Posted on 04/05/2003 7:57:57 AM PST by knighthawk
The mother of a soldier serving in the Gulf is playing a unique role in the "heart and minds" campaign to win the trust of local people - by sending her son an army of teddy bears.
Each bear sent by Dawn Taylor has a label reading "Please find me a child" and is meant to be handed out to a young Iraqi in the towns around war-stricken Basra. Mrs Taylor, 42, of Bearpark, Durham, is putting the bears in shoe boxes - along with a postcard of Durham City - and sending them to her 22-year-old son Mark.
Mark, a Royal Logistic Corps tank transporter, based at Catterick, North Yorkshire, has been in the Gulf since January.
Mrs Taylor said: "I am upset my boy is out there but there are many Iraqi people who are worried about their children too.
"I don't want them to fear seeing soldiers. A soft toy is a soft toy, no matter what the language."
Packed alongside the postcard and bear are shampoo, a toothbrush and toothpaste, roll-on deodorant, socks, boxer shorts, wet ones and snack foods for Mark and his fellow soldiers.
Mrs Taylor has so far sent out 18 boxes and is working with her family to collect money and the items to go in more boxes.
She said: "People cannot send parcels out to soldiers without a delivery name so I'm sending most to my boy to give out.
"In these situations toys are often forgotten if a family have to flee their home suddenly."
Mark, who has named his tank transporter wagon after girlfriend Erica, wrote to his mother saying he missed cheese and onion crisps in his last letter.
She said: "He has always wanted to be a solider. I have pictures of him dressed up as a soldier when he was four.
"I am very proud of him and am waiting for his safe return. I want him to come home when the job's done. Erica wants him at home too. She has had to cancel their holiday in Jamaica. They were due to go out for her brother's wedding but have had to cancel the trip.
"She is proud we are just not sat at home crying but doing something to help the soldiers and children out there."
Mrs Taylor has offered to make up boxes on behalf of families who cannot afford the £6.50 postage.
She said: "If there is anyone who has a son or daughter in the Gulf who wants them to receive a box I will send them one. I don't need to know their circumstances, I'll just send one."
* Anyone wanting to send donations for Dawn's Support a Soldier in Iraq appeal should call Mrs Taylor on (0191) 373-2102.
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