4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Courtesy Story

By Maj. Kirk Luedeke
4th BCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – Lt. Col. Ahmed, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi National Police Division handed out supplies to a pair of elementary schools in southwest Rashid during a joint operation with Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, April 4.

The mission was the first of its kind in the area by the NP battalion and its U.S counterpart, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division out of Schweinfurt, Germany. The police commander not only took the opportunity to deliver supplies to the Arbid and Ibn Yakhdan schools, but made an assessment of the facilities and the surrounding communities as well.

"This is a good beginning, but I want you to know that we will make the area safe for the children. We want to help you to clean up the trash in this neighborhood and make the people proud to live here," he told Ms. Noor, the headmistress of the Arbid school in southwest Rashid.

As he spoke, members of his battalion, wearing crisp new uniforms, and displaying a professional demeanor, carried boxes of supplies into the building. A new television set, water dispenser, computer and monitor, power supply and office furniture were brought in, all of which represented progress and hope for the children who will be able to make use of these implements to enhance their education.

"Thank you for helping to care for the children," Noor said to the police commander during their meeting. "They are your key to safety for the future of Iraq."

The battalion commander carried a notebook with him, asking what other things the schools needed for future deliveries while conducting a joint inventory with each headmistress to account for the supplies. He also toured the schools and met some of the children.

He walked into one classroom of young girls and was greeted with a chorus of cheers. The young ladies serenaded the police commander with a traditional Iraqi greeting of respect. He returned the gesture by asking the students to honor their families and teachers, and to work diligently in their lessons.

Maj. Joe Pierce, the commander's National Police adviser, said that the operation was a resounding success, and an indicator of better days ahead as the new NP unit begins operating in the area.

"He assured the administrators that in addition to securing the schools, he was concerned about securing the surrounding areas," the native of Nashua, N.H. said. "This was a great chance to get to know the population."

First Lt. David Evetts, the company fire support officer from San Antonio, Texas, said, "It shows that we have good partnership- the National Police, coalition forces and NPTT teams -- we all work together."

For other U.S. Soldiers who participated, the successful operation meant a great deal more than just dropping off supplies.

"I think just getting school supplies to the kids shows them that we're trying to help their education," said Staff. Sgt. Jeremy S. Mutart, a native of Ketchikan, Alaska and a squad leader with 1st platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, whose unit is attached to Company A. "It also shows the American people that we're not just trying to combat the terrorists here, but we're trying to help rebuild Iraq from little kids, all the way up to the top."

As the Iraqi and U.S. troops drove away from the schools, children waved from the windows, reminding everyone of the where the real impact of the day's activities lay.

"It makes me realize that I'm grateful for what I have and that I can provide for my own family," said Staff Sgt. Allan Russell of Layton, Utah, another squad leader from 1st platoon, Company C. "At the same time, I can see the poverty in other parts of the world, and it's kind of hard for me as a father to see that the children here don't have the basic things that we do in America. It makes you grateful for what we have, and that we can leave here today knowing that we made a positive difference for these kids."

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