NOTE: Pay particular attention to the last paragraph -- Pam



Iraqi Army Soldiers, with the help of the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment and the 45th Sustainment Brigade, distribute supplies throughout the town of Shafa‘at Feb. 1. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Bennett Freeman, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 020107-26
Feb. 5, 2007

By Sgt. Paula Taylor
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

SHAFA ‘AT, Iraq— Soldiers of the Black Dragon Battalion partnered with members of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division and the 45th Sustainment Brigade to hand out supplies and conduct a medical assessment throughout the town Feb. 1.

“The 3/2 IA unloaded several trucks filled with water and toys for the populace and were greeted by the children with hugs and smiles of thanks,” said 1st Lt. Bennett Freeman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. “The Iraqi Army, 5-82 FA, and the 45th all had medical personnel on hand to administer aid to the children of the town. Approximately 45 children were seen by the medical personnel and the rest of the medical supplies were left for future use by the town,” he explained.

One of the medics, Sgt. Garrick Morgenweck, of the 5-82 FA from Huntsville, Ala., who joined the effort, said he thought the mission went very well. “We had an Iraqi Army doctor there, two IA medics and three Soldiers from the 45th,” said Morgenweck. “These types of missions are always successful. People come in droves from all around and are glad there are people available to help.”

The group also spent time mingling with the townspeople and interacting with the children. “I played with the little kids,” said Spc. Heather Jay, transport operator from Iowa City, Iowa, 5-82 FA. “We shook their hands, sat down with them, asked how old they were and just tried to make them feel comfortable. The kids were running around, giving ‘high-fives’ and having a good time. They brought out the kid in all of us that were in that room.”

Jay and Morgenweck said the distributed items consisted of medicine, lotion, toys, clothes, blankets, water and candy. The two agreed it was a great experience and look forward to the opportunity to assist the locals in getting back on their feet.

“The media always puts out there that we’re always under gunfire, it’s horrible over here, things are blowing up left and right, because they’re going after the ‘story’” said Morgenweck. “But where we are, the people are glad we’re here; they’re happy to have us here, as far as I’ve seen. The Iraqi people, in general, are like anybody else. They just want to better their lives and they’re glad we’re here to help them get there.”

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 4BCT, Civil Affairs, Good News, Humanitarian Aid, Iraq