An OIC Supply Distribution in Iraq

September 2008

September 21 , 2007

I'm familiar with the program [Operation Iraqi Children] from my last tour in 2005.  Your effort in the US has a huge impact on the children of Iraq and our ability to create rapport with the adults.  That rapport builds the overall relationship between the US Army and the populace and allows us to create a safer and more trusting atmosphere for our mission and to the direct improvement of the neighborhoods.  Your intentions are great and your charity helps the soldiers as well as the Iraqi populace.

Sincerely,
Joe Lazzari

An Email from An Iraqi Teenager
Baghdad, Iraq

June 26 , 2007

My name is Hadeel and I am 18 years old girl from Iraq, Baghdad. i am very greatful to your help to iraqi children ...its nice to know there still good people in this world...infact you made alot of kids happy because you gave them the hope of new life and the encouragement and the feeling they are important Id like to thank Gary sinise...he is realy charitable and noble man...i wish i could see him to thank him in the place of all iraqi children...thank you Gary we love so much.infact thank you all and let God bless you!

Hadeel.k

LTJG Drew Gonterwitz
March 27, 2007: Pol-e-charki, Afghanistan

LTJG Drew Gonterwitz assisted in the distribution of OIC's second shipment of school supplies to Afghanistan.

All OIC ocean container shipments arrive in Kuwait before being transported to Iraq. The Humanitarian Operations Center, created to facilitate humanitarian efforts Iraq, plays a vital role in ensuring the success of the program. CDR Chambers provided this photo of a recently shipped container of School Supply Kits and soccer balls, taken while repacking the container into military containers which carry the supplies to Iraq.

December 27, 2006

My name is SSG Raymond Knapp. I work for the Civil Affairs section of my Battalion. My battalion has base defense responsibilities for Camp Adder in Southern Iraq, Dhi-Qar province. We use your bags to influence the local community and build relationships with the local villages. We have over 25 schools in our Base Defense Area. The smallest school is
35 students and the largest one is over 500 kids. We estimate we have touched the lives of over 2,000 kids in a positive manner through the use of your school supplies. Nothing can beat the feeling of goodwill when a young soldier hands a packet of school supplies to a needy Iraqi kid. Your work and ours has a positive effect in helping the people and more than likely saves soldiers lives. Thanks for all your good work.

November 7, 2006

Sir/Ma'am:

I have forgotten where I read about your wonderful program, but I had to write as soon as I heard what you do. I am a battalion chaplain with the 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion. We have the responsibility to protect to Shia cities, Balad and Ad Dujayl, from insurgent attacks. Both communities are surrounded by Sunnis. We have been working hard to reopen schools that have been closed for three weeks. Insurgents have purposely targeted them with threats and mortar attacks. Once we get the schools open, however, we still face a critical shortage of supplies. I have written several churches and community groups back in the States requesting help, and help is definitely on its way. I know that we will need more.

Even if you cannot help me, let me share with you this true story about the need over here. We were on a combat patrol and stopped at a cluster of houses along the Tigris. As the platoon leader spoke with the village men, a large group of children inevitably clustered around us. We started to pass out some food and candy, which they were asking for, until one of them spied the pens a soldier had tucked in his sleeve. One after another of the children started asking for pens instead of the candy or food. For you see, over here, one cannot go to school unless you bring your own supplies. We are in a poor area and are doing all we can, but we could sure use your help. Thank you for taking some of your time to consider my request. Take care.

Gratia et Veritas,

CH (CPT) Kevin Wainwright
3-8 CAB, 1CD
Blog-www.warhorsechaplain.blogspot.com

We had the Iraqi Army (IA) come by to pick up HA including 280 OIC school kits and OIC toys. These are pictures of my team (LCDR Jeff McClanahan – a Navy pilot, HTC Tony Lepine – a Navy welder, and me – a Navy engineer) working with the US Army advisor MAJ Kirk Calloway, and the Iraqi Army. We enjoyed providing these materials to this unit. This unit will deliver these materials to three elementary schools and a group of disabled children (that is also where the wheelchairs are headed). An IA unit directly interacting with the children of Iraq goes a long way to stabilize this country. Thanks again for making this possible!

Very respectfully,

CDR Jimmy Cox

james.cox@iraq.centcom.mil

USN, 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, Functions Team, Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator

I wanted to take a moment and again thank your organization for the outstanding support and materials that we have been recipients of. We have had the pleasure of distributing your packages to more than 4,000 very needing students in five different villages. We will continue to distribute these supplies on a weekly basis. These materials are of great benefit to our unit as it enables us to engage local leaders by affording an open forum and setting that promotes the exchange of information which allows us to better identify and realize what other civil military needs that exist in these areas so that we can make steps to effect positive change for these villages.

