Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Iraqi School Children Receive 1,422 Backpacks

A member of the Concerned Local Citizens group in Sabbah Nissan passes out backpacks provided by Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, to school children, Nov. 26.
Sheik Kassam, the leader of the Concerned Local Citizens group in Sabbah Nissan, passes out backpacks provided by Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, to school children, Nov. 26. Battery A has distributed 1,422 backpacks to the children of Sabbah Nissan since they came to the area in October.

Sheik Kassam, the leader of the Concerned Local Citizens group in Sabbah Nissan, passes out backpacks and candy provided by Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, to school children, Nov. 26. Battery A has distributed 1,422 backpacks to the children of Sabbah Nissan since they came to the area in October.


By Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers from Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery helped the Concerned Local Citizens of Sabbah Nissan deliver backpacks to school children, Nov. 26.

Soldiers from Battery A have supplied 1,422 backpacks to the children of Sabbah Nissan since they took over the area in October.

During his short time in the area, Capt. Pat Moffett, from Manhatan Beach, Calif., the commander of Battery A, has seen noticeable improvements as a result of the battery’s humanitarian missions.

“On school days we are seeing a decrease in the numbers of children out on the streets,” he said. “It’s great, because they are going to school because they have the supplies to learn and succeed. We cannot drive down the streets here without seeing at least 100 children with those backpacks.”

In addition to supplying the children with backpacks, Battery A has supplied Sabbah Nissan with 7,000 cases of bottled water.

“We have an understanding with the people that as long as the region is stable and they help us keep insurgents in check, we will have more opportunities to help provide other services to them,” Moffett said. “Obviously, if the area was unstable, our main priority would have to be security. The people and the concerned citizens are a big reason this area doesn’t have those concerns.”

The 1-10th FA is part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.

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