Forty four kids' wheelchairs remained. I was giving them out as fast as I could to whomever I could, but it was ever so slowly. Five to ten at a time. After all, we brought over 100 of the ROC Wheels pediatric chairs in early June via Air Force Military Transport (free - thanks to the Denton Program). I thought they would be gone by mid July or first of August, but here in Iraq almost half of them were still sitting in storage on base.
I was beginning to wonder if the need for these things was as great as the Army had reported? About a week or so ago, I was approached by the 352nd Army Battalion with an opportunity to take all the remaining kids' wheelchairs out on a mission which extended all the way to the Syrian border in the Northern province of Sinjar. Sixty two permanently disabled kids had been identified in the region, however we only had 44 left on hand, so 18 kids would have to do without or wait until next time.
I happily agreed, although Colonel Espinosa in the Combat Hospital had planned to take them out a few at a time to the uttermost parts of more Northern areas where his teams patrol. I felt bad for him, because the chairs had been such a blessing for him. He's a man with huge integrity and just as huge a heart for the soldiers - especially the kids who come through the hospital mangled by IED and car bomb explosions. He takes personal interest in the kids, and was so glad to get the wheelchairs for them, as some are sent home to recover without limbs they had before the attacks. I promised him we would bring more in to meet the needs of the children suffering traumatic war injuries, and for his teams to give out in the areas they patrol.
Wheelchairs over here work magic. When they're given out in an area, it wins the hearts and minds of the public because it shows compassion for 'the least of these' - kids and disabled adults who cannot care for themselves. As a result, the soldiers on patrol don't get shot at as much - which is a HUGE bonus for our fighting men and women in uniform.
Sergeant First Class Olson was the brainchild behind the planned event to give away the wheelchairs. One of the areas he works is with an Iraqi Colonel who runs an Iraqi border patrol for the Northern Sinjar Province. He and the Colonel agreed to identify kids in the region who needed the wheelchairs, then hold a special ceremony between the Iraqi Army / Border Patrol and the US Army to give the wheelchairs away during the ceremony at the Border Command Post.
SFC Olson and his commanding officers, including Major Robles, made me an unbelieveable offer. They invited me to accompany them to the ceremony and help fit the kids in the wheelchairs. Flat out, I've always said I'd never leave the base and expose myself to the dangers that wait outside the wire that the soldiers have to face on a daily basis. IEDs on the side and even under the road. Snipers taking out our guys one and two at a time. Vehicles with bombs ramming our military vehicles and blowing them up, wounding and / or killing our brothers, sisters and friends in arms.
I made a phone call to Paul, a leader of my company at the HQ for Iraq and explained the offer. Within 24 hours, I had a letter of approval in hand to go outside the wire under the escort of the US Army to aid in the wheelchair distribution. I couldn't believe it. This was truly a mountain that had moved from in front of me, clearing the way for me to fulfill a dream mission - going out with the troops into harms way to fit kids in these pediatric chairs. To help them, to hold them, to see their smiling (crying!) faces as their parents took them away in the object that would change the way the children and their families lived.
On Saturday in the wee hours of the morning, I reported for the convoy meeting - so excited I could barely sleep the night before. We left out and drove through the city under the cover of darkness so as to attract the least amount of attention. As we droveI prayed earnestly and fervently for the soldiers protecting the convoy, and for our safety as we traversed the highways and bi-ways for the long journey across Northern Iraq to our destination.
We arrived at a US Combat Outpost on the border, and spent a number of hours waiting there until it was time to travel downrange to the Border Command Post staffed by the Iraqis. I had on my Texas A&M sport shirt, and lo and behold, I was introduced to Captian Eric Schnieder, Fighting Texas Aggie Class of '01. He's stationed at that outpost, and is commander of a Stryker Battalion for the area. Great guy. We talked Aggie Football for a few minutes, then he had to go on about his business of running the war. Before he left, I was able to get our picture taken in front of the US flag. This just goes to show, you never know when you'll run into another Good Aggie! I told him about Texags, and he said he would watch for this post. Gig'em, Eric!