Clay Forbes CPT, FA ECOORD, 1-125 STRIKE, 1/34 BCT

OIC Distribution
September 19, 2006 Balad, Iraq

Led by LTC Hale, soldiers distributed OIC supplies and Arabic copies of Seabiscuit: An American Legend by OIC co-founder Laura Hillenbrand on a mission to a school in Balad.

On July 19, 2006, soldiers and airmen from the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team traveled to the site of the local school, where arsonists had burned down eight of the 10 tents that housed the school. With help from the government of Afghanistan and OIC, the school was equipped with replacement tents and the students were provided school supplies and backpacks.

Army Maj. Donald Johnson, Bagram PRT director of civil military operations, felt "very honored" to be there and went on to say that "education is the foundation of what we do here. If we can get children to understand the importance of education, it will greatly improve their situation."

Samia Sadat, the director of education for Parwan and the Charikan District representative to Congress, was also on the mission. She spoke to the parents who came to the site with their children, sharing reassuring words about the goverment of Afghanistan and the Coalition's committment to a better future. See full article here.

Dear Operation Iraqi Children Donors,

My name is Corporal Andrew Meats, part of Third Civil Affairs Group from Camp Pendelton, CA. The Marines in my unit have recently had the privilege of delivering school supplies to the Iraqi Children in our areas that we work in. We thank you for your support with helping the children. Thank you for caring so much.

The children were trhilled to receive school supplies and continue to thank us every time we visit them. The teachers at the schools that we went to could not express their gratitude enough for what is being done to help the Iraqi children have better lives and continue with their schooling now that they have the supplies to do so.

I look forward to helping more children and I and my unit thank you again for the help that you give.

Click here to read this letter in its entirety.

We just received a pallet of boxes from your organization and they are truly a wonderful gift. We have several schools in our area that we were trying to support and we don’t have enough supplies to go around. We are very happy to distribute materials to the schools and will have soldiers and civilans working together to get these packages out to the school children that desperately need them.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has renovated 138 schools in this province of Thi Qar near Nasiriyah with government dollars but there are still hundreds of mud schools without clean water and children who need school supplies. Your outreach effort will make a difference and I can see it on childrens' faces. Last week I went to a former Saddam Hussein School to distribute donated school supplies. The school was in deplorable condition but the community wanted their school back so now the school is a brightly painted, safe and healthy school with smiling children. We are making a difference here.

These children were near Diwaniyah, South Central Iraq.

24 Jan, 2006

I am LCol. Vick, a Marine working with Detachment 3 of the 6th Civil Affairs Group in Iraq.

I am writing today on behalf of hundreds of Iraqi children in this town that are, as I write this, using the school supplies that you and your donors sent to us.

I see a change in this area that is unique. On patrol, I see children walking to school. After school they are playing with the soccer balls you also sent. Indeed, I believe your organization has not only improved the lives and brightened the futures of the children here, but has probably saved the lives of the soldiers and Marines here by helping to show the goodwill of the American people. Thank you.

Click here to read page one and page two of this letter in its entirety.

1-26-06

Dear Operation Iraqi Children donors,

Thank you for your contributions to help the children of Iraq. I am part of what is called Civil Affairs Group in the Marine Corps. Our teams' mission is to show the people of Iraq that we are here to help them.

I am in charge of all the schools in our 5 towns so the supplies are greatly appreciated. Each of you have done your part to support and help Iraq. As a Marine it is my job to protect our safety as we carry out our missions. The children always smile and wave when we visit. It has been hard to stay motivated but to see their faces makes it all worth it.

Thank you again for your contributions, you are helping to make a difference!

Sincerely,

Michael R. Bodenstein

Click here to read page one and page two of this letter in its entirety.

Supplies provided by Operation Iraqi Children were presented to teachers and students at a middle school in Mosul on February 14, 2006. The Iraqi Police, along with Coalition Forces, took time out from their daily routine to give the supplies to the children of their community.

"This is one of the largest supply operations that has been put together to support school children," said Major Roy A. Outcelt, team leader, 401st Civil Affairs Team Alpha.

January 15, 2006

To Operation Iraqi Children,

I am a Civil Affairs officer for the Balad AO. My team of five have assessed this AO and work on many projects such as schools, water projects, Balad Business Center, Ag coops, Women's Association, Disabled Children, medical supplies, etc... and work directly with the Iraqi Army on many projects.

