Iraqi children benefit from donations
by Airman 1st Class Vanessa Gray
55th Wing Public Affairs
4/2/2004 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFPN) -- American forces at Balad Air Base, Iraq, are separated from the Iraqi people by a shallow ocean of sand and concertina wire. The edges of the razor wire mirror the sharp lifestyle contrasts between the poverty-stricken locals and the Americans.
Airmen at Balad are joining hands with people here to help ease the conditions at a local Iraqi village. Operation Care Bear focuses on helping Iraqi children.
"The local living conditions here are terrible," said Capt. Kenneth Ocker of the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Balad. "My (first sergeant) went to the dump to drop off some trash, and on the other side of the fence there was a little Iraqi boy and little Iraqi girl. Each was about 5 to 7 years old. They were dirty, shoeless and holding their fingers to their mouths.
"They pointed at a water jug in the dump," he said. "After all the hand signals were figured out, (he) realized they wanted the jug to carry water, and they wanted (him) to throw it over the fence."
There is one problem with trying to throw items over the fence.
"There's a dead zone created by concertina wire between the kids and the main fence that they could probably crawl through if the jug didn't make it all the way," Captain Ocker said. "(The first sergeant) went to the nearest guard post and asked if he could throw the jug over. The guard said he's required to shoot anyone who crosses the concertina wire, so it wasn't advisable.
"There may be poor kids in the United States (who) have to beg for water, but I've never seen them," the captain said. "I see them here. They're everywhere."
Seeing the children motivated Captain Ocker and Master Sgt. Terence Ryan, who deployed to Balad from here, to coordinate American donation efforts, they said.
"I spoke with the base chaplain, and he said they are in dire need of children's clothing, shoes, and stuffed animal toys and dolls for the children," Captain Ocker said.
The captain then e-mailed friends and family in the United States requesting donations be sent directly to him. The most overwhelming response came from his sister, a first lieutenant here.
"I never dreamed this would get so big," said 1st Lt. Karen Lee of the 55th Maintenance Squadron. "I originally sent an e-mail out to my group and literally within minutes of hitting send, my phone rang, and I received an e-mail response."
Lieutenant Lee's 5-year-old son gave away one of his favorite toys, a soccer ball, to try and help children who do not have their own toys, she said.
So far, she has sent more than 300 pounds of donated toys, clothing and shoes to her brother at Balad. But there is more -- a lot more.
"I still have a garage full of donations," Lieutenant Lee said. "I can't take any more donations now without (planning for) the shipping."
The lieutenant paid nearly $300 to ship the goods and opened an account at a local bank where people can make monetary donations. So far, $120 has been collected.
The donations received at Balad are collected, coordinated through the chaplains' office and distributed to the local school.
"I'm flabbergasted by the generosity of the Offutt community," Lieutenant Lee said. |
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