Brad and Eric Class of '01 at Combat Out Post near Syrian Border
We left the Outpost for our final destination, and later, and on the drive down we passed this herd of roaming wild camels:
Wild Camels (see the albino?)
Once arriving at the Border Command Post, I was quickly invited in to meet the man in charge of the operation - The Colonel. He was extremely glad to meet me, and was very hospitable. (If you ever have a chance to drink CHI-Tea, I highly recommend it!)
Major Robles (352nd), The Colonel, Brad and SFC Olson
Major Robles is the executive officer for the 352nd Battalion. He's a great man of leadership yet understanding. He afforded me the opportunity to speak to The Colonel through an Iraqi interpreter. I asked about the greatest needs of the local population. He said they need jobs and opportunity to give them a long-term hope for their new country's survival. When I asked what he thought about Iraq's political future, he said he thinks there's too much corruption in Baghdad, and for Iraq to survive, America will have to come in and set up its own government, eventually handing it over to the Iraqis piece by piece over a long period of time. I was impressed by this man's intelligence and his dedication to his country. He is a true patriot, and stands tough in the face of threats from the bad guys. After about an hour, I excused myself while The Colonel attended to his business, and checked to see how the chairs had withstood the long journey from the base.
44 pediatric wheelchairs - $8800 at material cost, $88,000 at retail. We gottem at cost!
The chairs came through in pretty good shape, so I took the opportunity to gather some of the Iraqis to show them how to fit them to the needs of each individual child receiving them.
Brad teaching Iraqi Soldiers how to fit kids to the chairs
Soon thereafter, we began moving all the wheelchairs out to where a large crowd of locals had gathered under tents. The Colonel started the ceremony with greetings, and within minutes, I was asked to walk through the crowd to determine which children were the most needy and worthy of receiving a wheelchair. I felt so helpless in doing this, because who was I to tell a family that their kid wasn't 'crippled' enough to get one? As I walked through the tent, it was all I could do to hold my composure while observing all the sick and twisted children who had a glimmer of hope in their eyes as they watched me pass by.
I have never seen so many helpless little ones that God loves...I had to quickly just look down and choose the first recipient and bring them over to the first wheelchair for their fitting. Before I knew it, the crowd had left their seats, clamoring for wheelchairs for fear that their children would be left out. I found myself shoved, and mothers and fathers vying for my attention to come help their child with their chair. For a while it was quite a bizzare situation with the rushing around - trying to get to every child before the family left out of frustration with a chair that didn't fit their child's needs. I just gave my camera to the interpreter and told him to take as many pictures as he could. Below are some of the best pictures taken Saturday, 20 Aug 2006. Very much a day I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Thanks to all of you who helped fund this mission. There are many other photos I will get from the Army on this trip, as there were official photographers and videographers on site for the event. An Army Public Affairs Officer was present at the distribution, and will be writing articles for the press corps back home. Maybe this one will be carried by the Mainstream media? I won't hold my breath... One of my co-workers who believes wholeheartedly in this mission handed me a check for $5000 the other day - enough to cover 25 more wheelchairs for 25 disabled kids who would never again have the opportunity to receive one. We're trusting for donations to reach $40K soon so we can bring over another 200 of these chairs. The Army has a growing appetite for them, as they understand how they build good-will with the community which receives them.
We spent two hours going around, fitting the wheelchairs to the children's needs. The footrests adjusted to the right height, the straps and belts fastened properly, the back adjusted at the right height so the neck-rest fit the child exactly to their needs. I think that is just about the fastest that two hours has passed in my life (aside of the ECON 311 Final exam I thought I failed)!
After the last child was taken away in his new Wheelchair, I found SFC Olson and had our picture taken. I didn't want to get away without expressing my deep gratitude to him for putting this mission together. He agreed, and we both gave it the Gig'em Aggies sign!
