10th Mountain Division Soldiers Observe As Chairs Given Out
A joint humanitarian effort was held recently as a number of wheelchairs were distributed
Schmook Village. A number of soldiers from 1st Iraqi Army Division, along with members of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division passed out wheelchairs to three needy villagers who have no other means to obtain them.
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Yates and Iraqi Army Division Officers posed for photographs with villagers and children after the wheelchairs where given out. As the wheelchairs were distributed, there were many smiling and happy faces among the Iraqi children and villagers. There will be an additional fifty wheelchairs given to different kids in Iraqi villages next week. Efforts to work together with Iraqi Soldiers to fix the town swimming pool have also begun. The swimming pool has been broken for about three years.
“This swimming pool is not only for the children but its good therapy for the amputees in the area,†said Colonel Yates. “The Schmook kids and villagers are very thankful for the wheelchairs,†said Colonel Yates.
Iraq Army Colonel Ehbrahim Bedor, who visualized the project, obtained the wheelchairs and created the entire operation. “He had his troops provide the security, and rounded up the chairs, and matched them with needy families,†said Colonel Yates.
Additional wheelchairs donated by U.S Forces are on their way. Coalition Civil Affairs teams continue to survey the Iraqi leadership and local villages, looking for additional projects. This project was the brainchild of Iraqi Colonel Bedor, and is an example of the increasing number of projects conceived and brought about from Iraqi efforts.
