the more we build confidence between the people and their government. This is becoming more of an Iraqi-led type of operation, and that's what we want," said Rodriguez.
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2008 21:26 |
| Story ID: | 19378 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 328 |
| Downloads: | 277 |
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