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BAGHDAD, Iraq, February 16, 2006 - Life in a war-torn country can be hard. The life of a disabled child living in a war-torn country is even harder. Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers made life a little easier Feb. 8 for a young Iraqi girl who suffers from cerebral palsy when they delivered a free wheelchair in Baladiat, Iraq. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, serving with the 4th BCT, 101st Airborne Division, surprised the young girl when they assembled and delivered the wheelchair. The wheelchair was provided by the Free Wheelchair Mission, an Orange County, California-based non-profit organization committed to providing the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries. The Iraqi and Kuwaiti governments waived import fees for all of the wheelchairs sent by the mission. 1LT Joshua Lein, PFC Clay Hughes, PFC Robert Gonzales and PFC Erik Meyers helped put together five wheelchairs and delivered one to the young girl. "It was an awesome experience," said Meyers, a field artillery forward observer working with the Civil Affairs section. "We spent several hours of our free time putting the chairs together. "Some of the Iraqi translators helped put together more chairs for distribution to other needy children and adults." The soldiers also gave the girl and her family a humanitarian bag and toys. "The family expressed gratitude for the new wheelchair and said they look forward to seeing more of B Troop in the future," said Meyers. |
