Children find Heart behind Armor - Soldiers Look to Children, See Future of Iraq

1st Cavalry Division News ^ | May 23, 2004 | Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

      Children find Heart behind Armor

    - Soldiers Look to Children, See Future of Iraq

By Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns
39th Brigade Combat Public Affairs

(click little pics)

     BAGHDAD, Iraq-- Sister Benina Hurmez Shukuana is a Catholic Nun who runs a school in downtown Baghdad. She has taught three generations of children, some of which have come back to teach in the same school.  Her legacy has seen the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein – the persecution of Christians, Jews, and Shia Muslims alike, yet her school has managed to flourish. Several years ago, Mother Theresa spent 45 days with Sister Benina in Baghdad. They were close friends she said. And they were of they same order, Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. “She said everyday she and the kids get together and say a prayer to keep the coalition forces safe,” said Staff Sgt. Jim Ellifrit, 24, of Vancouver, Wash., who recently visited the school to meet with Sister Benina.

     Despite the school’s Catholic affiliation, children of families from all religious backgrounds attend.
Sister Benina’s school is in a sector of Baghdad that the 1st Cavalry Division’s 39th Brigade Combat Team is helping rebuild. Soldiers who recently went to assess her school found there is not a real playground, only an empty trash-ridden lot next to a bustling street filled with cars and donkey carts.
The Soldiers are eager to get a project moving to provide a better environment for the youngsters.
“Our mission is the children,” said Ellifrit. ‘We want to create an environment where they can have a good future.”

     The project, now moving through the bidding process, will include clean up for a soccer field and a protective fence for safety. “It will be open to the community with controlled access,” said Staff Sgt. B.M. Hess. “It will not be used as a parking lot so that people can just throw trash in there.”

While at the school, Sgt. Kyle Neuenschwander, 24, of Medford, Ore., distributed t-shirts to children. “I expected to get rocks thrown at me but it wasn’t the case,” Neuenschwander said. “Their country is war stricken with forces driving around their roads armed to the teeth with ungodly amounts of fire power and yet they’re happy we’re here.” After distributing t-shirts, several children playfully lifted their shirts to show Neuenschwander they had mischievously tucked away three or four in their pants rather than the allotted one they were allowed. “Hey!” yelled Neuenschwander.

     They ran off laughing as if to dare him to a game of chase. But Neuenschwander’s heart is too big. Not only did they make off with extra t-shirts, he also ended up giving away his rank.
“They’re very crafty but they are the same as any kids I have ever met,” said Cpl. Matthew Mintz, 33, of Tillamook, Ore. “It makes me miss my kids.” Ellifrit lost track of the marriage proposals he received as he signed autographs for kids at the school.

     “Now I know how all those celebrities feel when they are trying to get back to their dressing rooms and people are shoving pen and paper at them,” said Neuenschwander. “I got mobbed.”
As Ellifrit continued to sign autographs he felt a tiny hand slip into his. “I went to shake the little guy’s hand but he wouldn’t let go,” said Ellifrit. “He began pulling on me and then I understood he just wanted help getting outside of the school grounds.”

     A swarm of youngsters sandwiched in for autographs and t-shirts left little room for mobility, especially for a small boy who just wanted to get home.

Ellifrit helped walk the little tike through the crowd and sent him on his way. Debates mount and polls tilt, but American Soldiers brace their footing in purpose, purpose they say they see in the faces of children.  “They give this mission meaning,” Neuenschwander said. Steadying themselves in a tumultuous environment, they understand a larger picture. “Information is going to win this war, not bullets,” said Ellifrit as he sat contemplating the future of Iraq. “Our mission here has to be the children. We can keep capturing people but until the new generation takes over, there will still be old religious and party bias, and old problems.” 

 

[writer33]

And to think, our soldiers aren't evil, mindless, killing machines that torture Iraqi prisoners. Who'd have thunk this one?

Thanks for the post, cowgirl. Yeeehaaaa!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

BAGHDAD, Iraq-- Sister Benina Hurmez Shukuana is a Catholic Nun who runs a school in downtown Baghdad...Her legacy has seen the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein – yet her school has managed to flourish. 

 

Sister Benina’s school is in a sector of Baghdad that the 1st Cavalry Division’s 39th Brigade Combat Team is helping rebuild.

 

 ....Debates mount and polls tilt, but American Soldiers brace their footing in purpose, purpose they say they see in the faces of children.  “They give this mission meaning,” Neuenschwander said. Steadying themselves in a tumultuous environment, they understand a larger picture.

 

“Information is going to win this war, not bullets,” said Ellifrit

 

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First Team, ping!

[Arpege92]

Wow...such cute faces....the kids are cute too. ;-}

[Soaring Feather]

Good news bump.

[SandRat]

Our troops have always been soft for children well more than soft -- they see every little child as their kid sister or brother or their son or daughter.

[chance33_98]

Bump and Ping

[Arpege92]

I wish I could learn of the wonderful things our soldiers did for the children back in World War II! Any web sites that you know of?

[lonevoice]

Great find! Thanks for posting this. I'm sure there are many more stories like this, but we get to see so few of them.

[RGF]

Sorry this is a little long. It's from a USC football board post from a Trojan alum serving in Iraq. Brian has sent me his address so I will send off some goodies tomorrow. I'm sure he would appreciate any other offers. I asked what he and his buddies needed and he said "nothing". I said tough.


