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7th Cavalry Troops Bring Books To Baghdad Schools
(April 16, 2010) |
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| BAGHDAD (ANS, April 13, 2010) -- While Soldiers from the 7th Cavalry Regiment
were assisting Iraqi Security Forces with security they each took time out to
present three schools with new books April 11.
"Today we went on a book-drop mission to try and give the Iraqi schools
English-Arabic books," said Sgt. Alexander Hudson. "The benefit is the Iraqis
see the U.S. and ISF working together to help Iraq as a whole." |
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| School girls from Ishtar Primary School help Spc. Chad Cardenas from the 7th Cavalry Regiment with his vocabulary. The 7th and Iraqi Security Forces conducted a book drop in Baghdad April 11,
2010. |
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With the atmosphere of a 'bring-your-child-to-work-day,' Soldiers found the
situation reversed and sat with Iraqi school kids and rehearsed vocabulary.
Their attempts created smiles and laughter among the children.
"I feel like this is an important mission," said Spc. James Shapiro. "As this is
my first deployment, I was expecting a lot more firefights, but stuff like this
is important. It not only shows the Iraqi kids that we care about them and their
future, it also helps give them an education."
Soldiers and ISF members alike carried in the Arabic Scholastic books to each
headmaster's office. Members of the school thanked the ISF and Soldiers
profusely for providing the much-needed books. For the scouts of the squadron,
this was a scenario that required both security and friendly behavior.
"All my guys are professionals," said Hudson. "That's my focal point. When we go
out - let's say for a book drop - our discipline level is so high that we can
hold our weapons down. You don't always have to be in an offensive position, but
we are always watching our sectors. You can greet and smile, but you are always
on guard."
Hudson, who has been on four deployments, three to Iraq, pinpointed the changes
he has seen in the nation.
"I was here when the war started and for the first elections," he said, "So,
I've seen a lot of differences. We used to have improvised explosive devices
popping off all the time ... you really don't see that stuff as much here in
Baghdad."
Hudson's viewpoints have passed on to Shapiro, who could be seen pulling
security, playing with children and hauling books into the mission.
"I think this transition from combat to assisting operations is important
because this country will finally stabilize and there will be less violent
actions against one another," said Shapiro. "If we can help stabilize the
nation, younger generations will have a better life."
"It was heartwarming to see the kids' smiles," said Shapiro. "I get a feeling of
accomplishment out of these missions. When I can go and see a result like that,
I know this deployment was worth it." | |
Article and photo By Army Spc. Jared Eastman
3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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