#1
Posted: 10/5/04 at 12:54pm
This was an e-mail I received from my cousin's future father-in-law...
"In reflection, I thought I would share what it is that we do besides, raid the citizens of Iraq homes, block roads, inspect their personal cars at will, and when necessary kill in self defense, all to preserve a infant democracy, struggliing to become a world partner.
One of our soldiers, a 19 year specialist's. has a mother that fromt he beginning of our tour, started collecting small children's stuff toys to send to her son, who while patrolling hands them out to the little children. This is greeted with great enthusiasm by both parents and children. I might add that I have seen little to no toys over here.
His mother calls her pet project "TOYS FOR IRAQI CHILDREN". she sends him about 2 boxes a week, and so far we have handed out some 20 cases, and have a supply of 10 cases still to go through.
Other gunships in our platoon have boxes of candy, we usually distribute these while stopped aloong the street, the children take about 2-5 minutes to spread the word that americans are on the street and come running from as far away as 5 city blocks just to shake our hands, ask questions, and get freebies from the soldiers.
They hand onto us like we are theiur parents in a crowded super market or shoopping mall. You can not shake them or get them to leave, unless you toss candy or toys onthe ground and jump into your gunship and drive away, then they run after you down the street, just wanting to be by your side.
Our platoon medic, has truely the heart of medicine, filled with compassion, sympathy, and knowledge to assist and treat many of the injuried children and older generations. Everytime we stop, we usually find him treating a crowd of children, and older Iraqi's, usually depleting his large medical bags, and all of the combat lifesaver bags among the gunships. I have found this to be the biggest challenge when trying to leave, as he is usually involved with some seriously injured child, none of us have the heart to just leave, so we stay longer than we should.
One of the customs here is that,if someone gives you something of value or high value to them, it is expected that you return the honor, I have found on occassions, when talking with local citizens, they tend to give what little money they have to us as a way of showing appreciation for toys, candy, or medical care. To turn it down would be an insult to the head of the household in front of his family and the neighbors, whomthink of him as an elder.
the way to get around this, is take his Iraqi money, which currently exchanges $1,410.00 Iraqi dinars to $1.00 US dollar. In return, I give him a $ 5.00 US dollars. Many would view this as honoring him by taking his money, yet putting him in my debt by returning a larger or more value to him, thusly also placing a high value on him as worthy of american friendship and trust to all whom see the transaction. This is a complicated but effective way to win the hearts and minds of the local neighborhood elders, whom by the way control their neighborhoods, strictly.
I might add that in dealings with a populace that speaks little to no english, but 10% of the population, has taught me, compassion, understanding of just how important communication skills are both in body language, tone, flection of voice, and words you choose to show respect, and concern without conveying distrust, hatred, or dislike for another social class of humans, dispite the loss of friends and close ones in combat.
I will send another email, giving the names of each of these heroes, that you may know them, maybe not as I do, but at least in name, face, and I hope prayers."
"In reflection, I thought I would share what it is that we do besides, raid the citizens of Iraq homes, block roads, inspect their personal cars at will, and when necessary kill in self defense, all to preserve a infant democracy, struggliing to become a world partner.
One of our soldiers, a 19 year specialist's. has a mother that fromt he beginning of our tour, started collecting small children's stuff toys to send to her son, who while patrolling hands them out to the little children. This is greeted with great enthusiasm by both parents and children. I might add that I have seen little to no toys over here.
His mother calls her pet project "TOYS FOR IRAQI CHILDREN". she sends him about 2 boxes a week, and so far we have handed out some 20 cases, and have a supply of 10 cases still to go through.
Other gunships in our platoon have boxes of candy, we usually distribute these while stopped aloong the street, the children take about 2-5 minutes to spread the word that americans are on the street and come running from as far away as 5 city blocks just to shake our hands, ask questions, and get freebies from the soldiers.
They hand onto us like we are theiur parents in a crowded super market or shoopping mall. You can not shake them or get them to leave, unless you toss candy or toys onthe ground and jump into your gunship and drive away, then they run after you down the street, just wanting to be by your side.
Our platoon medic, has truely the heart of medicine, filled with compassion, sympathy, and knowledge to assist and treat many of the injuried children and older generations. Everytime we stop, we usually find him treating a crowd of children, and older Iraqi's, usually depleting his large medical bags, and all of the combat lifesaver bags among the gunships. I have found this to be the biggest challenge when trying to leave, as he is usually involved with some seriously injured child, none of us have the heart to just leave, so we stay longer than we should.
One of the customs here is that,if someone gives you something of value or high value to them, it is expected that you return the honor, I have found on occassions, when talking with local citizens, they tend to give what little money they have to us as a way of showing appreciation for toys, candy, or medical care. To turn it down would be an insult to the head of the household in front of his family and the neighbors, whomthink of him as an elder.
the way to get around this, is take his Iraqi money, which currently exchanges $1,410.00 Iraqi dinars to $1.00 US dollar. In return, I give him a $ 5.00 US dollars. Many would view this as honoring him by taking his money, yet putting him in my debt by returning a larger or more value to him, thusly also placing a high value on him as worthy of american friendship and trust to all whom see the transaction. This is a complicated but effective way to win the hearts and minds of the local neighborhood elders, whom by the way control their neighborhoods, strictly.
I might add that in dealings with a populace that speaks little to no english, but 10% of the population, has taught me, compassion, understanding of just how important communication skills are both in body language, tone, flection of voice, and words you choose to show respect, and concern without conveying distrust, hatred, or dislike for another social class of humans, dispite the loss of friends and close ones in combat.
I will send another email, giving the names of each of these heroes, that you may know them, maybe not as I do, but at least in name, face, and I hope prayers."