Trojan Family,

I am not the type to post things unrelated to the board that have nothing to do with our favorite football team. This is a serious situation and I am sincerely asking for help from anyone who is willing to help us out here in Iraq.

Being over here make us realize how blessed we are to live in U.S. After seeing the things that we see, its no wonder they call it the greatest nation on earth.

Its such an eye opener to go through these rural villages and towns and see the living conditions. For a majority of the time, its nice to be able to interact with the kids. Regardless of any language barriers, nationality or culture, children are children. For us, the smiles we see on their faces when we interact with them is really brings some joy to our lives which lightens our days.

2 weeks ago, my soldiers and I had the opportunity to go visit the Bhakan Elementary School which is in our local area. The school has about 300 students with students aging from 5 to 12 years old (much like American elementary schools). Our interpreter told us that the Bhakan School was the best school in the local area. When we arrived and got out of our vehicles, my attention was quickly grabbed by 30 or so excited kids that swarmed us with “Hello” and “How are you?”

Given the living conditions of most in the local area, I shouldn’t have been shocked when I first looked up to see the school, but in all honesty, I was. After all, this was supposed to be the ‘best’ elementary school in the local area. As we toured the school with its principal, I was amazed the school holds 300 students. These kids don’t have school playgrounds. They play around piles of debris.

All the classrooms lack air conditioning and are very small. They lack many of the basic school supplies such as writing paper, pencils, pens, chalk and erasures. Through our interpreter, the principal told us that the school often goes without supplies because the school system often forgets about schools (such as the Bhakan School) that are in rural areas.
Yet, from the look on these kids faces and just from interacting with them, you would never know it. They are very bright.

As we were leaving we stopped to talk and interact some more with the kids. Just before we took off, I handed off a box of Chips Ahoy cookies to a young boy hoping he would share with his classmates. His eyes were as big as a deer in headlights and was immediately swarmed by the kids which made my leave much easier.

Being here, we get used to seeing things real quick. As soldiers, we are sometimes put into situations where it is necessary to be void of emotions and just simply react. You do what you have to do because people are counting on you. Its just that simple. And in other situations, like with these kids, its hard not to feel something.

My soldiers and I plan to help. A lot of friends and family have asked what they can do to help us out over here. This is it. This is a situation that is a win for everyone involved. I am asking everyone I know if they can help us out for this upcoming school year. I’m asking anyone who is willing to donate and mail us any school supplies: a pack or two of pencils or pens, or 2 packs of writing paper, or a box of chalk, or 2 or 3 small boxes of crayons. First and foremost, it helps out those who really need help. Secondly, it helps the soldiers in the day to day interaction with the local communities by promoting peace and good relationships. In the end, all we want to do is do our mission well, and make it home safely to our families. If help to promote peace by fighting insurgents and protecting and helping the civilians, well then in the end we all truly benefit. Its the little things that make the difference over here.

If any one is interested in helping out, please e-mail me at EXSUL3@HOTMAIL.COM

I can provide you with our mailing address over here and pictures too. If you are able to help us out, my unit, my commander, myself and my soldiers, sincerely and personally thank you for your efforts.


EXSUL3
(USC class of 1999)

[Ben Hecks]

Great post! This has the potential of being the most important aspect of the war in Iraq.....a generation of children growing up that do not hate the United States.

[speekinout]

I don't know any Web sites. But I did work in Germany in the late 80's with a bunch of guys who had grown up in post-War Germany.

The ones who had lived in the Russian sector remembered being terrified by the soldiers. The soldiers went out of their way to keep the kids off the streets.

The ones who grew up in the American sector had an entirely different story. The little kids spent a lot of time with the American GI's. Most of them got their first taste of chocolate from GI's (they all counted that as the best thing), and they also got bubble gum, learned how to play baseball, and learned some English (OK, some of the words they learned weren't really polite, but they did know how to use them correctly).
They loved those GI's.

The Germans who knew the GI's really love all things American. But that generation is dying off. Some of them have really Americanized their kids, but the country in really Liberal (not much different than living on one of the coasts here), and they are probably more Liberal than anti-American.

[speekinout]

I don't know any Web sites. But I did work in Germany in the late 80's with a bunch of guys who had grown up in post-War Germany.

The ones who had lived in the Russian sector remembered being terrified by the soldiers. The soldiers went out of their way to keep the kids off the streets.

The ones who grew up in the American sector had an entirely different story. The little kids spent a lot of time with the American GI's. Most of them got their first taste of chocolate from GI's (they all counted that as the best thing), and they also got bubble gum, learned how to play baseball, and learned some English (OK, some of the words they learned weren't really polite, but they did know how to use them correctly).
They loved those GI's.

The Germans who knew the GI's really love all things American. But that generation is dying off. Some of them have really Americanized their kids, but the country in really Liberal (not much different than living on one of the coasts here), and they are probably more Liberal than anti-American.

[SandRat]

Well, don't know the web sites specifically but the History Channel web site might be a good start. They did a piece on the "Candy Bomber" from the Berlin Airlift a while back. Might have others.

[SuziQ]

“Our mission here has to be the children. We can keep capturing people but until the new generation takes over, there will still be old religious and party bias, and old problems.”

He's right. When the Americans have gone home, the mad mullahs may try to distort the time they spent in Iraq, but the kids will remember.

[snippy_about_it]

BUMP!

[blackie]

First Team ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~