U.S. soldiers battle for hearts and minds in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Nobody trained them for this. The Army taught them to raid insurgent dens, run checkpoints and patrol dangerous streets. It trained them to fight wars — not do this.

"Hearts and minds," Sgt. First Class Robert F. Lieske reminded his men, as Bravo Troop prepared for their recent mission.

It called for a different sort of offensive. The soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, N.Y., would take toys, candy and supplies to an elementary school near Forward Operating Base (FOB) Independence, their outpost in central Baghdad.

The gifts came from the soldiers' families, who sent them to Iraq in the belief that their sons and husbands will be safer if the streets they patrol are better off.

As the soldiers prepared for their third giveaway, Bravo Troop was running low on toys to distribute and 2nd Lt. Robert L. Miller — the man assigned to sweat the details — feared they would run short.

"Hopefully, this goes OK," said Miller, carrying the small box of supplies that would have to suffice. "But I'm nervous."

On the last giveaway, some kindergarten students broke into tears at the sight of uniformed U.S. troops. It took a while to calm them down. Fortunately, everybody got something that day.

The soldiers huddle around Lieske's Humvee. Today's mission should be relatively safe: They will be near kids. Soldiers generally believe the presence of children lowers the chance of enemy attack.

Joint mission

With the Iraqis leading — the U.S. Army wants the Iraqis to lead joint missions — the troops ride in a convoy to the Al Manahil Primary School, just east of the base. The school sits on a narrow street, hidden by a 6-foot-tall concrete wall.

The building doesn't look like a school. But it sounds like one. The sound of children's laughter fills the street.

Miller unloads the box of giveaways, looking increasingly worried they won't have enough gifts as about 150 girls assemble in the courtyard. They stand in rows, excitedly watching the soldiers in their helmets and body armor.

Nearby, Bravo Capt. Rob Duchaine wants to save some stuff for the children of Iraqi troops killed in combat. It looks like they won't have enough toys to go around.

"This is what we didn't want," Duchaine says.

But then, within minutes, reinforcements arrive. Iraqi soldiers tear open boxes of activity books called "Baghdad Kids." There are plenty, and the girls take them eagerly.

Miller hands out stuffed animals and squishy baseballs. A few lucky girls get musical recorders or small games; the others roll up the books and whack each other, giggling.

Sgt. John G. Parrell — who was drafted by Lieske to go into the school — now gets drafted by Duchaine to hand out goodies.

"Hey," Miller shouts, from a crowd of kids. "Can you get me the can of Milk Duds?"

"That's the one with the cows?" asks Staff Sgt. Sophal Saing.

Miller nods. The can holds lollipops. Lots and lots of lollipops. The Iraqis keep handing out books; the girls are having a great time.

"Some of them are a little scared," a teacher says of her pupils.

She says her school must be rebuilt, because the sewer system no longer works. She expresses thanks for the visit and the goodies. But on the matter of her children, she has one primary concern.

"The most important thing is the sewers," she says, through an interpreter. "They must be working."

Childhood lost

The woman, clad in a traditional shawl, says the war wears heavily on her students.

"We hear every day the sound of bullets, explosions, in the air," she says.

She is asked: Do her children have a childhood?

She mulls the question long after it has been translated, then says, "The child who loses his mother or father, he is a hundred years old."

The Iraqi and U.S. troops take pictures of the girls, who grin with delight at the adults' attention. With a little coaxing, the girls shout "Long live Iraq!" three times.

"Adorable, they are just adorable," says Saing, a father of two. "It makes you want to be home."

Miller moves through the crowd, dispensing lollipops.

"Perfect," Saing says. "We come, hype them all up with candy, then leave."

Bravo Troop heads for the Humvees, ready to roll.

"You know, I didn't want to do this at first," says Parrell."But it was really nice."

"The Iraqi Army had the books, and the candy went a long way," Miller says, looking jubilant. "You know, it was almost like the Bible story, where Jesus is breaking the fish and the bread; it just kept spreading out. Also, this time, nobody cried!"

"Back to the FOB," Lieske says into the radio. "Mission complete."