Staff Sergeants Douhnn Gbehan and NAME Aldaco, both from Comanche Troop, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Lightning, are entertained by Iraqi schoolchildren during a visit to Hamrin. The Soldiers joined their Iraqi Army counterparts to hand out school supplies to two Hamrin schools Oct. 4. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, Oct. 4, 2006)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2006
SR# 100406-158


by Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

HAMRIN, Iraq (October 4, 2006) -- For many Iraqis, the only face of the Iraqi Security Forces they see is the one entering their house looking for suspected insurgents.

To help children see a more human side of those responsible for protecting their country, Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division visited two schools in this lakeside village in northern Diyala Province to hand out school supplies and talk to the children about the importance of staying in school.

They’re the ones that are going to be leading Iraq’s future tomorrow, said Col. Yas, the 3rd Brigade, 5th IAD, G-5, through an interpreter during a visit to a Hamrin secondary school. They should side with the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police and not side with the terrorists.

Some children were shy, others whimpered at the sight of the Soldiers, others still were eager to talk and mingle with the troops. But, as soon as the school supplies were brought into the room, each child smiled and anxiously awaited their turn to receive their treasure -- a few pencils, a sharpener, an eraser, a ruler and a pair of scissors.

“A lot of the towns see the Iraqi Army out and about but they see them doing kinetic type operations,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Viburs, a team chief with Tactical Psychological Operations Team 15-32nd, attached to 310th Psychological Operations Company. “They see them doing cordon and searches; they see them doing (traffic control points) and searching cars. I think it’s important for the kids to see the softer side of the Iraqi Army. They live amongst them. They serve the Iraqi people. I think it’s important for the kids to see that.”

Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Lightning joined the Iraqi Army patrol as well and mingled with the younger Iraqi citizens. The Soldiers also handed out soccer balls to each school.

Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 5th Division hand out school supplies to a secondary school in Hamrin. The Soldiers visited two schools in this lakeside village to hand out school supplies to the children and talk them about the importance of staying in school. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, Oct. 4, 2006)

An Iraqi Army Soldier from the 3rd Brigade, 5th Division, smiles at Iraqi schoolchildren while handing out school supplies in Hamrin. The Soldiers visited this lakeside village to hand out school supplies and talk about the importance of staying in school. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, Oct. 4, 2006)

Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 5th Division hand out school supplies to students in Hamrin during a visit to two schools there. The Soldiers visited this lakeside village to hand out supplies and talk about the importance of staying in school. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, Oct. 4, 2006)





To help get supplies to some of the troops who work with local children, please visit SOS: KIDS