22 August 2008
Iraqi Service Project Updates
A few months ago I put out a call for people back home to support the Iraqi people and our mission here in Iraq by starting some service projects. For the past few months our team has been receiving a ton of packages from many of you back home. A newsletter showing some of the good things that have come from all the love and support you’ve sent is long overdue. Within the past six weeks my team and I have been able to make a difference in people’s lives across the desert of Iraq’s Ninevah Province, and we want to let you see some of the results that have come from your donations.
The first small project we were able to complete occurred in mid July when we were able to hand out thirty personal hygiene kits that friends and family members helped put together back home. The soldiers of the Iraqi Battalion we advise were very grateful and excited to receive the American products. We had jundis (the Arabic word for soldiers) coming up to us asking for more for the next couple of weeks afterwards. Many of them were surprised to know that people in America cared enough about what the Iraqi soldiers are doing out here to gather the resources needed to put together and send out the packages. It made them feel good about what they are doing and the project was a big success.
Since we arrived in Iraq, we’ve been receiving a ton of candy from back home. Once our team stockpile got big enough, we began giving the Iraqi Soldiers candy to hand out when they are on missions. The pictures you see here are of our battalion commander handing out some of the candy to kids in a village after the Battalion had just completed a cordon and search operation. When Iraqi Soldiers do these kinds of things, big steps are made towards getting the people of Iraq to support and trust the Iraqi Government. Meanwhile, because the Iraqi Army is still in its infancy, simple things – like getting together some candy to hand out – are difficult to make happen, so the effort to help from people back in the U.S. is not only appreciated, but it helps fill a gap that would otherwise be overlooked. Besides, our American candy is “the best” to the kids out here, so even if they could get some candy, it wouldn’t be as good as the stuff you’re sending. It’s surprising to realize how much of a difference these simple acts of service and kindness from people thousands of miles away are making over here. So please keep the candies coming, these guys go out on patrols all the time and they can use every last bit we give them.
The last good news story I have about our battalion is about a Medical Assistance Visit (MEDAV) we recently conducted in a small Iraqi village. The village has no clinc, and the people there often find themselves in a difficult political situation because the people come from some smaller, less powerful tribes. These types of villages are targeted by insurgents because it’s easy for them to throw some money and/or threats around to gain passive support from the people living there. This MEDAV was a large scale operation that involved the use of a lot of Coalition and Iraqi Army resources. Medical personnel were able to see some 250 people, and we handed out about $10,000 worth of medications to those in need. During the operation, some of the goods that our team has received were handed out to the people of the village, including some school supplies that were given to the headmaster of the small school which the operation took place in.
The best part of all of this is that there will be much more to come. In addition to the many small projects that have been and will continue to be done, we have several large-scale projects that have been set in motion. Soccer is huge in Iraq, and our Iraqi Army counterparts have agreed to help build some soccer fields in towns where the kids don’t really have a place to play. Where they need our help is to come up with soccer balls and money to have some goals built. Our other larger-scale operations that we have planned are dependent on us receiving monetary donations from back home. We plan to purchase needed goods such as clothing, blankets, heaters, etc. off the local economy and give them to the Iraqi Army to hand out in villages that could use the help. These projects act as a double edged sword because they not only heighten the Iraqi Government’s reputation and provide needed goods to distressed people, but they also provide a needed boost to the local economy. Steps have been taken to set up a charitable bank account to collect donations for these projects. The account has been set up at America First Credit Union, and donations can be made a couple of different ways:
1. Online banking - The account number is 903452-1, and the America First routing number is 324377516.
2. Make a check out payable to America First Credit Union.
Be sure to note on the check the account name: US Army MITT 0331
Charitable, and account number 903452-1. Checks can be mailed to:
America First Credit Union
P.O. Box 9199
Ogden, UT 84409
As always, any and all support anyone can give is greatly appreciated. If you have any ideas, questions, or would like to be put on the e-mail list, you can contact Rex Broderick at bubba.broderick@us.army.mil. If you know anyone who can get a hold of a ton of soccer balls, please contact Kira Broderick at kira2rex@msn.com. If you have any questions about making donations to the account you can contact Ernie Broderick at edbroderick@graniteschools.org or edb84093@msn.com.