I have approximately 175 schools with over 30,000 children that need school supplies. We have received sporadic supplies from you. I have recently received another 450 packets. These are great!!! Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

CPT Lana Wormstadt

Coalition Forces representatives (namely members of the 100-442ND and 3rd Corps Support Command G-5 Staff) had the opportunity to deliver much needed school supplies (via Operation Iraqi Children), clothing, shoes and other materials to village residents. Soldiers and citizens alike enjoyed the event. The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, is the only remaining Infantry unit in the Army Reserve force structure (Hawaii Army National Guard). Its headquarters is located at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and its units are located in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and Saipan.

CPT Helland received around 900 School Kits from OIC and worked with the New Iraqi Army to distribute the kits to the headmaster and students at a new school in Western Iraq.

LTC Don Fallin
18th Aviation Brigade

LTC Don Fallin and 1LT Dave Spohn hold Backpacks full of school kits in front of an OIC shipment. The 18th Aviation Brigade played a tremendous part in making the program run smoothly, from the time the shipments arrived to when they were distributed throughout Iraq.

SFC Brian Rauschuber
October, 2005 OIC Distribution

SFC Rush forwarded these photos, taken by a Brigade in the Baghdad region. In the past few months, SFC Rush has assisted with the distribution of over 24 pallets of OIC supplies to units in the area.

CPT Don Kyle, 322 Civil Affairs BDE
October, 2005 OIC Distribution

I just received these photos from LTC Devor. She is down with the Polish Forces in MND-Central/South (Diwaniyah). LTC Lee, another member of our unit down in MND-CS, is pictured as well.

CPT Kyle

CPT Don Kyle, 322 Civil Affairs BDE
September, 2005 OIC Distribution

Greetings and aloha from Baghdad,

My name is Captain Kyle and I am with the 322 Civil Affairs BDE, a US Army Reserve unit from Hawaii currently serving in OIF here in Baghdad, Iraq. I recently received two pallets of school supplies from your organization. Fortunately we were able to get these supplies to units with an expressed need for them. These supplies could not have come at a better time and they are very appreciated. Our latest humanitarian assistance project was completed with the 2-299 Infantry Battalion, Hawaii National Guard.

The Iraqi school year began on September 11, 2005. Myself and soldiers of the 2-229th arrived at a village near Baghdad with much needed school supplies just as classes were beginning. With the assistance of the teachers, the soldiers distributed a school supply packet to each an every student. The packages were eagerly accepted. We ended our mission by visiting classrooms where the students greeted us warmly and sang the Iraqi National Anthem. Additional supplies were left with the school principal for teachers and other students who were not present on the first day of school.

The soldiers of 2-299 Infantry Battalion, the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade and the students and teachers of the village school want to thank Mr. Sinise, Ms. Hillenbrand and everyone at Operation Iraqi Children for the kind and generous donation. We hope that we can continue to work with you in the future and distribute more school supplies for the next semester in January.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Kyle, Captain, Army Nurse Corps

I received some photos from LTC Joanna Dziura of Polish Coalition Force operating in MND-Central/South. She is with the CIMIC that is working in the Diwaniyah area. We sent a pallet of OIC school supplies to them a few weeks ago. These photos are of the distribution to students at a Secondary School for Girls. All went very well and LTC Dziura sends her thanks.

Here are some photos that were taken during the distribution of school supplies at an Orphanage House for Boys.

SPC Travis Stuart
OIC Backpack Handout

I am currently serving with a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq. We just took over last month from a previous team and found some boxes of goodies they had recieved from you in the past year. We took those today and handed out what was left to a summer school program that was going on.

My question is how could we get more supplies from you for the upcoming school year which begins Oct 15th. We have a large area of schools and would love to get supplies too as many as possible.
Any guidance you could provide would be greatly appreciated and thank you for the work that you do.

SFC Brian Rauschuber
July 30, 2005 OIC Handout

SSG Paul Farr
July, 2005 Beanie Babie Distribution

My name is SSG Farr and I currently serve as our BN S-5 (Civil Affairs) NCO. We recently received several boxes of Beanie Babies from OIC and wanted to share with you pictures of Iraqi children receiving these little guys.

The people in the area we work in want nothing more than to have a secure place to live. A place where their children can feel free to walk down the road and not worry about being killed by a roadside bomb. Thank you for what you do for the children of Iraq. It's a great feeling to watch their eyes light up with joy upon receiving a new toy. Even the hardest person on my team is touched when you hear them say "thank you."

