U.S., Iraqi forces spread goodwill
at elementary schools

by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea
3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B PAO

	photo by Pvt. Jared Gehmann, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B PAO  Spc. Ikram Mansori of 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company greets a group of Iraqi girls after giving them toys during a combined humanitarian assistance mission at the Gulgamesh Elementary School, Sept. 13, in the town of Salman Pak, Iraq, located 30 miles southeast of Baghdad.

SALMAN PAK, Iraq — U.S. paratroopers worked alongside their Iraqi army counterparts to deliver needed school supplies to two elementary schools during a combined humanitarian assistance mission in the town of Salman Pak, Iraq, Sept. 13. 

Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad and their Iraqi partners handed out pencils, backpacks and books to dozens of school girls during the mission.

Along with the giveaways, several brigade medics assisted Iraqi medical personnel in evaluating several local Iraqi women during a free medical screening. This mission was an outreach by both U.S. and Iraqi security forces to revive the spirit of local residents. With the ISF in charge of its nation security, U.S. forces have been able to focus more on helping the local populace on more of a civilian level even as the U.S. military continues its timeline to pullout of Iraq by the end of 2011.

“Although we are leaving, we really want to show them (Iraqis) that we haven’t forgotten about them,” said 1st Lt. Shannon Martin, of Louisville, Ky., a medic assigned to Company C. “The children are really excited about this and seem to appreciate everything we are doing today; the adults seem to be enjoying themselves too.”

Another goal during the mission was to increase the Iraqi army’s involvement in their own community and build a lasting relationship with the local people.

“We want the Iraqi army to eventually take over missions such as this one and help out their country without our assistance,” said Martin.

The day’s fun-filled atmosphere continued to grow as paratroopers looked on and saw their Iraqi partners take charge of the mission as it went on.

“These are my absolute favorite missions because the Iraqi army is so involved with the kids and the mission. Everyone is in such an upbeat mood,” said Spc. Nicholas King, of Nolensville, Tenn., an infantryman assigned to Company B.

“Its all about the next generation,” said King. “It’s up to us to show them that they matter and that they are the key to the future success of this country.”

King also said that it’s important for the children to have good role models and he thinks that the Iraqi army is the perfect answer to that need.

Many of the items handed out were donated by the Family members of Company B in order for the paratroopers to spread goodwill to the citizens of Salman Pak. The combined forces hope to have several more events like this in the near future.