From: (removed) Maj Warrior Bravo/CC
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 10:02 AM
Subject: Village Visit
Hello Family & Friends,
My experiences over here in Iraq have been amazing......some scary......draining both mentally and physically, but none compare to the experience of joy I had today.
I was able to go with 12 Air Force and 8 Army escorts to the village just north of the base. I was a driver and the Army briefed us on what convoy procedures and quick response procedures would be.
We had our weapons loaded and a round in the chamber. We drove off the base and within a couple of minutes we were in the village.....we took the wrong road and as I am driving down.....I said "this is not the road they showed us on the map."
We turn around and found the right road.....but the three in my vehicle, Maj (removed) and TSgt (removed) and myself all brought up the movie Black Hawk Down when the convoy took a wrong turn......if you saw the movie you know what happened. The army briefed us that each vehicle would have a translator and we would hand out the boxes and bags of candy, toys and school supplies to the children.
We got out and opened the back of the SUV and one photo shows the nice orderly line. Well as you have already guessed.....the orderly line turned into a mob of not only children, but teenagers, young and old men and women. It really became comical and concerning at the same time.
I never feared for my safety (as the Army said, the bad guys do not like killing their women and children) and that is who was surrounding me. What was concerning was how poor this people lived and to know and have been to three of Sadam's palaces......really a shame.
Well the handing out of toys and candy went for two hours.....I was exhausted. At one point I got up on my vehicle and was throwing the toys and candy. Then the worst thing happened. I saw a group of women with children about 25 yards away and I knew I had one box left. I took the box, wrapped my arms around it and started towards them.......about half way there I was stopped my a hoard of villagers......there had to be at least 40 people and over 20 hands on the box.....I watched the box be ripped into pieces the candy and toys flying everywhere and me doing all I could do not be trampled......I wish someone would have caught it on video or at least a photo.
You know how a army of ants covers a grasshopper......I was the grasshopper.......I was using heads and bodies to maintain my balance and let the swarm devour the gifts!!!!!
I was exhausted just from the adrenaline rush......again....it was an experience of a lifetime.....one I will not forget for a very long time. These people were amazing.....as nice as could be.....funny, and really some striking men, women and children......some with beautiful eyes. But then living in poverty......
I had to attach a photo of the village donkey......
I hope you get these photos and I will send more.
Love (removed)
I hope I did it right. :)