Paratroopers, Iraqi Security Force distribute new school supplies to Oubaidy schools

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Licea | Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, gives a Iraqi boy a toy during a school supply distribution event, Feb. 19, at the Al Assal kindergarten in the city of Oubaity. The Al Assal kindergarten was one of two schools to receive school items from the combined forces. Paratroopers have been assisting their Iraqi partners in Oubaity and across New Baghdad for several weeks to improve the lives of its residents. Family members of deployed paratroopers from Fort Bragg, N.C. collected the items to be donated to the Iraqi schools.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.19.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Licea 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

BAGHDAD - Paratroopers and their Iraqi security force partners distributed a variety of new school supplies to students in two Oubaidy schools, Feb. 19, in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad.

Children formed a cheerful scene as they welcomed Multi-National Division - Baghdad Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and their Iraqi partners from the 8th National Police Brigade, 2nd NP Div., to receive the much-needed supplies.

Children at the Al Assal kindergarten greeted the combined forces and eagerly watched as NP officers and paratroopers opened up the cardboard boxes and organized the school materials on a nearby table.

Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, the commander of the 2nd Bn., 505th Parachute Inf. Regt., along with Command Sgt. Maj. Herbert Kirkover, the battalion's senior enlisted leader, told the school's headmaster that the crayons, notebooks, markers, pencils, coloring books, finger paint and toys were donated to the school from the paratroopers' family members back at Fort Bragg, N.C., the unit's home station.

"I appreciate these items for the children," said the school's headmaster. "We are very thankful."
paratroopers have team up the ISF in several humanitarian events across the district over the past several weeks to improve the lives of the area's residents. NP officials have focused attention in 9 Nissan due to the poverty in the region.

Capt. Agustin Dominguez, the battalion's fire support officer, said these events enhance the children's ability to participate in school. Outreach programs like this can result in a change of attitude toward the ISF and their coalition partners.

"Events like this will allow the local residents' mood to change because they are seeing that we are here to provide security for them, and we are here to help their children get a better education," said the native of Miami.

Capt. Adisa King, commander of Company A, 2nd Bn., 505th Parachute Inf. Regt., and his men delivered several more boxes of donated school items to the nearby Al Kays & Al Yasameen elementary school.

The students sang a song in Arabic as a gesture of appreciation as the combined forces were leaving the school's courtyard.

Dominguez and his Iraqi partners plan to visit several more schools across the city in the weeks to come; providing schools with practical items such as fans and chalkboards, as well as restock the school with supplies in the near future.

"They are looking for our help to improve the overall quality of the area schools, and we are going to do what we can to see that their wishes are met."

• Date Taken: 02.19.2009
• Date Posted: 02.23.2009 12:15
• Story ID: 30328
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