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Operation Pencil Giver
(June 23, 2010) |
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| MOSUL, Iraq (June 20, 2010) — Soldiers with the 969th
Transportation Detachment (Movement Control Team), 14th
Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), 13th
Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), recently found the
opportunity to conduct a movement of a different nature —
providing school supplies for children in the near Mosul,
Iraq. |
Spc. Breanna Carder, a movement specialist with
the 969th Transportation Detachment (Movement
Control), 14th Transportation Battalion
(Movement Control), 13th Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary) and a Wood River, Ill., native,
helps to carry boxes of school supplies to a
local elementary school May 19, 2010 in Mosul,
Iraq as part of Operation Pencil Giver |
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Operation Pencil Giver was the brainchild of Capt.
Christopher Pruitt, commander of the 969th Transportation
Detachment (Movement Control) and a Glendale, Mo., native,
the unit's family readiness group and Pruitt's sons Jack and
Sam.
During a visit with Jack's school principal to discuss
Pruitt's upcoming deployment, the discussion turned to the
potential dangers of the mission; Jack overheard the
conversation and decided he wanted to help, Pruitt said.
“This was his way of doing something to help keep his dad
safe,” Pruitt said.
The idea turned into a campaign involving the Illinois'
Kirkwood School District and various youth organizations. |
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Supplies started arriving in early November 2009
and continued to arrive until February, he said. |
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The goal of collecting fifty boxes of supplies was exceeded,
with a total of 126 boxes being donated as the community
rallied in support of the unit and its mission.
Spc. Michael Snook, a Kansas City, Mo., native, Breanna
Carder a Wood River, Ill. native, and Miranda Mossberger a
St. Charles, Mo., native, all movement specialists with the
969th Movement Control Team, along with Soldiers from the
278th Armored Calvary Regiment, 13th ESC and local Iraqi
police distributed the supplies to more than 100 children
from two elementary schools.
Snook, a Kansas City, Mo., said he helped coordinate the
mission once the supplies arrived from in Mosul. Normally,
Snook processes ground transportation requests and tracks
movements of private security convoys and cargo, reporting
significant events to higher headquarters.
This was unique opportunity to get out and experience the
culture and meet some of the people that we're here to help,
Snook said.
“It was great just going out there and being able to see the
people and doing something that benefits somebody and we
actually have hands on and are involved,” he said.
The mission itself was a humanitarian endeavor in nature as
well as joint operation between U.S. forces and the local
police. As part of the upcoming responsible drawdown,
Operation Pencil Giver was an effort to build confidence and
trust between the police and community.
Lt. Col. Lee Porterfield, deputy commander of the Security
Transition Team, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry
Division and a Springfield, Mo., Native, said he works
closely with the Iraqi Police leadership, to improve law
enforcement functions such as investigative techniques,
collection of physical evidence and processing crime scenes.
“Part of what we're doing today is helping to improve the
public image of the local IP by helping them to get more
involved in the community and assist in developing a more
trusting relationship,” he said. “Today was a step in the
right direction.”
Carder said this was a chance for her and Mossberger to see
a different side of what goes on outside their world of
tracking cargo shipments around Iraq.
“It felt really good to interact with the kids, just seeing
their faces light up and knowing they were going to have
stuff for the following school year,' she said.
Mossberger said it was gratifying to be a part of the
operation because, while her and Carder move equipment and
vehicles all day, the never see the end result. This time
they were able to see the impact of a contribution to the
welfare and education of children. |
Article and photo by Army Spc. Michael Snook
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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