Children of the Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund

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Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Bring Hope to Community

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2005 - Iraqi army soldiers, accompanied by their U.S. counterparts from Forward Operating Base Michael, recently visited a school in downtown Mahmudiyah, Iraq, to deliver school supplies in one of the poorest communities in the area. Read more

U.S. Troops Train Iraqi Soldiers to Save Lives

BALAD, Iraq, Sept. 20, 2005 - As Iraqi troops take over the role of conducting combat operations and raids, they must also be able to provide their troops with the proper medical support, from a routine sick-call patient to a wounded soldier with traumatic injuries. More

Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Provide School Supplies

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 20, 2005 - Students at the Al-Sayad Primary School are now able to carry their school work home in new book bags, thanks to the efforts of Iraqi and U.S. soldiers. Story

LASH KAR GAH, Afghanistan -- Signifying her vote, an Afghan woman proudly displays her ink-stained finger Sept. 18. in Lash Kar Gah, Helmand Province. Five hundred eighty three women, regarded as third-class citizens under the Taliban, took their rightful place on the campaign trail for 25 percent of the available seats. (Photo by U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Stephanie Hika, 117th MPAD)

By Sgt. Thomas Benoit, US Army News Service

August 14, 2005

CAMP TIGERLAND, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 15, 2005) - Baghdad Soldiers' mission July 31 was to bring toys, stuffed animals, and smiles to young cancer patients at the General Children's Hospital in Baghdad.

08.15.2005 at 02:02pm by shortbus

FOB WARRIOR, Iraq - A group of over 100 scouts and adult leaders met in Hasar, Iraq, August 4 to learn cooking, teamwork and other skills from the community's growing co-ed International Scouting Program.

The fledgling program, known as Kashafa in Iraq, began July 7 when soldiers of the 116th Brigade Combat Team's Task Force 1-148 Field Artillery and leaders from the community of Hasar, Iraq, celebrated a ribbon cutting and inauguration of the program. By that time, leaders had been trained, uniforms distributed to participants and weekly meetings planned.

An Aloudine Village elder blesses a well, whose funds were raised by the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Conley and other Fairfield University students. See shots of villagers drinking water, rinsing fruit, and washing hands. Shots of the stream from which they used to get their water. Children receive sodas, pastries and toys donated by Fairfield University. Soundbite from Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Conley (hometown: Concord, NH) Video by 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Raymond Piper
4th Brigade Combat Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq, March 7, 2005 - U.S. soldiers lent a helping hand in the education of the al Waten Boys School and the al Qadisiyah Girls School in the 215th Apartment Complex in the International Zone Feb. 23, 2005.

The 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment with 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment delivered a truckload of book bags filled with school supplies.

"We're providing supplies and bags that are much needed for them to continue their education," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert M. Roth, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment commander. "I think it shows the people that we care and want to help them anyway we can and one of the most important things we can do is education."

"It lets the students know who we are and that we have families back at home. They get to see us in a different light and see that we care about them," U.S. Army Capt. Alexander Rasmussen

The Parkhill, Ky., native added, "Education is the key of success to whatever profession you take up. They know that, and we know that so it's a win-win situation."

One of the underlying themes, according to Capt. Alexander Rasmussen, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment Civil/Military Operations officer, is to create a positive relationship between the soldiers and the local community, specifically the students.

"It lets the students know who we are and that we have families back at home," the Crownpoint, Ind., native explained. "They get to see us in a different light and see that we care about them."

"The Iraqi people feel they have a friendship with the American soldiers, especially here," said Abo Alla, secretary for the neighborhood advisory council. "All the kids you see here are very happy. They feel that they received a gift to help them to continue their studies."

(As reported on Defend America, Military site)

* On the date of the Transfer of Sovereignty, June 28, 2004 , approximately 200 reconstruction projects had been started. Since then that total has increased to over 2,500 projects with an associated value of $5.7 billion. During the same period, more than 1,300 projects valued at over $1.3 billion have been completed. In one year over 2,300 construction projects started with an average of 155,000 Iraqi workers facilitating the reconstruction.

* Generation plants are being built and transmission lines are being constructed to replace the decades-old, neglected electrical power system. A total of over 2,000 megawatts of power have been added to the grid, which is enough to service 5.4 million Iraqi homes. Over 1,400 electrical towers and 8,600 kilometers of transmission lines have been installed. The management and control of the distribution network continues to improve after over 35 years of neglect under the old regime. $4.3 billion has been allocated from the supplemental appropriation for system improvements. The World Bank estimates the total necessary to be $12.1 billion.