1-10 FA Soldiers Hydrate Village

Villagers from Tesah Nissan, Iraq, move boxes of water Feb. 27 provided by Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery. (Photo courtesy of 1-10th FA)

Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq

Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery visited the Tesah Nissan village Feb. 27, bringing with them 480 cases of clean drinking water.

“We do this every week,” said Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., Company A commander. “This is about our 22nd time doing it.”

Cannon gets the water from an Iraqi contractor, through a Commander’s Emergency Relief Program. Members of the local sheiks advisory council choose which village will receive the shipment of water each week, Cannon said.

“We have a loud speaker and broadcast that we’re there,” he said. “They know what’s going on and they are happy to see us.”

Cannon said Company A supplies villagers with more than just water. Soldiers bring medication once every two weeks and recently delivered five wheelchairs to handicapped citizens.

Cannon said he is currently in the process of organizing another wheelchair delivery.

“We try to provide as many essential services as possible,” he said. “We are trying to get the Government of Iraq more involved. They are doing great so far. The key is to get communications flowing between the Government of Iraq and local sheiks. That way the citizens will have a better appreciation of how their government is supporting them.”

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