Posted on 07/31/2004 3:32:05 AM PDT by demkicker
It might be hard to find a pair of children's flip-flops for sale in Conroe or Spring this weekend. Most of them are on the way to Iraq.
A Montgomery County couple who launched a shoe-collection drive for Iraqi children delivered 2,010 pairs of flip-flops to Fort Hood on Friday for distribution in theBaghdad area beginning next week.
Gary and Barbara Cluck, who live in the April Sound community on Lake Conroe, were struck by a U.S. soldier's casual observation in a newsletter from Iraq that many kids go shoeless in the hot desert sand.
With help from neighbors and friends in Texas, Oklahoma, fellow church-goers and the VFW in Conroe, they amassed 2,010 pairs of new shoes in a matter of weeks, along with donated school supplies.
Filling a U-Haul truck, the couple drove the goods to Fort Hood so soldiers there can transport them to Iraq for distribution by the 1st Cavalry Division.
"Some of them have big sunflowers on them. Some of them are pink. Can't you see those kids? They're going to be so proud of those shoes," Gary Cluck said.
"Wal-Mart had them for $1.74 and dollar store had them for $2. We bought every pair of kids' flip-flops in the whole Conroe area. So (Thursday) my wife and I drove to Spring and they told us there was a dollar store down there that had flip-flops. We bought almost 200 pair there," he said.
About 800 pairs came from Cluck's friends in Vidalia, Ga., and another 600 pairs were rounded up by members of First United Methodist Church in Conroe, he said. The rest were provided by residents of April Sound or purchased with donated cash, Cluck said.
"The VFW in Conroe wrote me a check for $145 and that bought over 100 pair of flip-flops, so it just spread," he said as he delivered the goods to Fort Hood."We think this is going to build good relations with the Iraqi people."
The soldier who inspired Operation Flip-Flop happened to be at the post Friday on a two-week assignment. Lt. Col. Tim Ryan, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, accepted the donations with glee and recalled how the project started.
"I had been out in sector all day, about a month and a half ago, and saw quite a few families picking through the ruins of an old ammo factory. They were trying to pick up brass and old bullets to salvage and make money. And the kids didn't have any shoes," Ryan said.
"So that night I was writing my newsletter to all the (soldiers') families and I put a 'P.S.' saying we (soldiers) don't really need anything ... but if you want to do something — if you felt like giving — send some flip-flops or children's clothes or school supplies and we can distribute those around to those folks who are not so fortunate," he said.
Cluck, a retired Army reservist, got the newsletter from an Army friend and pounced on the suggestion. Ryan said the effort will be greatly appreciated in Iraq for years to come.
"Efforts like this will help us to show the ordinary people of Iraq — and the rest of the world for that matter — that the Americans aren't there for selfish reasons," Ryan said.
"I will put boxes of the shoes, and some school supplies as well, in the Humvees with the soldiers as they go out on patrol. As they work their way through sectors and they see folks in need, they'll distribute around to folks they know. We've been there for seven months, so you know where folks are that need things."
Something is wrong with this picture.
"and dollar store had them for $2"
HOUSTON ping
At least they came up with an even number.
They going to have a whole bunch of free flip-flops after the prez election.
That is strange. Wonder if that's a typo?
My Sister in Law's Brother is Commander of the 1/23 in Iraq, and he has requested Jelly Beans to give to the kids in Iraq.
Perfectly logical: $1 for Flip ; $1 for Flop.
Wartime price gouging?
The kids will be happy. They will know that sKerry is the reason, but they will be happy regardless. These are great Americans who did this.
Is that a bumper sticker? If so ,where can I get one?
No, sorry just a pic I made.
Outstanding job!
Great Picture!!
Bump!
Don't think it's a typo.
I've seen some of these "Dollar" stores that really mean "We sell in multiples of dollars." Very misleading. In fact the last one I went into started fudging and had some goods for $1.50.
You don't know who to be more proud of, the soldiers who noticed the children without shoes, or the fine American people who did something about it.
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