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U.S. Forces in Northern Iraq Host Back to School Drive in Qayyarah

By 1st Lt. Josh Swartsel

MOSUL, IRAQ - As Iraqi children returned to school in October, U.S. Forces in northern Iraq sponsored a "Back to School" humanitarian assistance drive to help support ongoing educational efforts in the district of Qayyarah.

On Oct. 31, Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd "Greywolf" Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division handed out 1,400 packets full school supplies that included rulers, scissors, crayons, notebook paper, pens and pencils to children at two local primary schools selected by Saleh Ali, the Mayor of Qayyarah.

In a meeting with Saleh and the Qayyarah city council, the group decided to focus on the Izhelela and the Awsajah Primary School, located on the outskirts of Qayyarah District. Saleh and the city council said that many of the residents of these areas have been significantly impacted by recent droughts and economic downturns.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Philbeck and 1st Lt. Josh Swartsel, with Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Bn. 12th Cav. Regt., hand a school supply packet to an Iraqi girl at the Izhelela Primary School on the outskirts of Qayyarah District in northern Iraq. The school supplies were handed out in support of a "Back to School" humanitarian assistance drive sponsored by Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav. Div. (Courtesy Photo)

Izhelela Primary School, a two-story building built during the Saddam Hussein's reign, was the first stop for the Headquarters Co. Soldiers on the morning of the distribution. Saleh and the Soldiers met with the school's headmaster to figure out the best way to hand out the school supplies to the more than 800 students.

The children lined up by class just outside the main entrance of the school and walked through the designated distribution point one at a time. The children smiled as they received the supplies and, as children often do, raced off to inspect the contents of their packets. Some of the students even offered a "thank you" or a high five.

Sergeant Charles Hugghins, a medic for Headquarters Co. who helped distribute the supplies said, "This matters; it's good to be able to do something that helps these kids out."

The next stop was Awsajah Primary School, a group of three one-story buildings located just across the Tigris River which serves 600 students between kindergarten and fifth grade.

1st Lt. Josh Swartsel, with Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Bn. 12th Cav. Regt., hands a school supply packet to an Iraqi boy at the Awsajah Primary School on the outskirts of Qayyarah District in northern Iraq. The school supplies were handed out in support of a "Back to School" humanitarian assistance drive sponsored by Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav. Div. (Courtesy Photo)

Much like the distribution at Izhelela Primary School early that day, the children lined up to receive the packets. The children were excited to receive the supplies and offered smiles and handshakes as a gift of satisfaction.

With 1,400 school supplies handed out to Iraqi children, both the Headquarters Co. Soldiers and Mayor Saleh felt a sense of accomplishment and a glimmer of hope for the children that received the supplies.

"I am happy that the US forces have given us this opportunity to work together," said Saleh. "It gives these children something that will help them in their education."