PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A small Afghan town, tucked away in the Salang Mountains between two of Afghanistan’s most populated cities, bustled when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter – crewed by Company A, 1st Battalion, 169th General Support Aviation Regiment, Task Force Phoenix, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division - touched down and unloaded soldiers so they could provide humanitarian aid to the local Salang Girls School June 11.
The Phoenix soldiers secured their ground positions as massive aircraft blades tossed large brown plumes of dirt into the air around them.
As the dirt settled, soldiers made their way to the school, distributed supplies and spoke with the school administrators.
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Jamie Latham, Company E, TF Phoenix distribution platoon leader, was the officer-in-charge of the female engagement team.
“When we arrived at the school, the school administrators were welcoming and elated to see the group,” said Latham, of Bethlehem, Pa., “The people [of Salang] are very eager to learn and improve their own education. With the aid of our interpreter, we handed out book bags full with pencils, pens, notebooks, and other school supplies…to kindergarten through seventh graders. Afterward, we visited the classrooms and interacted with the children that we were able to help.”
Latham asked the girls about their educational goals for their future.
“Many of the students expressed interest in becoming doctors, lawyers or policewomen,” said Latham, “School supplies and continued support of the education system will help create more beneficial members of society.”
TF Phoenix Capt. Robert Hearon, chaplain, agreed.
“I wanted to give much needed supplies to the female students who have very little,” said Hearon, a native of Greenville, S.C., “To help ensure they have a brighter future with more opportunities by enabling them to obtain a better education.”
Hearon said school supplies and electricity are things many people take for granted on a day-to-day basis. While the school in Salang Valley has a shortage of both of these commodities, the locals are not deterred from pursuing their dreams of a better educated generation.
The male TF Phoenix soldiers on the mission watched from outside the room as the school supplies were distributed. U.S. Army Sgt. Brian MacConaghy, chaplain assistant, watched the event from the hallway.
“The [children] seemed very receptive and thankful,” said MacConaghy, of Madison Heights, Mich., “You could see by the looks on the girls’ faces — as they received items — that this was a rare occasion for them.”
MacConaghy said even though he could not interact with the students, he felt rewarded to provide aid to those in need.
“My goal for the deployment was to do my part to leave a positive impact on the people of Afghanistan,” said MacConaghy, “Through this mission, I was able to accomplish that by utilizing outside resources to collect supplies that would be used to enhance the Afghan females’ education which would help them achieve their career goals.”
The group said they feel accomplished knowing they helped people in need in Regional Command – East and hope to do so again before redeploying stateside.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2011 14:50 |
| Story ID: | 72843 |
| Location: | PARWAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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