"Adopt A School" project

Blackanthem Military News, BAGHDAD, Iraq, January 30, 2006 9:14

Impressions - #33 (First of three parts)

Back in the early 50’s, while in Miss Ruby Unruh’s third grade class at Northside Elementary, I may have heard of Kurdistan, but doubt having imagined actually going there.

Miss Unruh taught us manners and politeness, as well as concern and care for others. She would have liked the Kurds. She would have deeply appreciated those good personal attributes so readily evident in all with whom we dealt on this trip. Their many sensitive considerations of us were all the more appreciated as we learned how, in fact, they potentially had every reason to act to the contrary as a result of the horrendous suffering inflicted upon them by Saddam Hussein.

It all commenced last Tuesday when Frank Serafino and Dr. Linda Allen from the State Department, along with two of our Project and Contracting Office professionals Reid Bicknell and Sue Kutcher and my affable, shaved head, Oklahoma chum, MAJ Mike Vickrey and I flew out of LZ Washington headed north to visit project sites. Our Blackhawk flew low and fast so as to present the hardest to hit possible target, stopping only to refuel at Kirkuk and Balad.

Fast out of the urban environs of Baghdad, the terrain presented itself as a picture of antiquity - stretching on and on, wrinkled, cracked and worn. When, eventually, hills came into view, they looked to be covered with thousands upon thousands of interwoven, capillary appearing tiers. No one aboard seemed able to explain their geological origin - though meaningful discussion was virtually impossible over the roar of the aircraft.

Zipping up and over a snow spackled mountain range, we swooped down into the city of Summayl - unlike the constant, bland, beige coloration of Baghdad’s buildings - awash in pinks, light blues and greens. Gone were the ubiquitous Date Palms of Central and Southern Iraq. Various conifers flourished throughout the area. What kind of pine or evergreen they were, we knew not, but our visual environs and cool temperature led to a feeling akin to that felt in Boulder, Colorado. But we were still in the country of Iraq.

Not, however, as far as the residents of the area were concerned. To them, this was Kurdistan - pure and simple. Nowhere could be seen the Iraqi flag. Everywhere the flag of Kurdistan waved, was posted, or painted - on buildings, mountainside and even on the large, nearby dam. They are Kurds. Period.

Indeed, for the most part, little affection is felt by them for much of anything Iraqi. It was, after all, the leader of Iraq - Saddam Hussein - that systematically killed hundreds of thousands of them. Beyond these brutal murders, all told throughout Kurdistan, he had his soldiers bulldoze and complete raze over 4,500 Kurdish communities.

Yet, all with whom we met or saw were exceedingly friendly to Americans. Gracious and polite, all were fast with a smile and wave. Furthermore, they - clearly - are taking the initiative in re-building their own infrastructure with care, determination, precision and pride.

Our U.S. military hosts were member of the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion based in Dahuk a community of over 400,000. Gregarious and exceedingly helpful, Captain Steve Hayden, from Griffen GA, hand carried us throughout our stay in the region. While on active duty he found himself on nine month deployments each of his eight years of service; thinking that his military obligation had been satisfactorily completed, he transferred to the Inactive Ready Reserve only to find himself activated and sent on a one year tour to Iraq! Assisting him and putting up with our countless - often inane, I am sure - questions were Staff Sergeant Robert Osborn from Vandalia IL and Specialist Jim Anderson whose home is Dalton GA.

The first project we visited was a small Health Center - one of eight intended to provide such services for all within 30 kilometers. Earlier, with holes in the ceiling and broken windows, it had been a sorry sight. Now, fully re-built, it sported an efficient, but friendly, nurse - the doctor was away - who toured us through the three room structure proudly pointing out the examination room and meager medical supplies.

Next we visited one of six water wells. Bored through rocks to a depth of around 200 meters this would soon provide clean potable water to a village heretofore without such. One small boy, around four years of age in a yellow and green, vertical striped coat, shyly ventured forth and was rewarded with a toy truck and candy from Mike. Glancing back over his shoulder to make sure we weren’t coming after him to retrieve the booty, he scurried back to his mother to show off his new treasures.

Oblivious to the mud, Dr. Linda Allen of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office and one of the State Department’s senior members addressing water concerns in Iraq, trudged in, around and through the two small buildings, peering at every aspect of the endeavor, took numerous pictures, nodding acknowledgment of work well done.

Located in Faida, a community of around 30,000, the last project we visited that first day was an elementary school for children aged 6 - 12. Over 1,050 students attended the school through three shifts of four hours each. With their coats and stocking caps on they sat two and three per desk. One small kerosene heater futilely afforded scant heat from the front middle of the walls barren, but packed, room. Immediately upon entering, in unison, each class we visited loudly chanted a Kurdish patriotic verse almost a minute in length. Then, politely setting with their arms crossed across their chests, they respectfully eyed their entourage of visitors.

We noted signs posted in each classroom and in the outside corridors displaying pictures and warning of commonly found types of mines and munitions (concerns completely foreign to grade schoolers back in the States). Then we were welcomed by, as stated on his business card, the "Manager of Faida," the city’s mayor, Waheed Ali Abdi - a young, nattily attired, handsome, effusive and easy to enjoy, gentleman. He proudly introduced the school’s attractive, equally young, principal, Avindar Zubair Ali. With dignity she graciously passed among us a small basket of individually wrapped candies. These are, simply, people of class and pride.

Badly needed throughout the school are warm coats for the children, paper, pencils, pencil sharpeners, color crayons, erasers and other rudimentary school basics. CPT Hayden offered himself and his team as a conduit for forwarding such materials stating that he and his team would ensure fair and equitable distribution of such to the schools throughout the area.

It would seem to be a good stateside "adopt a school" project for either a local US school or civic, social or fraternal organization. Any wishing to do so may communicate with Steve via steven.hayden@us.army.mil or send such directly to him at: CPT Steve Hayden, 401st CA BN, APO AO 09334.

Tell him Tommy sent ya’ and remember, Miss Unruh would be proud!

By Tom Clarkson
LTC, Army (Ret)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Gulf Region Division
Public Affairs Office