SFC Olson and Brad
Standing nearby was The Colonel who had experienced so much fun with this mission. He is very good with the families and the kids, and has won their confidence as a genuine leader concerned for the people of his province. I wanted to have my picture with this historic man, so here it is:
The Colonel and Brad
Just before leaving out, as a sandstorm was getting ready to blow through, I remembered Janine S from Lubbock had sent me a large box of frisbees (33, I think). I had brought them in the back of the 5-ton, but I FORGOT TO GIVE THEM OUT TO THE KIDS!!! Instead, I gave them to SFC Olson, and he said he would give them out to the kids he sees on a regular basis.
He was walking along with the box of frisbees, and being the expert frisbee tosser he is, he flung one toward the group of Iraqi soldiers standing nearby, including The Colonel. I was told they thought they were plates to eat off of (turned upside down), and maybe that's what ended up happening with them??? They had no idea what it was, but after SFC Olson taught them that it was a toy used for sport and how to throw it, The Colonel picked up on it real fast - and he was GOOD at it! Before we knew it, there were dozens of frisbees flying in every direction! I think The Colonel may have enjoyed this part as much as giving away all the wheelchairs...
We left there, and rolled onto base late into the night. The trip back was like the trip up - eye opening, watching for the slightest thing to go wrong, yet peaceful with a few tense moments - and thankfully - uneventful. Seeing a city in which I've lived for almost two years but have never experienced until now was incredible.
I knew then that I had lived one of the most memorable days of my life. I mean - who else lives, eats, worships and works in a combat zone with warriors who go out to take out terrorists before they can reach our doorsteps back home? And who else has the opportunity to start some really cool projects which help draw them closer to their maker, help keep up the maorale of the soldiers and make a difference in how the Iraqi people resond to them when they're out on patrol?
All I can say is that I am truly blessed by God with this opportunity to be in such a place for such a time as this.
God bless the Soldiers in harm's way, and God bless the kids.
www.WheelchairsForIraqiKids.com
www.SupportingTroops.blogspot.com
www.StudyBiblesForSoldiers.com
[This message has been edited by b.blauser (edited 8/22/2006 3:48p).]
I was beginning to wonder if the need for these things was as great as the Army had reported? About a week or so ago, I was approached by the 352nd Army Battalion with an opportunity to take all the remaining kids' wheelchairs out on a mission which extended all the way to the Syrian border in the Northern province of Sinjar. Sixty two permanently disabled kids had been identified in the region, however we only had 44 left on hand, so 18 kids would have to do without or wait until next time.
I happily agreed, although Colonel Espinosa in the Combat Hospital had planned to take them out a few at a time to the uttermost parts of more Northern areas where his teams patrol. I felt bad for him, because the chairs had been such a blessing for him. He's a man with huge integrity and just as huge a heart for the soldiers - especially the kids who come through the hospital mangled by IED and car bomb explosions. He takes personal interest in the kids, and was so glad to get the wheelchairs for them, as some are sent home to recover without limbs they had before the attacks. I promised him we would bring more in to meet the needs of the children suffering traumatic war injuries, and for his teams to give out in the areas they patrol.
Wheelchairs over here work magic. When they're given out in an area, it wins the hearts and minds of the public because it shows compassion for 'the least of these' - kids and disabled adults who cannot care for themselves. As a result, the soldiers on patrol don't get shot at as much - which is a HUGE bonus for our fighting men and women in uniform.
Sergeant First Class Olson was the brainchild behind the planned event to give away the wheelchairs. One of the areas he works is with an Iraqi Colonel who runs an Iraqi border patrol for the Northern Sinjar Province. He and the Colonel agreed to identify kids in the region who needed the wheelchairs, then hold a special ceremony between the Iraqi Army / Border Patrol and the US Army to give the wheelchairs away during the ceremony at the Border Command Post.
