serurier
24-05-04, 03:54
Children find Heart behind Armor - Soldiers Look to Children, See Future of Iraq
- Soldiers Look to Children, See Future of Iraq
By Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns
39th Brigade Combat Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq-- Sister Benina Hurmez Shukuana is a Catholic Nun who runs a school in downtown Baghdad. She has taught three generations of children, some of which have come back to teach in the same school. Her legacy has seen the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein – the persecution of Christians, Jews, and Shia Muslims alike, yet her school has managed to flourish. Several years ago, Mother Theresa spent 45 days with Sister Benina in Baghdad. They were close friends she said. And they were of they same order, Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. “She said everyday she and the kids get together and say a prayer to keep the coalition forces safe,” said Staff Sgt. Jim Ellifrit, 24, of Vancouver, Wash., who recently visited the school to meet with Sister Benina.
Despite the school’s Catholic affiliation, children of families from all religious backgrounds attend.
Sister Benina’s school is in a sector of Baghdad that the 1st Cavalry Division’s 39th Brigade Combat Team is helping rebuild. Soldiers who recently went to assess her school found there is not a real playground, only an empty trash-ridden lot next to a bustling street filled with cars and donkey carts.
The Soldiers are eager to get a project moving to provide a better environment for the youngsters.
“Our mission is the children,” said Ellifrit. ‘We want to create an environment where they can have a good future.”
The project, now moving through the bidding process, will include clean up for a soccer field and a protective fence for safety. “It will be open to the community with controlled access,” said Staff Sgt. B.M. Hess. “It will not be used as a parking lot so that people can just throw trash in there.”
While at the school, Sgt. Kyle Neuenschwander, 24, of Medford, Ore., distributed t-shirts to children. “I expected to get rocks thrown at me but it wasn’t the case,” Neuenschwander said. “Their country is war stricken with forces driving around their roads armed to the teeth with ungodly amounts of fire power and yet they’re happy we’re here.” After distributing t-shirts, several children playfully lifted their shirts to show Neuenschwander they had mischievously tucked away three or four in their pants rather than the allotted one they were allowed. “Hey!” yelled Neuenschwander.
They ran off laughing as if to dare him to a game of chase. But Neuenschwander’s heart is too big. Not only did they make off with extra t-shirts, he also ended up giving away his rank.
“They’re very crafty but they are the same as any kids I have ever met,” said Cpl. Matthew Mintz, 33, of Tillamook, Ore. “It makes me miss my kids.” Ellifrit lost track of the marriage proposals he received as he signed autographs for kids at the school.
“Now I know how all those celebrities feel when they are trying to get back to their dressing rooms and people are shoving pen and paper at them,” said Neuenschwander. “I got mobbed.”
As Ellifrit continued to sign autographs he felt a tiny hand slip into his. “I went to shake the little guy’s hand but he wouldn’t let go,” said Ellifrit. “He began pulling on me and then I understood he just wanted help getting outside of the school grounds.”
A swarm of youngsters sandwiched in for autographs and t-shirts left little room for mobility, especially for a small boy who just wanted to get home.
Ellifrit helped walk the little tike through the crowd and sent him on his way. Debates mount and polls tilt, but American Soldiers brace their footing in purpose, purpose they say they see in the faces of children. “They give this mission meaning,” Neuenschwander said. Steadying themselves in a tumultuous environment, they understand a larger picture. “Information is going to win this war, not bullets,” said Ellifrit as he sat contemplating the future of Iraq. “Our mission here has to be the children. We can keep capturing people but until the new generation takes over, there will still be old religious and party bias, and old problems.”
From (http://www.hood.army.mil)
- Soldiers Look to Children, See Future of Iraq
By Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns
39th Brigade Combat Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq-- Sister Benina Hurmez Shukuana is a Catholic Nun who runs a school in downtown Baghdad. She has taught three generations of children, some of which have come back to teach in the same school. Her legacy has seen the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein – the persecution of Christians, Jews, and Shia Muslims alike, yet her school has managed to flourish. Several years ago, Mother Theresa spent 45 days with Sister Benina in Baghdad. They were close friends she said. And they were of they same order, Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. “She said everyday she and the kids get together and say a prayer to keep the coalition forces safe,” said Staff Sgt. Jim Ellifrit, 24, of Vancouver, Wash., who recently visited the school to meet with Sister Benina.
Despite the school’s Catholic affiliation, children of families from all religious backgrounds attend.
Sister Benina’s school is in a sector of Baghdad that the 1st Cavalry Division’s 39th Brigade Combat Team is helping rebuild. Soldiers who recently went to assess her school found there is not a real playground, only an empty trash-ridden lot next to a bustling street filled with cars and donkey carts.
The Soldiers are eager to get a project moving to provide a better environment for the youngsters.
“Our mission is the children,” said Ellifrit. ‘We want to create an environment where they can have a good future.”
The project, now moving through the bidding process, will include clean up for a soccer field and a protective fence for safety. “It will be open to the community with controlled access,” said Staff Sgt. B.M. Hess. “It will not be used as a parking lot so that people can just throw trash in there.”
While at the school, Sgt. Kyle Neuenschwander, 24, of Medford, Ore., distributed t-shirts to children. “I expected to get rocks thrown at me but it wasn’t the case,” Neuenschwander said. “Their country is war stricken with forces driving around their roads armed to the teeth with ungodly amounts of fire power and yet they’re happy we’re here.” After distributing t-shirts, several children playfully lifted their shirts to show Neuenschwander they had mischievously tucked away three or four in their pants rather than the allotted one they were allowed. “Hey!” yelled Neuenschwander.
They ran off laughing as if to dare him to a game of chase. But Neuenschwander’s heart is too big. Not only did they make off with extra t-shirts, he also ended up giving away his rank.
“They’re very crafty but they are the same as any kids I have ever met,” said Cpl. Matthew Mintz, 33, of Tillamook, Ore. “It makes me miss my kids.” Ellifrit lost track of the marriage proposals he received as he signed autographs for kids at the school.
“Now I know how all those celebrities feel when they are trying to get back to their dressing rooms and people are shoving pen and paper at them,” said Neuenschwander. “I got mobbed.”
As Ellifrit continued to sign autographs he felt a tiny hand slip into his. “I went to shake the little guy’s hand but he wouldn’t let go,” said Ellifrit. “He began pulling on me and then I understood he just wanted help getting outside of the school grounds.”
A swarm of youngsters sandwiched in for autographs and t-shirts left little room for mobility, especially for a small boy who just wanted to get home.
Ellifrit helped walk the little tike through the crowd and sent him on his way. Debates mount and polls tilt, but American Soldiers brace their footing in purpose, purpose they say they see in the faces of children. “They give this mission meaning,” Neuenschwander said. Steadying themselves in a tumultuous environment, they understand a larger picture. “Information is going to win this war, not bullets,” said Ellifrit as he sat contemplating the future of Iraq. “Our mission here has to be the children. We can keep capturing people but until the new generation takes over, there will still be old religious and party bias, and old problems.”
From (http://www.hood.army.mil)