Paratroopers Celebrate Holiday With Community’s Orphans [Baghdad]

Defend America ^ | Dec. 5, 2003 | Sgt. Brent M. Williams

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Paratrooper Spc. Shirley Baez, Headquarters and Company A, 407th Forward Support Battalion, Task Force 1st Armored Division, talks to a couple of orphan Iraqis during their special Eid Al-Fitr dinner celebration Nov 26. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jason B. Baker
Paratroopers Celebrate Holiday With Community’s Orphans
By U.S. Army Sgt. Brent M. Williams / 49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2003 — The Iraqi children were shy, staring at the festive decorations adorning the walls of the dining room where the paratroopers awaited their arrival. Hesitant at first, the children’s timid faces began to smile. The children, orphans from the southern village of Al Jebachy, came to Camp Falcon to celebrate the Islamic holiday Ramadan’s Feast of Eid Al-Fitr Nov. 26. The special dinner was arranged by the 407th Forward Support Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jeff Douville and Battalion Chaplain Timothy D. Smith. “The chaplain and I thought it would be a great idea to celebrate their Ramadan Feast and our Thanksgiving together,” Douville said, “particularly with the orphaned children of the village because it is a very lonely time of year for them.” Paratroopers of the 407th Forward Support Battalion, the combat support battalion for the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, played host at the feast, serving hamburgers and spaghetti with meatballs and fruit, cake and ice cream for their special guests. “The soldiers really enjoy being around the children this time of year, because it reminds them of family,” Douville said. Traditionally, Iraqi parents give their children special gifts to celebrate the holiday festivities; however, these children, many who lost their parents in what the Iraqi people call the “Saddam Wars” of the late 1980s and 1990s, normally go without, said Smith. This year has marked a change for the children and the village on many different levels, said Maj. Bob Merkel, battalion executive officer. The village of Jebachy, a rural stretch of land south of Al Rashid District in Baghdad, is home to more than 2,000 Iraqis, including the more than 70 orphans. In the time since the 2nd Brigade Combat Team arrived in Baghdad in May, the battalion has taken responsibility for the village, working to renovate the neglected hamlet. Working closely with the village’s mayor, Musa Humadi Dawood, and leaders of the forward support battalion repaired schools, water-pumping stations, roadways and other special projects to help rebuild the impoverished area, said Douville. It was during this time that the mayor introduced his orphans to the battalion’s commander and chaplain. Paratrooper Spc. Dedra Collier, Headquarters and Co. A, 407th Forward Support Battalion offers a young Iraqi girl a bowl of ice cream during their Eid Al-Fitr celebration Nov 26. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jason B. Baker	Paratrooper Spc. Jeremiah Peoples, Company C, 407th Forward Support Battalion, Task Force 1st Armored Division, hands a young orphaned Iraqi a soccer ball and coloring book as a gift during their Eid Al-Fitr celebration Nov 26. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jason B. Baker “ We wanted to do something special for these orphans,” Chaplain Smith said, “because we know the day following the end of Ramadan is a feast day, and in a regular family, the mother and father would have gifts for their children.” So after the meal, the combat support soldiers of Task Force Falcon delivered gifts of soccer balls and baby dolls, coloring books and crayons to the children. “It’s nice to interact with the children and get to know the people of Iraq,” said Spc. Joseph Casey, mechanic, Company B, 407th Forward Support Battalion. “It makes you feel like we’re actually making progress here.” The children, unable to hide their smiles, hurriedly received the presents, gifts that came as the result of donations from families back at Fort Bragg, N.C. Under the guidance and direction of Smith, the battalion's Family Readiness Group is promoting a program called “Operation Iraqi Family.” The Family Readiness Group collects donations of clothes, shoes, and other needed items not only for the Iraqi orphans but also the poor, elderly, handicapped and widowed in Iraq. Currently, the battalion receives the donations of money, clothes, shoes and other items through the mail service at their Army Post Office address. The battalion’s webpage, www.407fsb.com, carries full details about Operation Iraqi Family and the 65 Iraqi families it supports, said Smith. “It leaves a message for the Iraqi people in Jebachy and our soldiers,” Smith said, “. . . that Americans truly care about them by showing and sharing their lives.” The battalion plans to bring packages to the needy families in Al-Jebachy and hopes to bring the children back to Camp Falcon for another special meal around Christmas, said Smith. “It shows the community that we care,” said 407th Forward Support Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald DeVega, “that there is another side of us. We have families as well. We are here with open arms, and we’re giving at the same time.” The event ended with the battalion chaplain leading the soldiers and their guests in a prayer for peace and happiness