Lastly, thank you for the continued support of the troops. We are truly blessed to live in a country like ours. Take care and keep up the good work.

J. Andrew Craig, SGM
Email from Baghdad, July, 2005

I am currently stationed in Baghdad, Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division. I just happened across your site while looking for other information on the web. I wanted to tell you that I think what you and OIC are doing is making a difference here. My Soldiers and I often carry soccer balls, beanie-babies, candy and other gifts out on patrol to give to the children we encounter. It is inspiring to see how much our countrymen want to help these kids, and it greatly lifts our morale to be able to see a smiling child. They have such a rough life, and it is so GREAT to be able to something positive for them. I applaud you and your group, and I want to assure you that you are making a difference for both the U.S. Soldiers serving here and for the children. I’m including a couple of cherished photos taken recently. I have so many photos and have encountered so many children. I will never forget this place.

I just wanted to take a moment or two and tell you that organizations such as yours are making a difference. The children have done no wrong here, but they suffer. I feel good about what we’re doing here, not only because it will insure greater security for our country, but also because it will likely lead to a far better life for these innocent little children. Thanks for your efforts.

JAC

May 2005 OIC Distribution
from MAJ Teresa Wolfgang, Alpha 411th Civil Affairs Company Commander

The Baqubah Provincial Civil Military Operations Center (PCMOC) runs an after school program, in operation since June, 2004, for local neighborhood kids in the city of Baqubah, Iraq. The children come in every Tuesday and Thursday to learn English and to play games. On May 21, 2005, school supplies were handed out to the children in the program. This one of many positive programs run by Alpha 411th Civil Affairs Company.

During a visit to Baqubah General Hospital on May 24, 2004, school supplies, stuffed animals and soccer balls were given to local neighborhood children.

411th Civil Affairs Teams Panther and Gideon, led by MAJ Gerry Thomas, SFC David Kennedy and SFC Carmine Duncan handed out OIC supplies to over 200 children at a school in a village north of Baqubah on May 28, 2005.

Response to Richfield, MN OIC Donors
from LTC Guy Rudisill

Darcy,

I wanted to thank you for your note and the wonderful cards from the children. They just brighten our day over here! I know this took a lot of hard work from several people but you will never know what this means to the children of Iraq. I can see it in their faces when we pass out the school supplies. We take pictures but you just cannot "photograph" their feelings. Whenever we pass out the school supplies, the faces of the Iraqi children just light up! It makes us, the soldiers, feel so good to be doing this. I want you and your friends and the children to be able to feel the same. What you did was fantastic and by doing so will help us to stabilize Iraq for a better life for the children.

Thank you for your support! Please pass along our thanks to all who helped.

Take care.

Guy

This photo was taken during the distribution of the supplies donated by Darcy Buelow, organizer of the Richfield, Minnestoa city-wide OIC collection. Read about this collection on the OIC In Action Providers page. Photo provided by LTC Guy Rudisill.

May 24, 2005 Distribution
Diwaniyah District, Qadisiyah Province, Iraq

U.S. Marines and Polish Coalition soldiers handed out school kits and Beanie Babies from Operation Iraqi Children while visiting reconstruction project sites and delivering humanitarian supplies to schools. Photos provided by LtCol A.D. Sinnott

May 16, 2005 Distribution
Western Baghdad, Iraq

Over 400 Backpacks were handed out to students at a school located in Western Bagdad during a visit arranged by 1LT Jason Warren. Photos provided by SSG Michael Gaudet.

May 9, 2005 Distribution
Iskandariyah, Iraq

Photos provided by MAJ Roland Miraco

Photos provided by 1LT Micah Taylor

Photos provided by SPC Jeremy Crisp

Iraqi Assistance Center
Baghdad, Iraq

Recipients of school supply kits in Baghdad hold up signs that say "Thank You!" Photo provided by LTC Stephen Stewart.

Robert Oney Pruett
Baghdad, Iraq

After Oney Pruett of the Memphis District Corps of Engineers was deployed to Iraq, friends at home started collecting backpacks and school supplies for children in the Baghdad schools after Oney informed them of the need. OIC helped to ship the 900 backpacks that were collected and they recently arrived and were handed out. Oney is pictured above with a few of the recipients.

SSG Michael Gaudet: Distribution Stories
Baghdad, Iraq

We got a call asking if we were in need of some supplies for the local kids. Needless to say, we said "yes!!" We got so much, we were running out of room to keep it until we can give it out to the area-specific teams going out to the sites. This is a picture I took of the tail-end of my truck that was filled with supplies from your organization. Rest assured, these supplies will be well-received and evenly dispersed.