SFC Olson and his commanding officers, including Major Robles, made me an unbelieveable offer. They invited me to accompany them to the ceremony and help fit the kids in the wheelchairs. Flat out, I've always said I'd never leave the base and expose myself to the dangers that wait outside the wire that the soldiers have to face on a daily basis. IEDs on the side and even under the road. Snipers taking out our guys one and two at a time. Vehicles with bombs ramming our military vehicles and blowing them up, wounding and / or killing our brothers, sisters and friends in arms.
I made a phone call to Paul, a leader of my company at the HQ for Iraq and explained the offer. Within 24 hours, I had a letter of approval in hand to go outside the wire under the escort of the US Army to aid in the wheelchair distribution. I couldn't believe it. This was truly a mountain that had moved from in front of me, clearing the way for me to fulfill a dream mission - going out with the troops into harms way to fit kids in these pediatric chairs. To help them, to hold them, to see their smiling (crying!) faces as their parents took them away in the object that would change the way the children and their families lived.
On Saturday in the wee hours of the morning, I reported for the convoy meeting - so excited I could barely sleep the night before. We left out and drove through the city under the cover of darkness so as to attract the least amount of attention. As we droveI prayed earnestly and fervently for the soldiers protecting the convoy, and for our safety as we traversed the highways and bi-ways for the long journey across Northern Iraq to our destination.
We arrived at a US Combat Outpost on the border, and spent a number of hours waiting there until it was time to travel downrange to the Border Command Post staffed by the Iraqis. I had on my Texas A&M sport shirt, and lo and behold, I was introduced to Captian Eric Schnieder, Fighting Texas Aggie Class of '01. He's stationed at that outpost, and is commander of a Stryker Battalion for the area. Great guy. We talked Aggie Football for a few minutes, then he had to go on about his business of running the war. Before he left, I was able to get our picture taken in front of the US flag. This just goes to show, you never know when you'll run into another Good Aggie! I told him about Texags, and he said he would watch for this post. Gig'em, Eric!
Brad and Eric Class of '01 at Combat Out Post near Syrian Border
We left the Outpost for our final destination, and later, and on the drive down we passed this herd of roaming wild camels:
Wild Camels (see the albino?)
Once arriving at the Border Command Post, I was quickly invited in to meet the man in charge of the operation - The Colonel. He was extremely glad to meet me, and was very hospitable. (If you ever have a chance to drink CHI-Tea, I highly recommend it!)
Major Robles (352nd), The Colonel, Brad and SFC Olson
Major Robles is the executive officer for the 352nd Battalion. He's a great man of leadership yet understanding. He afforded me the opportunity to speak to The Colonel through an Iraqi interpreter. I asked about the greatest needs of the local population. He said they need jobs and opportunity to give them a long-term hope for their new country's survival. When I asked what he thought about Iraq's political future, he said he thinks there's too much corruption in Baghdad, and for Iraq to survive, America will have to come in and set up its own government, eventually handing it over to the Iraqis piece by piece over a long period of time. I was impressed by this man's intelligence and his dedication to his country. He is a true patriot, and stands tough in the face of threats from the bad guys. After about an hour, I excused myself while The Colonel attended to his business, and checked to see how the chairs had withstood the long journey from the base.
44 pediatric wheelchairs - $8800 at material cost, $88,000 at retail. We gottem at cost!
The chairs came through in pretty good shape, so I took the opportunity to gather some of the Iraqis to show them how to fit them to the needs of each individual child receiving them.
Brad teaching Iraqi Soldiers how to fit kids to the chairs
Soon thereafter, we began moving all the wheelchairs out to where a large crowd of locals had gathered under tents. The Colonel started the ceremony with greetings, and within minutes, I was asked to walk through the crowd to determine which children were the most needy and worthy of receiving a wheelchair. I felt so helpless in doing this, because who was I to tell a family that their kid wasn't 'crippled' enough to get one? As I walked through the tent, it was all I could do to hold my composure while observing all the sick and twisted children who had a glimmer of hope in their eyes as they watched me pass by.
