U.S. Army Capt. William Powers stands with a local Iraqi woman after giving her a new hat for her child.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Bowens, of Russelville, S.C., gives a soccer ball with the First Team Patch emblem on it to Iraqi children.
Posted on 12/21/2004 10:05:30 PM PST by saquin
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 21, 2004 — “Check it out! Wilson’s got quite a leg on him,” shouts Spc. Lerroi Givens, of Brunswick, Ga., as Spc. Amin Wilson, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., solidly belts a soccer ball more than 50 meters to a gaggle of excited children in eastern Baghdad.
These soldiers from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, who are known as the “Dragons,” aren’t shirking their duty while on patrol, but rather are carrying out a very important mission: reaching out to Iraqi children.
On Dec. 19, the Dragons handed out 20 1st Cavalry Division logo soccer balls and other goodwill supplies at a local soccer field that the unit built in July.
In their time deployed, the soldiers from the battalion have displayed an ongoing commitment to the children of Iraq. Capt. William Powers, from St. Petersburg, Fla., the Dragon’s civil affairs officer said that they have been busy.
“In addition to many projects aimed at improving the schools directly, we have also built six soccer fields and four playgrounds in our area for the kids,” U.S. Army Capt. William Powers
“In addition to many projects aimed at improving the schools directly, we have also built six soccer fields and four playgrounds in our area for the kids,” Powers said.
Dragon soldiers have also handed out hundreds of soccer balls, some purchased, and many donated by individuals and companies in the U.S. In each neighborhood that the battalion builds a soccer field, the unit also outfits two local teams with uniforms.
Building the play areas is a departure from the usual SWET (sewer, water, electricity, and trash) projects that the unit usually performs. There are many ways to improve overall quality of life for the Iraqis, and the Dragons are not taking a limited approach.
“We may not see the next Pele come out of our zone, but all the kids over here love to play soccer,” said Sgt. Tracy Johnson, of Prentiss, Miss. “These soccer balls are the most popular thing we’ve given out so far.”
While distributing the soccer balls, Dragon soldiers also took the opportunity to handout more than 50 hand-knitted caps and blankets to children and women of a local village. Powers mother, Corinne Powers, from Gulfport, Fla., made the hats and blankets.
“My mother really wanted to help the Iraqi people, so she put her hobby to use by providing caps and blankets for the villagers in our area,” Powers said. “Every winter she does this for the local hospitals in Florida, this year she went global.”
During the winter months, temperatures in Baghdad average 60 degrees during the day and 35 degrees at night. Many of the children don’t have appropriate cold weather clothing and they were eager to receive the hats.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Bowens, of Russelville, S.C., gives a soccer ball with the First Team Patch emblem on it to Iraqi children.
there is no such thing as an ugly child over here.....
While distributing the soccer balls, Dragon soldiers also took the opportunity to handout more than 50 hand-knitted caps and blankets to children and women of a local village. Powers mother, Corinne Powers, from Gulfport, Fla., made the hats and blankets.
“My mother really wanted to help the Iraqi people, so she put her hobby to use by providing caps and blankets for the villagers in our area,” Powers said. “Every winter she does this for the local hospitals in Florida, this year she went global.”
What a great lady!
Morning Mike. Been thinking about you all day hoping you were OK. I'm glad to see you out and about. 19 days to go - will you stay with the company you work for now or are you looking for another job?
Please allow me to do so now.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas and Semper Fi.
L
Merry Christmas Mike
I am hoping to stay with General Dynamics, but I am kind of between a rock and a hard place right now. I dont know where I am going to end up yet. But hope is alive and well right now.
No big deal. I am not too worried. GD is a great company to work for and if it is humanly possible, they will find a way....
no problem...
Merry Christmas to you and yours....
thank you
and Merry Christmas to you and your family :)
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