www.iraqischools.com

www.iraqischools.com ^ | now | 1st Armored Division

[ChiefKujo]

This is my unit's attempt to directly help kids in Baghdad. Please browse the site and, if you are inclined, please help by sending what you can.

ChiefKujo

[Support Free Republic]

Got a minute?

I'd really like you to rub my ears,
or help out FR.

[ChiefKujo]

http://www.iraqischools.com/firstDay_Flash.asp

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[tsmith130]

Great site and great work, Chief!!! You make us all very proud.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Bless you not only for your efforts in helping Iraqi children, but your service to your country. As Americans, my family and I are indebted to you.

Best wishes.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Spread the GOOD NEWS!

[ChiefKujo]

GREGG C. SOFTY MAJ
ARMOR SQUADRON S-3
1-1 Cavalry Regiment
1st Armor Division
Baghdad, Iraq


31, August, 2003

HELLO All,

I have never been a fan of mass emails, but under the circumstances I am willing give it a try to ask for help.

The Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): I am asking for your help in bringing desperately needed school supplies to the children of our zones here in Baghdad. Over the past few weeks, we have been faced with the mission to secure, clean up and win the peace in several large zones in the heart of Baghdad. Among the many tasks associated with this mission is interaction with the local schools (grades K - 8 equivalent). Simply put, the conditions are deplorable. The conditions include raw sewage on the ground and in the classrooms, no electricity or water, bullet holes in the walls and on the roofs, broken windows and doors, no desks or chalkboards, and obviuosly little or no supplies with which to hold classes.

Despite the conditions, they will continue to hold classes. In many respects, the Iraqis put a greater premium and priority on education than we do in the US. The problem lies in the lack of resources and infastructure. Under Sadam's regime, resources were used as a weapon to influence and control the people. Even water and electricity were engineered such that he could turn it on and off as a way of rewarding those who supported him, while punishing those he did not trust.

Our soldiers have had to endure a full spectrum of emotions and feelings, not to mention hazards while confronting the task of improving the schools. We do what we can with what we have, but it is difficult at best given our situation. Perhaps the most difficult part for many of our soldiers is balancing the desire to truly help the Iraqi people, and even more so the children with the hopeless frustration of acquiring the resources to do the job. To many of us, there is an endless list of those who would advertise to help, but in the end these bureaucrats are seemingly more interested in getting their name in the press than they are getting the job done.

This is where my request comes in. After seeing first-hand the conditions of these schools and the reactions of the children we help, it dawned on me how fortunate we all are and how much we sometimes take for granted what we have. For what I provide my two boys in one year for school, I could outfit an entire classroom of Iraqi children for the year. My soldiers and I quickly realized the need to reach out directly to you all for help. We knew that by asking for help through emails and phone calls, we could circumvent the log jam of inaction and produce some positive results.

I took a look at the group of you who I am able to maintain email contact with, and realized how fortunate many of us are in life, and realized the power and potential of such a group. For those of you who have seen the movie "Pay It Forward", we are attempting to start a grass roots movement to provide school supplies directly from the States to the children and schools here in Baghdad. In doing so, I am asking from each of you a few moments of your time and few simple tasks. My soldiers and I will see to the rest. Please consider the following:

Put together what you can any school supplies (pencils, pens, paper, markers, rulers, glue, scissors, chalk, erasers, paint, etc, etc, etc), package it boxes and mail it through regular mail to me here in Baghdad at the following address:

MAJ Gregg Softy
HHT, 1st Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment
Unit 92841
APO AE 09324-2841

Spread the word. Forward this email to others you know. Contact people you may associate with. I am confident there are individuals, classrooms/schools, organizations, church groups, and companies/businesses who would be willing to help if given the opportunity and the means to do so.
Provide me feedback. If you have a suggestion on how we can improve or expand our efforts, please do not hesitate to email me. Phoning at this point is probably impossible.
Despite what the press and politicians would have you all believe, our soldiers are making a credible and visible difference here in Baghdad. Our cause is just, and our soldiers believe in what they are doing. While we would all rather be home, morale remains high. Don't be swayed in your support of our efforts over here by the political rhetoric and sensationalism in the press.

If are are going to achieve an enduring, secure environment for the Iraqis, the keys to the kingdom lie with the next generation. We have to win the lasting peace through the children. Thank you in advance for your help and assistance. I promise you that your efforts and contributions will directly impact the children and our soldiers here in Baghdad.

GREGG C. SOFTY MAJ,
ARMOR SQUADRON S-3
1-1 CAVALRY

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I'll forward this to my son's school and his Boy Scout pack.

Thank you.

[ChiefKujo]

ping for charity

[ChiefKujo]

Thanks, Hooah

[ChiefKujo]

Only the messenger, not the author...

[LubyGee]

I will bring this to my son's Elementary School and see if we can get at least his class to put together a package.

Keep up the good work and God Bless!

[Valin]

A guy you need to get in touch with
http://chiefwiggles.blogspot.com/
He is also in Baghdad and doing some similar things.

[Valin]

When did they start to teach you army guys to write? Amazing what they can do these days. :-)

[PGalt]

Great post. BTTT!

[Fawnn]

Enjoyed the slide show. Amazing job!

[Valin]

I wonder, What would happen If I were to bump this one more time before bed?

Oh what the heck..BOLD AND RECKLESS that's me, living life on the edge!


BUMP

[Valin]

Bump

[StarCMC]

bump and ping