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| Soldiers and Iraqi police distribute winter supplies and food to locals. |
| By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro Task Force Spartan Public Affairs |
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Location and Date -- Afghan government officials, regional policemen and American soldiers demonstrated their commitment to the health, welfare and warmth of the people of northeastern Afghanistan, delivering humanitarian aid supplies to a string of villages located in the Narang and Chawkay districts of Kunar Province, Jan. 3-7.
Soldiers from “Hammer” and “Combat” companies, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment; Task Force Chosin Civil Affairs Team-A members; and policemen and local officials from Narang and Chawkay distributed winter weather supplies and foodstuffs to local nationals in eight area villages. According to Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul Poland, the Chosin Civil Affairs Team-A chief, the winter survival items included blankets, coats, scarves, gloves and even toboggans. The soldiers, sailors, policemen and local officials also distributed rice, beans and oil among other Afghan culinary staples. |
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Poland described the mission as a way to help the people from the Narang and Chawkay area through the winter. He also added that area insurgents recently attempted to “intimidate locals, especially teachers.” Army Capt. Andrew Knight, the Task Force Chosin information officer, described the area as “particularly susceptible to enemy attack,” noting the grizzly murder of five area villagers, including two teachers, in December. “The enemy wants to turn back the hands of time and intimidate and kill innocent Afghans,” said Army Maj. Jim Findley, the officer-in-charge of the Chosin CAT-A team. “Our approach is different. We’re committed to building roads and supporting the Afghan people until they’re self-sufficient.” Findley described the early January humanitarian aid mission as “the latest in a series of operations we conducted to help the Afghans rebuild their capacity to sustain themselves.” |
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