Civilians, Coalition Forces Partner in Compassion in Iraq

by Spc. Mike Alberts

Four years ago a compassionate Soldier and a six dollar beanie baby named "Courage" brought an unforgettable smile to 4-year-old Sarah's face. Over a million beanie babies later, that Soldier's commitment to the future of Iraq and American generosity continue to impact Iraq's next generation - its children.

An Iraqi soldier of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Division hands our beanie baby stuffed animals to local children to celebrate Ramadan, Umarliyah, Iraq, Oct. 22.

"Beanies for Baghdad," a civilian organization based in Evansville, Indiana, donates thousands of the small stuffed animals weekly to the United States Army through Lt. Col. James Barker, squadron commander, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, for distribution to Iraqi children throughout the Kirkuk Province.

It all began with a kind gesture

Barker, of Whitewood, South Dakota, was one of thousands of Soldiers in Baghdad when Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003. During that tour, Barker frequently interacted with the local population.

Major Dan Wilson, military transition team chief, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team greets children waiting in line to receive a tow Umarliyah, Iraq, Oct. 22.

"During our 'walkabouts' in the community I never saw any children with toys of their own," said Barker. "On one occasion, I threw [a beanie baby named 'Courage' that my sister sent me] into my bag. That day, we were at an elementary school. I saw a little girl about 4 years old named Sarah, and I called her over," he recalled.

Barker gave Courage to Sarah, and her reaction to the gift compelled him to do more.

Major Dan Wilson, military transition team chief, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team hands our beanie baby stuffed animals to local children to celebrate Ramadan, Umarliyah, Iraq, Oct. 22.

"When we got back from the mission that afternoon, I sent an email with Sarah's photograph to a website for beanie baby enthusiasts. I asked them to send beanie babies to me so that we could hand them out to Iraqi children. They accepted my email and published it. I immediately began receiving emails, and within the first four or five days there were about 2,000 beanie babies on their way to me for distribution," he said.

According to Barker, about one week later, two individuals back in the United States volunteered to stand-up a web site at their own expense. On May 4 2003, "Beanies for Baghdad" was born.

Iraqi children show-off their new toys received as part of a humanitarian toy distribution mission between coalition and Iraqi forces during Ramadan, Umarliyah, Iraq, Oct. 22.

The program continues in Kirkuk

Barker redeployed from Baghdad in June 2003, yet the generosity continued. Each successive Army unit designated a representative to receive the beanie baby donations. The program thrived. Then, in 2006, Barker again deployed to Iraq, this time to the Kirkuk Province. Once again, he became the point of contact for beanie baby donations.

"We still receive 3 to 4,000 stuffed animals a week," said Barker. The toys arrive in boxes and are received by Barker's Soldiers. One of those Soldiers is Pfc. Travis Zinn of West York, Pennsylvania.

As the boxes arrive, Zinn, and others, go through them to ensure that all the gifts are culturally sensitive. "I remove the beanie baby [pigs] and angels because those symbols might be considered offensive [by their primarily Muslim recipients]," Zinn said.

Pfc. Travis Zinn, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, of West York, Pennsylvania, is responsible for ensuring that each delivery meets cultural sensitivity standards before helping to distribute the stuffed animals donations to military units that distribute the toys to Iraqi children.

"I really enjoy helping the people of Iraq," he continued. "My philosophy is that small things will eventually add up to be a big thing, and these stuffed animals have a big impact."

The beanie babies repackaged by Zinn are given primarily to infantry units and military assistance teams for distribution to Iraqi children with the help of the Iraqi Army.

They contribute to mission success

A recent mission to distribute the latest donation was conducted by the Iraqi Army's 4th Division in conjunction with Soldiers of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment.

The Soldiers convoyed to the remote town of Umarilyah, pronounced "Amerleeh," Oct. 22. Umarliyah is best identified by reference to its nearest neighbor Tuz, a rural town 18 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk. By the end of the day, Soldiers had handed-out over 900 beanie babies.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Nichols, military transition team non-commissioned office-in-charge, 2-27, the humanitarian mission was a big success. Not only did the event brighten the day for almost 1,000 local children, but it also served as another opportunity for coalition forces and the Iraqi Army to demonstrate their support for the community.

"The Iraqi soldiers did the majority of the gift handouts so that their community can see that the IA that are doing things to make life better for folks here, even if it seems relatively minor like providing toys for their children," said Nichols.

"The other piece is that events like today get IA leadership and soldiers interacting with the local community so that the citizens better understand what their army does and can do," he said.

Impacting the hearts and minds of the local population is a key component to mission success in Iraq, even those tiny hearts and smaller minds of the country's next generation.

"You never know the future of these children," said Lt. Col. Barker.

"Twenty or 30 years from now one of these kids may be a prime minister or regional leader and that child will remember the kindness and generosity of a Soldier, a Soldier who stopped and went out of their way and gave them a toy, probably the only toy that child ever had in their life."

judythpiazza@gmail.com