[Texagirl4W]

What an outstanding article. Bet we don't see this on CNN. Thanks for this post.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Paratroopers of the 407th Forward Support Battalion, the combat support battalion for the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, played host at the feast, serving hamburgers and spaghetti with meatballs and fruit, cake and ice cream for their special guests...

“ We wanted to do something special for these orphans,” Chaplain Smith said, “because we know the day following the end of Ramadan is a feast day, and in a regular family, the mother and father would have gifts for their children.”

So after the meal, the combat support soldiers of Task Force Falcon delivered gifts of soccer balls and baby dolls, coloring books and crayons to the children...

The battalion’s webpage, www.407fsb.com, carries full details about Operation Iraqi Family and the 65 Iraqi families it supports, said Smith.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hearts and minds, ping!

[LibKill]

I've said it before, and I say it again.

America is great because Americans are good.

You can put the lowest, meanest, Saturday-night-fightin'-hell-raising, always in trouble, grunt in a miserable village in the third world.

When some hungry kid comes to him he will split his rations with the kid.

[LADY J]

A beautiful post. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[VOA]

bump

[cookcounty]

Why does the story say "1st Armored Division" when they are all wearing the 82nd Airborne Division patch? Or is this the usual press confusion about units?

[Tunehead54]

What an outstanding article. Bet we don't see this on CNN. Thanks for this post.

---

Please fill me in - I don't watch CNN - but if you see it on CNN or any pigs flying around - let me know! ;-)

Bump!

[maui_hawaii]

Awesome

BUMP

[Sacajaweau]

Ain't "Having a Heart" great. Kudos to the troops who represent us.

[LibKill]

Why does the story say "1st Armored Division" when they are all wearing the 82nd Airborne Division patch? Or is this the usual press confusion about units?

1. No photos with the original report. Lazy editor puts in wrong file photos.

2. Stupid reporter gets unit designation wrong.

3. Flip a coin and take your pick from 1 and 2.

It is still a good story in that it shows the good heart of the average American Soldier.

The average American Soldier does not like being shot at (who does?).

He has family, and a home. He left family and home to defend the rest of us against the horrors of 09/11/01.

He is the best we have.

He is not a total warrior. He will not kill the innocent and defenseless.

In fact, he will not harm anyone unless he cannot do otherwise.

And if some starving children come up to him and ask him for food, he will give them his own rations. Then, he will tighten his belt and call it good.

All in all, he is the image of a pure knight.

[Ramonan]

YES! This is what the media does not want. Kindness to someone other than a "victim":, and they have NO CONTROL overwhat is taking place in Iraq.

[Travis McGee]

Amen Brother, Amen! Wiping tears bttt.....

[radu]

Thanks Rc!

A beautiful post!! It's wonderful knowing we have somewhere to learn about these things our troops are doing in Iraq. We sure won't see them on the "alphabet news channels".

A mass e-mail, definitely. :-)

[maui_hawaii]

Absolutely.

When you lose yourself, you find your true self.

[LibertyLight]

So wonderful...where is my hanky...tears for the absolute sweetness of it all...
thank you for this post -

[VOA]

The Family Readiness Group collects donations of clothes, shoes, and other needed
items not only for the Iraqi orphans but also the poor, elderly, handicapped and widowed in Iraq.

Not to offend these Muslims/Iraqis-in-need, but I'm sure some words came to mind for
some of the troops as they did this good thing:

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction...


“The soldiers really enjoy being around the children this time of year..."

Anything for the kids at holidays. I remember reading an account of Christmas
in a fairly desolate part of the real "Old West". (I think it was by the artist
Charles Russell?).
It was a time for the everyone to enjoy a much better than usual meal, but the
real main course was serving up the gifts to the children.

[McGavin999]

God is smiling in Heaven.

[VOA]

bump

[windchime]

Bump!