Iraqi orphans enjoy fun in the sun with soldiers

CENTCOM ^ | Sept. 4, 2003 | Spc. Joshua M. Risner, 40th PAD

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Iraqi orphans enjoy fun in the sun with soldiers

By Spc. Joshua M. Risner, 40th PAD

MOSUL, Iraq (Sept. 1, 2003) -- Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 431st Civil Affairs Battalion gave a group of Iraqi orphans a day filled with fun and games at the Civil Military Operations Center, September 1.

The event took ten days to put together according to Capt. Terri Robbins of Granite City, Ill., 501st Signal Bn. “The purpose was simply for the kids to be able to have fun in a safe environment and spend quality time with the soldiers,” she said.

Soldiers volunteered their time and services to help with the set-up and run different events of the day. Some soldiers also acted as lifeguards at the pool.

“I want to thank all the soldiers who pitched in with decorating and offered their services today,” said Sgt. Nikki Wade, 431st CA Bn. She added that assistant division commander, operations, Brig. Gen. Frank Helmick came up with the idea for the day at the pool, but was unable to attend due to an obligation elsewhere.

Children from three separate orphanages arrived to participate in the events of the day.

Each group was greeted when they arrived and given a towel with the Screaming Eagle insignia on it as a gift. The children then went on to swim in the pool, participate in relay races and play games such as pin the tail on the donkey, also for prizes.

Winners of the games got candy and snacks.

Each child was also given a lunch of two hamburgers, french fries, a soda and ice cream. The meals were provided by the restaurant on the CMOC grounds.

The restaurant also provided many of the decorations on the grounds.

Another event of the day was face painting. A local caricature artist painted designs on the children’s faces and colored the skin of a few soldiers as well.

Soldiers interacted with the children, swimming with them, playing soccer and simply being a friend.

“The children having fun with the soldiers is a good medium for peace,” said Chap. (Capt.) John Stutz, CMOC chaplain. “Besides, everyone needs to get away from the routine for a little while.”

The children each received a gift bag when it was time for them to leave. The bag contained items such as a t-shirt with the 101st insignia, a beanie baby, a soccer ball and personal hygiene items, according to Wade.

“It’s like an ultimate high, hard to explain,” Wade said. “Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces made every bit of work worth it.”

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

That's our military - taking out bad guys and winning hearts:

8 101st Airborne Scores Success in Northern Iraq - The New York Times  | 09/04/03 | MICHAEL R. GORDON

Those who chose to sit on the sidelines and criticize, look and learn.

8 Unapologetically Pro-Coalition News Links and Articles

[tsmith130]

There just ain't no military like our military!!! They ROCK!

[EggsAckley]

Thanks for posting some good news. We need it today.

[ellery]

This has to be a blessing for military folk missing their families as well as for these Iraqi children. God bless our wonderful troops.

[areafiftyone]

This is just wonderful!!! This should be in the mainstream news. We need more articles like this!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

“The purpose was simply for the kids to be able to have fun in a safe environment and spend quality time with the soldiers..”

To know them is to trust them, ping!

If you want on or off my pro-Coalition/anti-wanker ping list/please Freepmail me.

[rabidralph]

Each child was also given a lunch of two hamburgers, french fries, a soda and ice cream. The meals were provided by the restaurant on the CMOC grounds.

McDonald's is having a cow over this lost marketing opportunity.

[ladtx]

My son is an NCO with the 413th CA Bn at the same location. Glad to see the civil affairs guys are getting a little publicity.

[ladtx]

How can this be? You can't go swimming in a quagmire!!

[niteowl77]

Who else does this? Nobody! The Commonwealth nations might do it, but no one else even tries. I know it's probably wasted on 99.9% of the world's onlookers, but that isn't the point.

God bless these soldiers- the best examples of what is still the greatest nation on earth. Uh, I got something in my eye...

[blackie]

It's for the children ... we are winning!

[Living Free in NH]

This is a very nice story. I'm looking forward to seeing the coverage on CNNABCNBCCBS tonight.

[Bill Davis FR]

God bless the troops in Iraq...

[egarvue]

This is nice to read after a lunchtime listening to our local "conservative" talk show host whine and moan about the "lack of planning" for a post-war Iraq.

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding on to, Sam?

Sam: There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

[rintense]

What a heartwarming story. I wonder if any of the soldiers will adopt any of these kids.

[caisson71]

These's more of this going on every day and we should be seeing more of this in print across America and the world, but we don't. Instead, we get crap out of ABCNBCCBSCNN. I'm sick of it!

[FairOpinion]

A wonderful thing to do and great story. Too bad it only appears on the CENTCOM website.

I did a Google News search and there isn't a single news story on this. The press is too busy writing about "Iraqi chaos may cloud Bush's legacy"

[cyborg]

Reminds of the soldier that was rapping with the little kids...

This my friend is what separates the civilized from the UNCIVILIZED HOARDES.

[cyborg]

If not the soldiers, maybe some Americans or Commonwealth nation citizens... aw what a nice thought.

[rintense]

Boy, if I had the means, I'd love to adopt a child...