Operation Christmas Toys

Scott, deployed to Iraq since September, 2005, came up the idea for "Operation Christmas Toys" after several local Iraqi clergy requested that the 1 st Brigade Combat Team bring Christmas gifts to the children of two Christian Churches. Although Iraq is predominately Arab and Muslim, a diverse population of Arabs, Turkomen, and Kurdish peoples, of both Christian and Muslim faith, live in this particular area north of Baghdad. Wanting to be impartial, he decided he would deliver the gifts to the Anestos El-Karmalee school, which consists of Assyrian, Orthodox, Chaldean, and Catholic students, rather than to favor one particular church.
Scott reached out to his home base, the Southeast District in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he holds membership as an ordained pastor, to ask the churches to support the operation. "The churches enthusiastically supported this mission of peace and love," said District Superintendent, The Rev. Susan May. "District churches were quick to respond and send more than enough presents for the children and their teachers."

Day Ninety One "Operation Christmas Toys"- Thursday 22 December

We arrive at the elementary school at about 0930, a modest building in an extremely poor neighborhood ensconced by a high brick fence and piled up garbage. Soldiers quickly set up a perimeter on foot, and strategically park all vehicles shutting down all surrounding roads as curious individuals of all ages begin to gather. We first have to clear the school, which basically is introducing ourselves to the principal, stating our mission while allowing other soldiers to walk around searching for anything suspicious. Two soldiers manage to quickly position themselves on top of the school, and soon thereafter we get the "all clear" signal.

Teachers assemble around the entrance and I am introduced to the principal. I immediately sense a spirit of hope and anticipation in the air as classrooms to my left and right burst with giggles and chatter. I cannot help but reflect on the stark difference between this atmosphere and the permeating stench which I define as death in one of my earlier journal entries.

We enter the first classroom which consists of approximately twenty 5-6 year old children sitting at their small wooden tables lined up on both sides of the room. On cue the children sing a traditional Assyrian Christian children's song complete with arm and hand motions. You can see the look of innocence on the children's face, as well as pride in the teacher conducting this joyous concert. Through my interpreter I share a few words expressing that I am looking at the future leaders of Iraq. I bring greetings from children in the USA pointing out the many similarities between them and our children, who equally enjoy playing with balls, dolls, trucks, and toys in general. I explain that we give gifts as an expression of thanksgiving to God for giving us the greatest gift of all...and ask what that gift is; In each class almost immediately a child bursts out with "Jesus".

I begin handing out gifts, and the flashbulbs from numerous press - both Army PAO and local press almost blind me. Many children seem overwhelmed by all the hoopla, and need encouragement to gather up enough courage to step forward and receive their gifts. I don't know why, perhaps because they are instructed not to do so, but no one opens their gifts until after all have them, and I say "It's Ok to open your gifts." This is followed by "oohs" and "aahs" as children begin proudly displaying their dolls, matchbox trucks, coloring books, and stuffed animals. They are obviously pleased, and line up to show off their gifts to their teacher and whoever else shows interest. We go to the next class, and I ask the members of the Iraqi Army to hand out gifts, which they gladly do while posing for pictures and hugs from the children. About this time COL Gray arrives and I take him to another classroom after introducing him to the principal and other school leaders who have since gathered. The children sing "Jingle Bells" in their native tongue, and we join them in ours. You can see by the look on his face that this is much needed decompression time, and at out daily meeting this evening, he thanks me and the Civil Affairs Team for organizing the event. We go to each room, and discover that the Iraqi Army has already given out gifts on their own ahead of us. I praise them for their initiative and enthusiasm, but their actions create an awkward situation, for now we can only give out candy and no more gifts for fear of showing favoritism by giving some students more gifts than others. And one cannot argue with their actions for our main mission now is to put on all operations more and more an "Iraqi face", meaning that we place the Iraqi soldiers and security forces more and more in leadership positions in all operations, while we step to the rear and assist when necessary.

I believe all of us are blessed and changed on one level or another by the experience, even those soldiers who remain outside securing the building, still get to interact with the local national populace. This, I think to myself, is what Christmas is all about, and I look forward to future operations which allow us to visit and support local schools, orphanages, etc.

Chaplain Clyde Scot
1st Brigade Combat Team
"Proudly Serving God and Country"