Operation Soccer Ball

In Al Kut, my platoon is in charge of 3 Iraqi Police Stations. This area of operation is not the safest place, to say the least, but one of the toughest sections of the city and could use a lot of soccer balls. We have been handing balls out every day we go out. It amazes me to see all the smiles and excitement when they get their soccer ball and run off to go and play. Kids remember these things, just like we recall our first baseball mitt or bicycle. These types of events are forever burned into our memory and you can always look back and smile about that day. What we are doing with Operation Soccer Ball is creating memories, thousands of great memories for the kids here in Iraq. They begin to associate our gun trucks as more of a soccer truck than a military weapon. They begin to understand that we are here to help out. They see us safeguarding and patrolling the streets with the Iraqi Police. They tell their friends about how the Americans come around and bring hundreds of balls. This is a positive sign, we are a positive force. We fight and we train and we give to the community, we give to the children, and we let them enjoy their most favorite thing on earth, SOCCER. Please keep those balls coming.

Thanks to all who contribute.

1LT Daniel Merritt, 1/511th MP CO,FOB DELTA IRAQ, APO AE 09317 .

(To Find out how to Contribute, go to: Operationsoccerball.org or Email me at Daniel.Merritt@Iraq.centcom.mil )

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