Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Gaelen Lowers | Iraqi children smile after receiving school supplies and stuffed animals during a...... read more read more
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Story and photos by Pfc. Gaelen Lowers
3rd Sustainment Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq – A Soldier's primary mission in Iraq is to combat the terrorist threat, but there is a second mission that often goes untold.
The mission is to better the lives of Iraqi people and Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery and Soldiers of 332nd Rear Operations Center (Area Support Group), Wisconsin National Guard demonstrated that Nov. 7. They ventured into to the town of Jurn, Iraq, and distributed shoes and school supplies to children in two separate schools.
"This is a place where we've done cordon searches in the past," said 1st Lt. John May, Bravo Battery, 5-82nd FA and convoy commander on the mission. "We wanted to go there and show that every time we come [to Jurn] its not to bother [them]. We're here to do good things too and hand out some goodies."
The Soldiers first stopped at a boy's school where they handed out pencils and small stuffed animals for the kids. Maj. Lisa Loomer, 332nd ROC base operations officer for the Mayor Cell, commented on the reaction the Soldier's and she got from the boys at the school.
"Little boys are pretty rambunctious no matter where you are," said Loomer. "It was fun to watch them and what they were doing."
Next the Soldiers went to the girl's school located next door and gave out pencils, art supplies and stuffed animals. The girls were more reluctant to approach the male Soldiers but Loomer made the transition easier by taking off her helmet and interacting with the children.
"I think it was good for the girls," said Loomer. "After a while they became more comfortable."
Although the Soldier's came down and helped hand out the supplies, they let the teachers and Iraqi adults do most of the distribution.
May said it is important for the Soldiers to go out and do these humanitarian missions because it shows the civilians that Soldiers are there to help them and teaches the Soldiers they are not always out to hunt for the bad guys. It's important to show Soldiers not all Iraqis are insurgents and they need their help.
"It was very nice to be able to go out into the country to see what we're working towards," said Loomer. "Its good for [the Iraqi people] too see us in a more humanitarian role."
Overall Loomer believes the mission was a success.
"There were no problems," Loomer said. "Just listening to the Soldiers of the 5-82 talk, I could tell they were very satisfied with how well the mission went."
"Hopefully years from now they will take that and keep it with them."
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2007 06:48 |
| Story ID: | 14054 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 331 |
| Downloads: | 318 |
This work, Soldiers help further Iraqi education, by SFC Gaelen Lowers, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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