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Greywolf Soldiers Furnish New High School in Northern Iraq

By Spc. Sharla Lewis

3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. Forces, with the help of the Iraqi Security Forces, delivered 400 new desks and chairs to the Al Qosh High School in northern Ninewah province.

The furniture delivery was the culmination of the school's opening and the final project for Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Local funding provided all the bells and whistles that go with a high school including chalk boards, plumbing for chemistry classrooms and bells to indicate the day's end.

"The ministry of education built them a new high school, but was unable to furnish it with desks and chairs so we were able to fill in that gap," said Capt. Joseph Himpelmann, the commander of Btry. B and a native of Waukegan, Ill.

Students of Al Kosh High School discuss with a teacher where to move new desks and chairs delivered to the school October 31 as part of a project initiated by Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division after it was identified by local civic leaders as a critical need. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis, 3rd Heavy Bde. Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

After local civic leaders in Al Qosh identified the need for furniture at their new school, Btry. B submitted the request for funds to complete the project. Once given the go-ahead, the battery chose a local contractor and the process was on its way.

"The whole process came together today from our relationship with local leaders to meet an urgent and compelling need in the community," Capt. Himpelmann said.

As the bell rang for recess between classes, teenage boys spilled into the freshly painted halls of the high school. They were eager to help unload the furniture from the truck parked on the street outside the school.

This project ties into 3rd HBCT's mission of re-focusing efforts on reconstruction outside Mosul after June 30.

Capt. Joseph Himpelmann, the commander for Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and a native of Waukegan, Ill., presents a new desk to the staff of Al Kosh High School in northern Iraq. The desks and chairs were part of a project initiated by the battery after the need was identified by local civic leaders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis, 3rd Heavy Bde. Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

"Due to the availability of forces for the past five years, the U.S. has focused inside the city limits of Mosul. For us to be able to go out and expand our reach outside the city proper and visit some of these cities and villages that haven't seen the U.S. presence or the civil affairs projects, really adds to the stability of the area as we prepare to transition out of Iraq," Capt. Himpelmann said.

For Himpelmann and his battery, this was the last of many reconstruction projects they have completed during their year-long deployment in Mosul.

"Altogether, we've completed about 35 projects, employed close to 3,000 people and spent in excess of $1.5 million for my battery alone," said Capt. Himpelmann. "We had to complete our projects that we were responsible for no later than November 1, so we went right up to the wire to get them done."

Over the course of their deployment, Btry. B not only provided furniture to local schools, but has also organized trash clean-up and sewage projects and opened soccer fields and recreational parks creating sustainable, lasting services for Iraqis throughout Ninewah province.