School program brings patriotism, partnership

Photo By Staff Sgt. Youtoy Martin | Members of the 82nd Airborne Division band play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Masoud Bin Sinan Boys Middle School at a 25th Anniversary Schools Program in partnership with the U.S. Embassy-Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education and U.S. Army Central at the school in Kuwait City, Nov. 30. The event was the culmination of a six-part series that began in October and celebrated the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait and the role the U.S. played in Operation Desert Storm, along with Kuwait’s long-standing relationship with the U.S. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Youtoy Martin, 19th Public Affairs Detachment, USARCENT Public Affairs)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.02.2015

Story by Sgt. Youtoy Martin 

U.S. Army Central   

KUWAIT CITY — The U.S. Embassy-Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education and U.S. Army Central wrapped up a six-part series of school programs to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait and celebrate the partnership between Kuwait and the U.S. at Masoud Bin Sinan Boys Middle School, Nov. 30.

This final school event stressed the importance of the partnership between the U.S. and Kuwait to the younger generation of Kuwaiti children and the role coalition forces played in the liberation of the State of Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s forces.

“The value of the relationship between the United States and Kuwait measures itself in many different ways,” said Joey Hood, deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy –Kuwait, and native of Keene, New Hampshire. “Primarily, in how our two countries interact; there are more than 11,000 Kuwaiti students studying in the U.S., that’s more than 10 percent of their high school graduating class every year. We also have a very robust military relationship ever since the liberation in 1991.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Dannie Bergeron, with the Office of Military Cooperation- Kuwait and a native of Hammond, Louisiana, has had the opportunity to attend a majority of the school programs and was impressed with all of the performances and warm atmosphere.

“I was able to attend five of the six events and all of them have been well-planned and the performances all went well. Every one of them has been exceptional,” said Bergeron.

Bergeron said these programs have special meaning to him because he served in Operation Desert Storm. He recalled his first time in the Southwest Asia nearly 25 years ago. As a newly promoted sergeant, he was a medical evacuation crew chief based at King Khalid Medical City in Saudi Arabia with the 812th Medical Detachment Air Ambulance from New Orleans.

“I was terrified when I first landed,” said Bergeron. “We circled around looking for a place to land and set up base camp. There was nothing in the area but a clamshell hangar. As soon as we landed, a scud missile flew overhead and was intercepted by a patriot missile just a few hundred feet above us. I saw it tumble and impact the ground behind us and thought…this is not going to be fun.”

The U.S. and coalition forces moved rapidly during Operation Desert Storm to defeat Hussein’s forces, assisting Kuwait in regaining the freedoms they enjoy today.

“More than 65 percent of the Kuwaiti population is under the age of 40,” said Hood. “Most people in Kuwait now have no memory of the liberation in 1991. Of course, this is also a painful part of their history and it’s difficult to think about. We find working with them through school programs, like this, is a great way to talk to the youth. This helps them remember their history and understand what a strong friend the United States is and how important Kuwait is to us.”

The 82nd Airborne Division band opened the event with the Kuwait and U.S. national anthems and played several songs throughout the program. The faculty and students of the school put on performances, featuring short film presentations, theatrical stage presentations, and a Kuwaiti folklore song and dance with traditional instruments.

Aqeel Hussein, the principal of the school, spoke on the liberation and its importance to the younger generation.

“This day means a lot to us,” said Hussein. “As partners with countries from all over the world, we wish peace for all of them and will help any country in trouble regardless of their origin, religion or ethnicities. This way the whole world can know peace.”

• Date Taken: 12.02.2015
• Date Posted: 12.02.2015 08:29
• Story ID: 183245
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: HAMMOND, LA, US
• Hometown: KEENE, NH, US
• Hometown: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US