Supply Mission Provides Iraqi Students School Basics

School officials begin sorting a pile of new book bags after concerned citizens and Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, handed out new book bags and shoes, Oct. 4. The concerned citizens and Soldiers distributed a total of 1,200 book bags and 750 pairs of shoes as part of Operation Comanche Blackboard, Oct. 2 and 4.

Concerned citizens and Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, remove school supplies from the back of an M3A2 cavalry fighting vehicle, Oct. 4. The concerned citizens and Soldiers distributed a total of 1,200 book bags and 750 pairs of shoes to local schools in Idin-Al-Hariri, Al-Zaweeah and Al-Irtiqaa as part of Operation Comanche Blackboard, Oct. 2 and 4.

Concerned citizens and Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, carry boxes of shoes and bags of book bags while school officials stand by Oct. 4. The concerned citizens and Soldiers distributed a total of 1,200 book bags and 750 pairs of shoes to local schools in Idin-Al-Hariri, Al-Zaweeah and Al-Irtiqaa as part of Operation Comanche Blackboard, Oct. 2 and 4.

Students of a local school are all smiles after concerned citizens and Soldiers from Troop C, 3-1 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, handed out new book bags and shoes, Oct. 4. The concerned citizens and Soldiers distributed a total of 1,200 book bags and 750 pairs of shoes as part of Operation Comanche Blackboard, Oct. 2 and 4.

By Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers working with local concerned citizens distributed a total of 1,200 book bags and 750 pairs of shoes to school-age children attending Idin-Al-Hariri, Al-Zaweeah and Al-Irtiqaa schools, Oct. 2 and 4.

The school supply drop missions were part of a 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, two-day mission dubbed Operation Comanche Blackboard. Coordination was made with local sheiks and headmasters at each of the schools prior to the supply drops.

Soldiers from Troop C, who carried out the missions, visited the Al-Irtiqaa school, Oct. 4. The recently refurbished school is not in session yet, but many students were on-hand during the event.

The mission was conducted to give the Iraqi school children supplies and shoes in the hopes of bettering their learning conditions.

“They loved it,” said 2nd Lt. Christian Hoempler, the 2nd platoon leader of Troop C. “They were all smiling and running around. It’s great when we have these school drops and we give stuff away.”

Hoempler, from Suffern, N.Y., said that with help from the concerned citizens groups, missions like these will help produce a safer, more secure environment for residents.

During the mission, Hoempler’s platoon gave away 400 book bags and 250 pairs of shoes to the students at Al-Irtiqaa.

Though the students left with new bags and shoes, the work of Hoempler’s platoon and that of the 3-1 Cav. Regt. is not over.

“We spoke with the city council men for the area,” Hoempler said. “We identified a lot of potential future projects.”

Future projects for the school may include upgrading its rundown basketball court and filters for the water well pump housed on the campus.

“It’s a start,” Hoempler said. “It shows we are willing to help the students.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March, 2007.