Iraqi Army, Toys, goodwill

IA Humanitarian Mission Brings Smiles to Poor Village

HUSAYN FAYSI, Iraq (May 13, 2006) — As the Iraqi Army continues it's security operations to safeguard the people of Iraq, it is also bringing smiles to less fortunate villages in eastern Iraq by conducting humanitarian missions.

Two companies from the 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army Division traveled to a remote location of Diyala Province not far from the Iranian border to distribute humanitarian supplies and build relations with the impoverished people here.

As the convoy of newly painted Iraqi Army Humvees approached the small, seemingly abandoned mud huts, a few mangy dogs appeared … then a few small children, then a few women in their hooded garments, and finally the village sheik.

The 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army coalition Military Transition Team watched from a distance as Maj. Hasim Shamin approached the sheik to greet and ask if it would be OK to distribute some toys and clothes to his people. The sheik agreed.

Shamin is the 1^st Company commander of 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army Division and has been for more than two years. "The old Iraqi Army was built on the wrong basis. The new Iraqi Army is now in the right direction," said Shamin through an interpreter.

Boxes of toys and clothes were unloaded from the back of the Iraqi Army Humvees to the needy inhabitants of the of the village.

Master Sgt. Carl Waddle the 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army Division, MiTT, NCOIC, oversees the training and missions that the IA take part in. Stateside Waddle is part of the Army Reserves 80^th Division from Richmond, Va.

"A lot of times in these smaller villages even clear drinking water is not available," said Waddle. "The IA goes out on these types of missions to help build the relationship between the Iraqi Army and the general population out here."

Most of the men of the village are either farmers or they guard the oil pipeline for days at a time," said Sgt. 1st Class Doran Conley of the MiTT. "The women do most of the work around the village."

Goodwill missions such as this one led by the 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army Division, are a great step in developing the confidence and camaraderie between the people of Iraq and the oldiers that protect them.