What you guys are doing is absolutely phenomenal. I can't tell you the impact that this stuff will have on the kids. We are responsible for 15-20 schools, each with about 125 children. Thanks again, from me AND the children. Your graciousness knows no boundries!

April, 2005

This distribution was combined with a medical screening. There were about 60 kids there, all of which got school supplies. I really wish that people could somehow experience the minute joysthat come with the knowledge that I am part of the solution; that somehow I am the instrument of multitudes of people's love and generosity. I cannot adequately express to you the gratitude I have for all involved.

March, 2005

This school is the Nasik Al Malaika Primary School, located in a rural part of Baghdad. There were about 1,200 kids there.

February, 2005

For this distribution, we paired up with our Brigade Surgeon during a visit to a school where he treats ailments and doles out medicine and care. I have selected these pictures and hope it is something that can let people know WE DO NEED THEIR SUPPORT and that local kids and families benefit from their efforts! I cannot stress enough that these people over here are hungry for support and our unit is barely scratching the surface when looking at the overall need in Baghdad, much less Iraq as a whole. We are, however, doing our part thanks to you. Without your efforts we would have no means to show goodwill

Beanie Babies Bring Smiles

Dear Sirs:

On behalf of my commander, LTC Scott Smith and the 1-189th Aviation (Assult) Battalion, I would like to thank you for making the Beanie Babies available for the Iraqi children. We are a Blackhawk Battalion headquartered in Helena, Montana and consisting of soldiers from four states: Montana, Arizona, Kentucky and Conneticut. Currently we are commanding a good share of the missions (of the 18th Aviation Brigade) from Balad, Iraq with 30 helicopters. We drop "candy bombs" to the Iraqi children that have changed their jeers to cheers. The kids' attitudes have changed to waving and watching for the air drops. Our air drops are from 50' in the air and we are very careful to hit an open area.

We received 28 boxes of the Beanie Babies as part of the shipment to the 18th Aviation Brigade. They will be put into our "bombs" that will now bring even bigger smiles to the childrens' faces. Thank you for your generosity, sensitivity and humane care of the Iraqi children who are easily forgotten in the midst of strife.

Sincerely in His Service,

Kenneth E. DuVall, MAJ, CH, MT ARNG, Battalion Chaplain

Distribution in Iraq

School Kits, Beanie Babies, blankets and soccer balls were distributed to Iraqi citizens outside of Baghdad on March 2, 2005.

Photos courtesy of MAJ Stephen Stewart, Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator at the Iraqi Assistance Center, Baghdad

OIC Supplies Distributed During Medical Mission

Photo 1 (Left): An Iraqi child is delighted as his father hands him a jacket and a box of goodies that were given to him during a medical mission done by the 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment of the 256th Brigade Combat Team on March 19, 2005. The give away was part of Operation Iraqi Children, a program that enables Americans to send school supply kits to Iraqi children.

Photo 2 (Right): Spc. Jennifer Edgar from Loreauville, LA of C Co. 199th Forward Support Battalion checks the temperature of an Iraqi child while mother looks on during a medical mission of the 3rd Battalion, 156 Infantry Regiment.

(U.S. Army photos taken by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade Public Affairs.)

Operation Iraqi Children a Success in Mulaeid

BAQUBAH, Iraq – 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Soldiers delivered school supplies donated by the American Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Operation Iraqi Children to students of Mulaeid Village School in the Diyala Province on December 8. The units from the 3rd BCT involved in the mission were Charlie Company, Task Force 82nd Engineers and the CAT A Team, 411th Civil Affairs Battalion. An Iraqi National Guard company based in the town of Kana’n joined them...Click to Continue Story

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and Iraqi National Guard soldiers distribute packages donated by Operation Iraqi Children in the villiage of Mulaeid on December 8th, 2004. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Brigade Combat Team)

LtCol Lon VomBaur
Spring/Summer 2003 / Operation Iraqi Freedom

I was traveling in a small convoy heading towards Kuwait in the barren desert of southern Iraq when one of our humvees broke down. While we were hitching up the broken down vehicle with a tow bar, I noticed small dots in the distance growing larger...Click to Continue Story

1SG Gregory Lintinger

The 2nd Platoon "Junkyard Dogs" visited three villages and as you can see were well received...Click to Continue Story

These children are all part of one family that lives in a small one room house. The boys are buffalo herdsman. They live and farm on property directly behind the University in Ad Diwaniyah...
Click to Continue Story