Courtesy Photo | An Iraqi soldier assigned to the 1st Battalion, 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD –Smiles. Not sadness, confusion or anger - the expected expressions from those left behind in the aftermath of a war.
Smiles were what graced the faces of more than 50 widows and their children at a small school, March 13, in the village of Arab Jabour to receive free children's clothes and toys from Iraqi soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division in coordination with troops from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Arab Jabour was once an al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold known for suicide bombers and roads heavily mined with improvised explosive devices; its farm land that was once the badlands of insurgents.
In the past year, violence decreased and the area has made progress in returning to normal, with farmers coming back to till the land and the quality of life improving for the people of Arab Jabour.
"This is a great thing," said Iraqi army Capt. Ahmed Farhaan A'abaas, commander, 4th Co., 1st Bn., 55th Bde., 17th IA Div., of their mission to help the children and their mothers. "Distributing such humanitarian aids will help to build a close relationship between the IA and the citizens who live here."
The clothes and toys themselves were sent to Iraq through Iraqi army coordination with the leadership of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad.
"The clothes and toys were donated to the thrift store back at our base in Baumholder, Germany" said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Eyer, of Houston, command sergeant major of 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div. "We managed to get them over here from the thrift store to me, since my wife became the point of contact for this [shipment] that came over."
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, were present to assist with providing security while Iraqi soldiers helped the widows' sort through over 20 boxes filled with clothes, shoes, and toys for their children.
"We feel very happy today," said Usamma, one of the young boys from Arab Jabour who received clothes and toys at the event. "The coalition forces help us a lot and they brought a lot of gifts for us," he said with a smile.
"Everything we do [with the Iraqi army] is combined," said Eyer. "I'm not here to take all the credit for it. We want the Iraqi people here to see the Iraqi forces are working for them."
The event lasted for a couple of hours and most of the widows went back to their homes in the neighborhood around the school with as much as they could carry.
"I think it's great that we can help, and I hope that we can do more in the future," said Eyer.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2009 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 31162 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 247 |
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