IA delivers school supplies, hygiene items to children

Photo By Kyle Richardson | A young girl receives a box of supplies for her family in the village of Yarminjah, southeastern region of Mosul, Iraq, Sept. 27, 2008. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division distributed the goods given to them by the Church of Latter-day Saints. The children receives the goods just before the start of a new school year.  

IRAQ

09.27.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Kyle Richardson 

11th Public Affairs Detachment

By Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
11th Public Affairs Detachment

YARMINJAH, Iraq – Kids, kids, please! No pushing, shoving or fighting. Stand one behind the other, exclaimed an interpreter with 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division.

Ordinarily, this is a phrase young children would hear while in school. However, the children of Yarminjah, a village located in the southeastern region of Mosul, Iraq had a reason to gather with anticipation and excitement.

As Ramadan continues to wind down and a new school year quickly approaches, the 3-5-2 IA delivered school supplies and hygiene items to the children of Yarminjah, Sept. 27, 2008.

"The kids are getting ready to go back to school, said Capt. Ken Cook, operations officer, 3-5-2 Military Transition Team. "What better way to send these guys back to school than with clothing, school supplies and personal hygiene stuff."

"This is actually an important mission for us, said Chicago native, Maj. John Ruckauf, intelligence advisor for the 3-5-2 Military Transition Team. "It is the month of Ramadan. It is the month of giving and prayer. This is an opportunity for the Iraqi Army to engage the local population, continue to gain their trust and support Ramadan."

The 3-5-2 IA distributed more than 200 boxes of goods. The majority of the boxes were donated by the Church of Latter-day Saints. The 3-5-2 MiTT assisted the IA in collecting the boxes. Also the MiTT provided security to allow the IA to fully concentrate on passing out goods to the growing crowd.

Although coalition force Soldiers play vital roles in security when it comes to some of the IA lead mission, one Soldier's family took interest in helping the villagers.

"My son sent me a pair of his shoes, actually the whole kindergarten class got together and sent shoes out," said Virginia Beach, Va. native, Staff Sgt. David Wenger, combat medic for 3-5-2 MiTT. He wanted me to get a picture of his favorite pair of sandals, which he had for several years."

The 3-5-2 MiTT usually fills a supervisory role and provides extra security for the 3-5-2 IA, however, sometimes some operations mean a little more.

"It's a great feeling, it's about compassion and love here at this point," said St. Louis native, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Benford, non-commissioned officer in charge as well as fires and effects sergeant for 3-5-2 MiTT.

As the last box is overturned and the last packaged is given to the last child, the IA and MiTT can leave Yarminjah in a better state and a little more prepared for school.

• Date Taken: 09.27.2008
• Date Posted: 09.30.2008 08:45
• Story ID: 24323
• Location: IQ