Soldiers distribute donated shoes to Iraqi children

Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi child from an orphanage in Tikrit receives a pair of shoes from Staff Sgt. Anthony Hollanbach, a mechanic assigned to 220th Transportation Company, 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 103rd Expeditionary Support Command, during a Children's Day at the Morale, Welfare Recreation-North Center, Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Dec. 17. Hollanbach, who hails from Greeneville, N.H., volunteered to help with the Children's Day, handing out shoes and playing games with the children. Soldiers distributed shoes, collected and donated from "Let Them Walk in Our Shoes," a charitable organization led by local citizens from Palmerton, Pa., and surrounding communities to be given to children in northern Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Coltin Heller, 109th MPAD, USD-N PAO)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

12.17.2010

Courtesy Story

103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

By Sgt. Coltin Heller

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Laughter echoed amidst table games and crafts as children from an Iraqi orphanage in Tikrit attended a special day for the soldiers and orphans hosted by U.S. Division-North, Dec. 17 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq.

Soldiers with the 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), from Freemont, Neb., also handed out shoes donated by “Let Them Walk in Our Shoes” to the Iraqi children.

The charitable organization from Palmerton, Pa., and surrounding communities collected approximately 6,300 pairs of shoes, donating and shipping 3,500 pairs of footwear to the 4th Infantry Division to be distributed to local Iraqi communities during their deployment in support of Operation New Dawn.

Sgt. Glenn Shannon, automated logistics non-commissioned officer with the 394th CSSB, said he coordinated with Iraqi civilians who run the orphanage to have children at COB Speicher for Iraqi Kids Day. “We wanted the kids to have the things they needed, and we wanted to see them smile.”

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility hosted the event. Kids enjoyed pizza, made crafts and played games donated by families of 394th CSSB soldiers.

Soldiers greeted 28 children with cheers as they entered the MWR facility, joining the Iraqi youth as they drew with crayons and coloring books, and played board games, ping pong and air hockey.

Shannon, a Bellevue, Neb., native, said he looks forward to another Kids Day with the Iraqi children early next year, especially during the warmer weather when they can play outside.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Hollanbach, a mechanic with the 394th CSSB, and a Greeneville, N.H., native, handed out boots and shoes to the orphans who traded, mixed and matched footwear with one another.

“You could just see their faces light up at the sight of the shoes,” said Hollanbach, who helped the children try on their new shoes. “The look on their faces makes it all worth it.”

Staff Sgt. Travis Hill, the logistics non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the 394th CSSB, spent time passing a soccer ball back and forth with the children wearing their new shoes.

“It’s good to see them smile, said Hill, a Freemont, Neb., native. “It’s not every day that we can help the kids in Iraq.”

Sgt. Jeremy Stover, an automated logistics NCO from Kearny, Neb., said he saw a side of his soldiers not often seen during the day to day routine of a deployment.

“This really helped the morale of the soldiers as well as those of the children,” said Stover, who helped plan the event.

The children took home plastic hats, balloons and other toys and party favors also provided by the families of the 394th CSSB soldiers.

The event marked first time in three years that an Iraqi Kids Day has been held at COB Speicher.

• Date Taken: 12.17.2010
• Date Posted: 01.02.2011 15:37
• Story ID: 62898
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