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    Striker Soldiers bring gifts to village school children

    Striker Soldiers bring gifts to village school children

    Photo By Staff Sgt. April Campbell | Staff Sgt. Steve Oullette, a Fort Kent, Maine, native, who serves as a tank commander...... read more read more

    by Pfc. April Campbell
    3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

    BAYRK, Iraq – Making a positive impact, no matter how little, on the lives of Iraqis, is a big part of current operations by coalition forces in the Fahama region.

    Soldiers with the 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, who are currently attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-68 AR, made this type of impact by bringing presents to school children, Feb. 2, in Bayrk, a rural village in Fahama.

    Upon arriving at the school, the Striker Soldiers passed out backpacks, pencils and stuffed animals to the eager children who swarmed around them.

    Pfc. Dennis Romans, a Colorado Springs, Colo., native, who serves as a driver with the 1st Pltn., Co. D, 1-68 AR, helped to deliver and hand out the treats to the children.

    Handing out the goodies to the children, said Romans, reminded him of giving presents to his own three children.

    "I just like seeing them smile," he said. "That's my thing. I love kids."

    It was not the first time Soldiers in the platoon handed out treats to the children. The Silver Lions make an effort to bring toys and other school supplies when they go on missions in case children are present.

    "We try to bring out snacks and toys and sometimes pens," he said. "We're in an area where the kids don't have access to the things they need. I think they truly appreciate it."

    Events such as this also help to better the relationship coalition forces have with Iraqis living in their operational areas.

    "It helps to gain the trust of the people," said 1st Lt. Nick Piergallini, an Easton, Pa., native, who serves as the platoon leader for 1st Platoon, Company D, 1-68 AR.

    Bettering the lives of the villagers is a process often requiring small steps. He and his Soldiers took some of those steps with their gift-giving mission in Bayrk.

    There is still much that needs to be done for the school, which was built by Soldiers in a previous unit who operated in the area. The schoolteachers told Piergallini about the lack of water and electricity there.

    While the Soldiers will work on finding a way to supply the school with the services, it cannot be done overnight.

    "There is no quick fix," he said, "but we want (the villagers) to know that we are here to help."

    Soldiers wrapped up the gift-giving mission to Bayrk by searching for more ways to help the people.

    In an effort to help the local economy, the Soldiers spoke to two village shop owners to find out if they could use micro-grants to help fix up their stores. The micro-grant program provides some shop owners with money to be used in repairing and renovating their businesses.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.04.2008
    Date Posted: 02.04.2008 18:42
    Story ID: 16036
    Location: IQ

    Web Views: 300
    Downloads: 260

    PUBLIC DOMAIN