Posted on 01/15/2010 3:34:25 PM PST by SandRat
COL ADDER — U.S. Soldiers here recently delivered supplies to the Ibn Rushed School to further develop Iraqi civil capacity and help educate Iraq's future leaders.
One Soldier who participated in the delivery, Staff Sgt. Imelda P. Quiroz, said delivering supplies to the rural area outside of Nasariyah reminded her of humanitarian visits made to her school when she was a child in Mexico.
Quiroz, the supply accounting noncommissioned officer with the 36th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) moved to Arlington, Texas, and joined the Army, but she said the Jan. 13 trip to the Iraqi school brought back 20-year-old memories. She said she always looked forward to the visits and believes they are important to public relations in Iraq.
"I think things like this make a difference in other countries, because I came from another country and I remember always going to a Bible school in the summer," said Quiroz. "I didn't speak English, so I remember how a whole bunch of ... people used to come and I looked forward to them coming every summer. That always stayed in my head."
The trip to this school was the first mission for Lt. Col. Peter M. Bistransin as the civil military officer with the 36th Sust. Bde. Bistransin became the unit CMO in December.
Bistransin, an Austin, Texas, native, said the students reacted well to the visit.
"First, we went in and [the teachers] had the kids stand up when I walked in, and they had them sit down," he said. "[The kids] are very well disciplined. As soon as the teacher let them talk and stuff, they were very friendly and ... they were really appreciative of us coming by."
He said he believes it is important to have the Soldiers spend time with Iraqi students.
"I did not want to rush in, drop off the supplies and rush out," said Bistransin.
Bistransin said chalk was the most useful donation to the school because most of the instruction is done on the blackboard to help the children who do not have books.
Quiroz said she knows the kids will remember this visits from the 36th Sust. Bde., just as she remembers the Bible school from her childhood.
"For me, it has been over 20 years ago and I still remember, so I think they will remember this," she said.
Quiroz said her trip taught her why the volunteers in Mexico were so willing to help her when she was a child.
"Now I understand why they kept doing it," she said. "It actually does feel really good to go out there. So, whenever they do stuff like that I always try to volunteer, because I know it made a difference in my life."
Great story!
Delivery of school supplies is different from “Meals on Wheels.”
Nice story.
My cousin bought a ton of Iraqi Dinars. Is that the scam of the century, or is there a chance she may profit from it at some pt?
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