Soldiers deliver toys to Iraqi children

BAGHDAD — Two Soldiers with Co B, 252nd CAB, recently organized a surprise toy delivery for children living just outside the walls of FOB Falcon. Spc. Michael Petro, an infantryman, said he had the idea to start collecting goodies for the children after driving past their neighborhood during missions in the Baghdad area.

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"It's one of the poorest areas that we drive through," Petro said. "Every day that we drive through that area the kids come out running and waving. There's plenty of kids and families that have a lot less than we do." Spc. Garrett Manis, a fellow infantryman, said he had similar sentiments about the area and wanted to help. "We drive by that area all the time, and they're frequently bare footed ... and they always run out, waving their hands, hoping we'll stop and give them something; and you think, 'that's really not a whole lot to do,' and it could potentially have a tremendous impact in some kid's life," said Manis. Petro said it all started with an email. "I just sent my mom an email basically saying, 'Instead of sending me stuff, send stuff for the kids,' and then she forwarded that along, and that got forwarded along and it was really just an avalanche,” he said. “What was originally intended to be just a few boxes here and there, turned into a 2-1/2 ton cargo vehicle full of clothes, school supplies and toys." The Soldiers said the idea spread across the home front, growing bigger than they ever imagined. "People at home really went above and beyond what I had ever envisioned," Petro said. "Going down to mail-call every day and 5 more boxes came in; 7 more boxes came in; 8 more boxes came in. It was really kind of unbelievable how it snowballed." "My aunt did a drive; she's an administrative assistant at Durham Academy," Manis said. "She sent 10 boxes, or so, that they collected from the school. The shipments started arriving in Sept., and the duo collected the boxes in a larger storage room in their barracks, waiting for the chance to hand it all out. Petro said because of the company's busy mission schedule, it took a while before they had a chance to make the stop. After much anticipation, they finally got their chance; just in time for the Christmas holiday.

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