Zatia Visit: Day One

Our efforts to help the little school in Zatia have grown over the last few months. We've received an outpouring of support and all manner of goodies to give to our kids. The contractor who did some work on base offered to help with some work at the school. We had another mission yesterday and today. LtCol Jimmy Phillips, the commanding officer of 3/61 Cavalry Squadron, generously offered his squadron doctor, PA, and medics, along with his civil affairs team. We also had Chaplain Joel Jenkins and his assistant, SSG Bennet along with the MNSTC-I Public Affairs Officer. Our plan was to do our usual visit to the school on Thursday, except this time we were going to also have a picnic and play soccer and basketball with the kids. Friday was to be an adult medical clinic day.

The best laid plans of mice and men.......

Thursday morning: The trucks are loaded, the convoy is ready, my team worked late into the night to make 300 sandwiches. We're ready. Literally, as we're driving out of the compound, Col Abbas mentions that there are no kids at the school. "Excuse me?" "My brother, the Prime Minister declared a holiday. All the schools are closed". It seems they're not a strict with their holiday schedule as one might hope.

Great. I now have a convoy of 10 vehicles and 40 some people with lots of soccer balls and food. "No problem, my brother. I will take care of it" he says. And he did. Two radio calls later, the situation is in control. Sort of. He passed the word to have the kids in the village come to the school. OK, we can work with that. But there are no teachers to keep control. So what we had was most everyone from the village, including some "students" with facial hair, in line to get food and see the doctor. Did I mention it rained? It did. We had a hundred or more folks in a very small space clamoring for food, goodies and medical attention.

But in the spirit of things, my team and our visitors rose to the occasion. Everyone was fed, everyone who wanted to saw a doctor and we gave out lots of soccer balls, backpacks and other goodies.



Here I am with Col Abbas, Master Sergeant David Fesko, my right hand man and some of our little friends. I'm proudly displaying the flag of the Rotary Club of La Jolla, CA. They've generously supported me and the school.


My wife sent me some great little toys, including a soft plastic ring with a flashing light in it. I only had a few so I gave them out selectively otherwise I would have been mobbed!





A little "Tootsie Roll Diplomacy" with some of the "older" students.

A special thanks to Steve Hubbard, Rotary Club of San Diego and veteran of the US Army. He sends me some of the best jerky I've had and packs it with Tootsie Rolls. They come in quite handy. Thanks Steve!!

Myself, Abu Fiad and Chaplain (COL) Joel Jenkins. Abu Faid has become a dear friend. His company, Almco, built the battalion base camp for me on Besmaya. They did excellent work. He's a great man working hard for the future of Iraq.

"Abu Faid" is an Arab title of respect that means "father of Fiad". Fiad is his first born. His real name is Salam al Akabi. Col Abbas is Abu Abdulah.

We didn't solve every problem and didn't feed everyone in the village, but we did some good. Every one agreed it was a successful mission.