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By Pvt. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
PATROL BASE CORREGIDOR, Iraq – Iraqi families in need received nearly three tons of food from U.S. Soldiers southwest of Baghdad, May 27-28.
A civil affairs team and 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment Soldiers teamed up to bring the food and other supplies to residents of three villages near Patrol Base Corriegidor.
"We took food to the people of Abu Amer, Abu Haswa and Shakariyah, having the sheikhs determine who would receive it," said 1st Lt. Daniel Hodgson, fire support officer for Troop B, 1-33rd Cav. Regt. "We made sure the sheikhs chose the families most in need, such as widows who are unable to support a family without their husbands."
The supplies included rice, beans, flour, sugar, salt, soap, tomato paste, bowls and utensils, diapers and infant weaning cereal.
"The planning for the (distribution) began, April 30," said Staff Sgt. Rob Bridgeford, Company A, 411th CA Battalion team chief. "We had to make sure the food was divided appropriately throughout the needy families; the amount given is able to feed a family of up to 10 for about a month."
This was the first humanitarian aid food donation in the area since the CA Soldiers arrived.
By no means is this considered a permanent fix for the temporary food shortage, said Hodgson. "We are hoping for food drops like this to become a monthly occurrence."
Bridgeford, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., said it is important to reassure the people in the area coalition forces are here to help.
"We try to do what we can with what resources we have, and it seems like the people appreciate the assistance that is offered," he said.
Soldiers are receiving immediate feedback from the sheiks, said Hodgson, a native of Atlanta, Ga.
"This food assistance seems to have a more widespread effect on the people than some of the major projects we are doing," he said. "It helps show that our focus doesn't solely rest on the business class of Iraq, but that we truly do care about everyone."
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2008 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 19957 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 146 |
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