U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark McLaughlin, assigned to the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team, and a local elder cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Qamchai school in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Juanita Chang

Coalition Forces’ Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team and Qamchaivillagers celebrate the grand opening of the first school in their region
By U.S. Army Capt. Juanita Chang
Combined Task Force Thunder

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2005 — Insurmountable terrain and high river waters did not thwart the determined residents of a village here from building a first-rate school for area children.

Thanks to the funding of the Coalition Forces’ Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team and the determination of the local residents, Qamchai village celebrated the grand opening of the first school in their region on Jan. 17.

“We had to use donkeys to carry each of the bricks up the mountain,” said Engineer Hafizullah, responsible for the construction of the project.

“When the river rose we even had to construct boats to carry the bricks and cement across”, he said.

Both school buildings have eight classrooms capable of holding 20 children each, allowing a total of 320 children to attend school at one time. The plan is to allow boys and girls to attend the school at different times or on different days.

“Take care of this school and don’t let anyone destroy it,” Hafizullah pleaded to the village residents in attendance.

The local police chief also made a speech beseeching the residents of the valley to protect the school and others who bring education to the region.

The new principal for the school said local villagers were so determined to bring education to the area that everyone pitched in according to their ability.

This school is not only for religious studies but also for education for this world, the principal said. Religious studies are for the next world, but education is for our life in this world, he said.
This school is the first public facility to be built in this region and the residents expressed their gratitude to the coalition forces by presenting all the attending members with gifts of traditional Afghan rugs or clothing.


U.S. Army Col. Gary Cheek, commander of Combined Task Force Thunder, crosses the river on the way back from attending the grand opening of the Qamchai school in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2005. Each brick and the cement to build the school had to be carried across the river and up a treacherous mountain on donkeys. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Juanita Chang


Local Afghan boys sing songs celebrating the grand opening of the Qamchai school in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Juanita Chang

“The future leaders of Kunar and Afghanistan will come from these classrooms,” said Capt. John Wilt, the team leader for Civil Affairs Team-A from the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team.

from the DoD website

This is another of those stories I'd lay money you won't see on any of the mainstream media venues. I'd be happy to be proven wrong. I've said it before, and I'll say it again ~ I never cease to be humbled by the character and compassion our troops show in Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere else we send them. They are truly the best that this country has to offer, and I am immeasurably privileged to have the chance to tell some of them that personally.