Task Force Horsemen Assist Iraqi Children

Courtesy Photo | Unit Chaplain, Capt. Daniel Rice from Fayetteville, N.C., Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, talks with Maj. Maafek Salah Khidier, the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, April 14, in Tal Afar, Iraq, near Forward Operating Base Sykes. The 1st Battalion Military Transition Team Chief, Lt. Col. Rodney Berry from Durham, N.C., and a local interpreter facilitated the discussion. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Isaac Younkin, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment)  

TAL AFAR, IRAQ

06.01.2007

Courtesy Story

25th Infantry Division   

By Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Rice
1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment

TAL AFAR, Iraq - It started with one Soldier seeing a need, and it ended with people from various countries working together to meet that need. While flying missions over central Iraq, Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Metcalf, from Task Force Horsemen, Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, noticed many children playing outside all winter without warm clothes. He thought about all the care packages his unit received and wondered if something could be done for those kids.

Metcalf raised his concern to his mother, Rita Kelly of New London, Conn., and asked if she could organize a coat drive to help. Kelly spoke to her priest, Cmdr. Anthony Trapani, who is a Navy chaplain, and their chapel, Shepherd of the Sea, organized the coat drive "Coats for Kids." Kelly also spoke to her sister, Theresa Warburg, who enlisted Saint Pius X School in Westerly, R. I., to help out as well. In addition, Sacred Heart School and Sacred Heart Church in New London, Conn., collected winter coats and gloves to contribute to the project. All together over 35 boxes of children's clothes were sent to Chaplain (Capt.) Dan Rice, the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment chaplain.

After a little "leg work," Rice found a Military Transition Team at his Forward Operating Base that was looking for a way to help the local Iraqi army unit gain the confidence of the people in nearby towns and villages. The team's leader Lt. Col. Rodney Berry from Durham, N. C., began working with the Iraqi military leadership to hand the clothes out to the children recently affected by sectarian violence in the city of Tal Afar.

On April 14, a small convoy of humvees and Iraqi army vehicles took the clothes, some children's toys and donated school supplies to the town of Tal Afar. The Iraqi army and local Iraqi police worked together to ensure the families affected by the recent tragedies were the ones to receive the donated clothes and supplies. The 1st Iraqi Battalion's executive officer, Maj. Maafek Salah Khidier asked Rice to thank the Christians for donating the children's clothes.

"It is great to see Christians reaching out to help Muslims," he said through an interpreter. Each family that came to the distribution site was given a blanket, a large bag of rice, a can of cooking oil and chai tea along with clothes and toys for their children.

It was a day of unity and teamwork between Americans and Iraqis. That day was the culmination of an effort by people from different countries and religions, who worked together to meet a need. The day ended with smiles on the faces of many boys and girls as they carried their coats home. But it had begun months ago with one man seeing children in need.

"He saw a need and did not have to voice it, but did, and out of his concern for others, so many have come together," Kelly said.

• Date Taken: 06.01.2007
• Date Posted: 06.11.2007 10:48
• Story ID: 10754
• Location: TAL AFAR, IQ