Airmen donate school supplies to local Iraqi children

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
  • 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq
BAGHDAD (AFNS) --  Airmen assigned to the Echelon Above Division-Advise and Train team at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, recently handed out school supplies and toys to more than 70 children at Ur Elementary School, located in a small village near the base.

"The local children are the future leaders of this country," said Lt. Col. Tom Walsh, an EAD-AT senior adviser. "It is important for them to get the supplies needed to assist in their education."

U.S. military advisers continue to help strengthen the Iraqi government and Ministry of Defense, but Colonel Walsh said it was important to interact with the citizens of Iraq.

"The general populace needs to know that we are here to help them, not just the police and military," Colonel Walsh said. "Hopefully, by getting out and talking with the adults while providing supplies to the children, they see that we are here for them."

The seven Airmen assigned to the Tallil EAD-AT team spent about eight months gathering the 30 boxes of supplies from multiple locations.

"It was a team effort and a great opportunity to show the local children we care," said Master Sgt. Luis Buot, an EAD-AT maintenance adviser. "These children don't have very many supplies at school, so whatever we can give is a tremendous help to them."

While the team focused on handing the school supplies to the older children that lined up, they also gave various toys and stuffed animals to some of the younger ones.

"Kids and toys, there is nothing like the enthusiasm of a child with a new toy," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brent Baker, EAD-AT munitions advisor and Fairport, N.Y., native.

The team left extra supplies with the school's administrators, so they could hand them out to the rest of the student body, which totals more than 250 children from Ur and other surrounding villages.

Besides the apparent need, it was the parental instincts of some of the Airmen that drove them to help out.

"As a father of four children, I felt a strong urge to help supply these children with the clothes, shoes and school supplies to help with their education," Sergeant Baker said.

The Tallil EAD-AT team is responsible for advising and training two location commands and medium maintenance workshops. The team regularly convoys through the Iraqi provinces of Dhi Qar, Maysan and Basrah to these locations.

"We often see children outside the wire (who) are in need of everyday items and we wanted to help out in any way possible," Sergeant Baker said.

For some members of the team, all it took was children's reactions to make the entire effort worth it.

"It was heartwarming to see the children's faces light up once we opened the boxes," Sergeant Buot said. "It was precious to see the kids hug the toys."