I have never seen so many helpless little ones that God loves...I had to quickly just look down and choose the first recipient and bring them over to the first wheelchair for their fitting. Before I knew it, the crowd had left their seats, clamoring for wheelchairs for fear that their children would be left out. I found myself shoved, and mothers and fathers vying for my attention to come help their child with their chair. For a while it was quite a bizzare situation with the rushing around - trying to get to every child before the family left out of frustration with a chair that didn't fit their child's needs. I just gave my camera to the interpreter and told him to take as many pictures as he could. Below are some of the best pictures taken Saturday, 20 Aug 2006. Very much a day I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Thanks to all of you who helped fund this mission. There are many other photos I will get from the Army on this trip, as there were official photographers and videographers on site for the event. An Army Public Affairs Officer was present at the distribution, and will be writing articles for the press corps back home. Maybe this one will be carried by the Mainstream media? I won't hold my breath... One of my co-workers who believes wholeheartedly in this mission handed me a check for $5000 the other day - enough to cover 25 more wheelchairs for 25 disabled kids who would never again have the opportunity to receive one. We're trusting for donations to reach $40K soon so we can bring over another 200 of these chairs. The Army has a growing appetite for them, as they understand how they build good-will with the community which receives them.
We spent two hours going around, fitting the wheelchairs to the children's needs. The footrests adjusted to the right height, the straps and belts fastened properly, the back adjusted at the right height so the neck-rest fit the child exactly to their needs. I think that is just about the fastest that two hours has passed in my life (aside of the ECON 311 Final exam I thought I failed)!
After the last child was taken away in his new Wheelchair, I found SFC Olson and had our picture taken. I didn't want to get away without expressing my deep gratitude to him for putting this mission together. He agreed, and we both gave it the Gig'em Aggies sign!
SFC Olson and Brad
Standing nearby was The Colonel who had experienced so much fun with this mission. He is very good with the families and the kids, and has won their confidence as a genuine leader concerned for the people of his province. I wanted to have my picture with this historic man, so here it is:
The Colonel and Brad
Just before leaving out, as a sandstorm was getting ready to blow through, I remembered Janine S from Lubbock had sent me a large box of frisbees (33, I think). I had brought them in the back of the 5-ton, but I FORGOT TO GIVE THEM OUT TO THE KIDS!!! Instead, I gave them to SFC Olson, and he said he would give them out to the kids he sees on a regular basis.
He was walking along with the box of frisbees, and being the expert frisbee tosser he is, he flung one toward the group of Iraqi soldiers standing nearby, including The Colonel. I was told they thought they were plates to eat off of (turned upside down), and maybe that's what ended up happening with them??? They had no idea what it was, but after SFC Olson taught them that it was a toy used for sport and how to throw it, The Colonel picked up on it real fast - and he was GOOD at it! Before we knew it, there were dozens of frisbees flying in every direction! I think The Colonel may have enjoyed this part as much as giving away all the wheelchairs...
We left there, and rolled onto base late into the night. The trip back was like the trip up - eye opening, watching for the slightest thing to go wrong, yet peaceful with a few tense moments - and thankfully - uneventful. Seeing a city in which I've lived for almost two years but have never experienced until now was incredible.
I knew then that I had lived one of the most memorable days of my life. I mean - who else lives, eats, worships and works in a combat zone with warriors who go out to take out terrorists before they can reach our doorsteps back home? And who else has the opportunity to start some really cool projects which help draw them closer to their maker, help keep up the maorale of the soldiers and make a difference in how the Iraqi people resond to them when they're out on patrol?
All I can say is that I am truly blessed by God with this opportunity to be in such a place for such a time as this.
God bless the Soldiers in harm's way, and God bless the kids.
www.WheelchairsForIraqiKids.com
www.SupportingTroops.blogspot.com
www.StudyBiblesForSoldiers.com
[This message has been edited by b.blauser (edited 8/22/2006 3:48p).]
