Posted on 03/22/2009 10:29:11 AM PDT by SandRat
Widows from Arab Jabour smile as they sort through boxes of children’s clothes and toys during a humanitarian aid event hosted by the Iraqi Army in coordination with U.S. troops, March 13. Photo by Sgt. Daniel Nichols, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs.
BAGHDAD — Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers delivered toys and cloths to more than 50 widows and their children in the village of Arab Jabour, March 13.
Arab Jabour was once an al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold known for suicide bombers and roads heavily mined with improvised explosive devices; its farmlands 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.
“This is a great thing,” said Iraqi Army (IA) Capt. Ahmed Farhaan A’abaas, 1st Battalion, 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, 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 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Eyer, of Houston. “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.”
The U.S. Soldiers assisted 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.”
(By Sgt. Daniel Nichols, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs)
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