by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
ZAHKO, Iraq (March 18, 2006) -- Being deployed offers unique opportunities. For Airman 1st Class Davaines Brown, the opportunity came in a town called Zakho.
Brown, who is attached to the U.S. Army's 142nd Corps Support Battalion, handed out Beanie Babies as part of a civil affairs mission.
"It's very rewarding to have this chance to hand out Beanie Babies to the kids," Brown said. "I feel great. I feel good for the kids. This is something that I will never forget."
Brown has been in the Air Force for two years and is in air field management, where he manages flight plans, inspections, and basic upkeep of the airfield. His job at Logistical Staging Area Diamondback, in Mosul, is to provide a safe airfield for takeoffs and landings for all manner of aircraft.
"My job here in a combat zone is different," Brown said. "Here I do airfield construction, make sure things run smooth so planes take off on time and land safely." This is Brown's first deployment and the first time he has worked with the Army.
"It's great working with the Army," he said. "I am meeting new people, experiencing new things. It's very different from an Air Force installation."