Photo By Scott Flenner | Students at the Al Karama School for Girls in the Suleikh neighborhood of Baghdad...... read more read more
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By Scott Flenner
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
ADHAMIYAH, Iraq – Children in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district were given food packs Jan. 19 from Iraqi and American Forces as they attended school.
The "Arch Angels" of 2nd Platoon, Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, in cooperation with the 3rd Battalion, 45th Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, handed out humanitarian aid packages to children attending the Al Karama School for girls in the Suleikh district of Baghdad.
The patrol left early in the morning from Forward Operating Base War Eagle to link up with their IA counterparts in Suleikh to conduct their first joint-HA drop during the span of the 15-month tour.
"Our mission today was to receive assistance drop packages and allow the Iraqi army to hand them out in the Suleikh area and lend them assistance wherever they need in order to put a face on the IA and support them," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Obermuller, a platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, 3rd Bn., 29th FA.
Being new to these missions did not intimidate the Arch Angels. The Soldiers knew this mission would go off without a hitch due because of the improved capability of the Iraqi security forces operating in northeast Baghdad.
"It was our first HA drop but I knew that the IA leadership that we had over there are real good at what they do. They have been getting on the ground and becoming more proactive," said Obermuller, a native of Tampa, Fla.
While the mission was successful, there was some apprehension when the Soldiers first arrived as the school.
The IA and Arch Angels arrived to a school filled with curious students who were a little standoffish at first, but all it took was the voice of Staff Sgt Zachary Walker, a native of Irving, Texas, who said, "We come bearing gifts. Do not worry. No problem," in broken Arabic to ease the tension of the crowd.
Minutes later, teachers began to line up the now relaxed schoolgirls in an orderly fashion while the IA alongside the Arch Angels distributed 100 humanitarian aid packages to the students. Each package contains such items as noodles, peas, canned meat, rice, beans and tea – enough to feed a family one full meal.
While the students grabbed their large bag of goods and carried them to class, Iraqi army Lt. Col. Ibrahim, executive officer of the 3rd Bn., 45th Bde., 11th IA Div., addressed the children to ensure they understood why they had visited the school.
"We are here for you. This is part of our job. We are here to serve you and protect you and provide anything that you may need to keep you and your families happy," he said.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2009 03:36 |
| Story ID: | 29039 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 361 |
This work, Arch Angels, Iraqi army team up for humanitarian aid drop, by Scott Flenner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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