Airmen come together for humanitarian service

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  When given the chance for humanitarian service, Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here go all out.

More than 50 Airmen helped unload two 30-foot containers of school supplies and toys and then organized and packaged them for an Iraqi school.

“What a great turnout,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Quentin Collins, with the 332nd AEW, who is deployed from the Oklahoma Air National Guard. “I was expecting maybe 20 people, but this is absolutely great.”

Chaplain Collins said the chapel regularly receives packages of gifts and supplies in the mail, and he contacted the Army civil affairs office to find out how to get them out to children who need them the most.

“They told me the Air Force actually adopted a local school and hospital, and they would deliver the goods for us if we organized them,” Chaplain Collins said. “So what a great opportunity this is to be part of a humanitarian effort.”

Chaplain Collins enlisted the help of the Balad Company Grade Officers Council and after that, word spread. The turnout even impressed the Army civil affairs Soldiers.

“This is best support I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” said Army Staff Sgt. William Goosby, of the 13th Corps Support Command’s civil affairs office. “The Air Force is great; whenever we need them, they are there for us. And when it comes to a mission like this, it really shows the locals that the United States is trying to help them get back on their feet, and that we’re more than just bombs and rockets.”

To some of the volunteers, it was a chance to give back to the local community and make them feel like they are part of an important mission.

“I have three kids, and this just sounded like a great idea,” said Capt. Dianne Stroble, of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group, who is deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. “I thought that this would be something that might bring joy to the kids, who obviously don’t have a lot.”

“I just simply love kids,” said Senior Airman Gwenda Tuika, of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, who is deployed from MacDill AFB, Fla. “This is so important, and I think by doing things like this we can win their trust.”

The civil affairs staff will deliver the school supplies and toys in late October.