Operation Crayon provides supplies to local schools
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq -- It looked like any other convoy briefing on a Monday morning but this convoy carried an atmosphere of added anticipation. The mission began back in the early summer when the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division announced its participation in Operation Crayon.
Operation Crayon is a program that was initiated by the military as a means to supply local schools with pencils, crayons, papers and other materials necessary to teach children. The Army was already heavily involved in projects to renovate school buildings but there was still a need for the basics. The 2nd BCT, 25th ID joined with the Air Force to meet the supply demand for the upcoming 2004 school year.
Airmen, Soldiers, families and friends donated all the supplies for the project. The 225th Forward Support Battalion began supporting Operation Crayon full speed ahead. The 225th FSB devised a friendly contest amongst its companies to see which company could raise the most supplies for Operation Crayon.
The doctors, nurses and staff of the 874th Forward Surgical Team “Wildcats,” launched a serious attack and donated over 700 pairs of scissors for the cause. Not to be outdone, Headquarters, 225th FSB, led by Sgt. 1st Class Leonard Buie bought all the glue off the shelves of the Kirkuk Post Exchange in order to contribute to the cause.
Churches from New York, Alabama, and Washington to name a few, sent boxes of crayons each attached with a note of appreciation and hope. The Family Readiness Groups from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii spent weekends collecting donations in front of the PX; furthermore, the 225th FSB received donations from the Trinity Lutheran School in Wahiawa, HI, which many 2nd BCT Soldiers children attend.
It wasn’t long before the Post Office was overflowing with school supplies and a new sorting area was required. Through the efforts of Chief Randall Reynolds, of Task Force 2-11 Field Artillery, and Chaplain (Maj.) Jonathan Etterbeek, 2nd BCT Chaplain, Airmen, Soldiers and civilians transformed an old dining facility into the Operation Crayon Warehouse.
Personnel representing nearly every unit on Kirkuk Airbase conducted sorting parties every Friday during their limited personal time to sort and package donations. More than 4,000 bags of school supplies were packaged for distribution. The camaraderie of sorting crayons, pencils, scissors and glue was only surpassed by the anticipation of meeting the Iraqi school children to whom Soldiers had previously only been able to wave to from fast moving vehicles.
As service members gathered for the convoy briefing for Operation Crayon they were all eager to arrive at the Elementary School in the Task Force 2-11 battle space. Upon arriving in the Dibbis area of operations, Soldiers and Airmen were greeted at the school by the overwhelming enthusiasm of 100 Iraqi children, who only through the best efforts of their teachers, were able to maintain discipline.
Among the attendees for this most anticipated event were the Iraqi Police, which provided security outside the school and the local Mayor. Immediately, Soldiers were transformed from the weariness of months in the desert to young men and women eager to lend a hand. Spc. Cedric Leday of the HQ&A;, 3rd Platoon “Rough Riders” stated, “This is a good thing for the kids. The kids are going wild in there.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Janet Herring who had participated in Operation Crayon the day before commented that “it was the expression on the kids’ faces that made all the difference.”