Sunday, February 24, 2008

1-10 FA Soldiers Deliver Wheelchairs to Disabled Citizens

Sgt. Terrance Ramos, from Puerto Rico, a team leader in Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, and Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga, commander of Battery A, take a wheelchair out of the back of a truck Feb. 20 in a village along Butler Range Road, near Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq. (Photos courtesy of 1-10 FA Regt.)

By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery delivered wheelchairs to several disabled Iraqi citizens Feb. 20 in villages along Butler Range Road, near FOB Hammer.

Chief Warrant Officer Chad Barrett, from Hookstown, Pa., targeting and plans officer for the 1-10 FA, said members of the Nissan advisory council had asked for coalition forces’ assistance in providing wheelchairs to some of the area’s disabled citizens for several weeks.

Soldiers from Battery A, 1-10 FA assembled five wheelchairs they received from Soldiers of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, from Knoxville, Tenn., currently attached to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment.

“I had a great time constructing the chairs,” said Sgt. Nigiel Handy, Newhope, Va., Battery A, 1-10th FA. “The best part is … to see the looks on the faces of those that we gave the chairs to.”

When the wheelchairs were assembled, Battery A Soldiers, accompanied by local Iraqi leaders and members of the Sons of Iraq, traveled to five different villages along Butler Range Road. They delivered the wheelchairs to five deserving citizens, previously identified by members of the sheik council along with Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga, commander of Battery A.

“It’s great and rewarding to help those less fortunate,” said Spc. Johnny Shelton, from Asheboro, N.C., a radio operator for 1-10 FA.

Barrett said the event was a great demonstration of cooperation between the local council, the SoI and 1-10th FA.

“All of the individuals were very appreciative of the joint efforts,” he said. “This event further displayed the effectiveness of local leaders and their ability to assist their villages with essential services. It also displayed the increased cooperation and trust between the local Iraqis along Butler Range Road and the 1-10 FA.”

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

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