Airmen donate school supplies to local Iraqi children

Published Jan. 12, 2011
By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
9th Air Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq

BAGHDAD -- Some Iraqi children attend school without the basic supplies needed to succeed. Several deployed Airmen took it upon themselves to help provide for the students at one Iraqi school.

Airmen assigned to the Echelon Above Division-Advise and Train team at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, recently handed out school supplies and toys to more than 70 children at Ur Elementary School, located in a small village near the base.

"The local children are the future leaders of this country," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Walsh, EAD-AT senior advisor and Benbrook, Texas, native. "It is important for them to get the supplies needed to assist in their education."

U.S. military advisors continue to help strengthen the Government of Iraq and Ministry of Defense, but Colonel Walsh explained the importance of interacting with all the citizens of Iraq.

"The general populace needs to know that we are here to help them, not just the police and military," said Colonel Walsh, who is a current resident of Burke, Va. "Hopefully by getting out and talking with the adults while providing supplies to the children, they see that we are here for them."

The seven Airmen assigned to the Tallil EAD-AT team spent about eight months gathering the 30 boxes of supplies from multiple locations, including Girl Scout Troop 4301 in Burke, Va., and the 5th Munitions Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

"It was a team effort and a great opportunity to show the local children we care," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Luis Buot, EAD-AT maintenance advisor and Pemberton, N.J., native. "These children don't have very many supplies at school, so whatever we can give is a tremendous help to them."

While the team focused on handing the school supplies to the older children that lined up, they also gave various toys and stuffed animals to some of the younger ones.

"Kids and toys, there is nothing like the enthusiasm of a child with a new toy," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brent Baker, EAD-AT munitions advisor and Fairport, N.Y., native.

The team left extra supplies with the school's administrators, so they could hand them out to the rest of the student body, which totals more than 250 children from Ur and other surrounding villages.

Besides the apparent need, it was the parental instincts of some of the Airmen that drove them to help out.

"As a father of four children, I felt a strong urge to help supply these children with the clothes, shoes and school supplies to help with their education," said Sergeant Baker, who is deployed to the team from Minot AFB.

The Tallil EAD-AT team is responsible for advising and training two location commands and medium maintenance workshops. The team regularly convoys through the Dhi Qar, Maysan and Basrah provinces to these locations.

"We often see children outside the wire that are in need of everyday items and we wanted to help out in any way possible," said Sergeant Baker.

For the some members of the team, all it took was children's reactions to make the entire effort worth it. The children were timid when the team arrived at the school but each child walk away with a huge smile on their face and bursting with excitement.

"It was heartwarming to see the children's faces light up once we opened the boxes," said Sergeant Buot, who is deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "It was precious to see the kids hug the toys."