Aloha reaches Iraq through soccer balls
An effort by troops in Kirkuk hopes to make a positive impact on kids
National Guard members have collected and distributed more than 450
soccer balls to Iraqi children on the streets.
to make sure that I can thank everyone that helped out," Chang wrote in
an e-mail. (He has since arrived home.) "It's just such a wonderful
feeling seeing how one simple article can go a very long way in helping
out others. I wish I could meet everyone in person and shake their
hands and thank them."
publicize "Operation Soccer Ball." The project was recently started by
the Kirkuk Regional Air Base's Rising Four foundation, which hopes to
make a positive impact on kids through soccer.
Kutaka said she sent 119 slightly used or new balls, most of them
courtesy of the Leahi Soccer Club. Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines shipped
them free — saving her more than $300.
complexion over there, the way they think about us — that Americans are
good people. It gives them some way to play and be happy and not think
about the blood and guns and war for a little while."
balls. Under coach Master Sgt. John Reay, the players and their parents
gathered about 100 balls to be shipped aboard a military tanker, Chang
said.
the wire' on their missions. No specific street, just basically in the
surroundings of Kirkuk City," Chang said.
In just a couple of months, Master Sgt. William Chang and other Hawaii Air
National Guard members have collected and distributed more than 450
soccer balls to Iraqi children on the streets.
"The response that I've getting from the people of Hawaii (and other parts
of the nation) has definitely been overwhelming. ... I just want to
make sure that I can thank everyone that helped out," Chang wrote in an
e-mail. (He has since arrived home.) "It's just such a wonderful
feeling seeing how one simple article can go a very long way in helping
out others. I wish I could meet everyone in person and shake their
hands and thank them."
Chang, of Makakilo, who is part of the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron at
Kalaeloa, asked the Star-Bulletin in January to help publicize
"Operation Soccer Ball." The project was recently started by the Kirkuk
Regional Air Base's Rising Four foundation, which hopes to make a
positive impact on kids through soccer.
The biggest contributor from Hawaii was Karen Kutaka, mother of Senior Master Sgt. Blaine Agena, who is
stationed in Iraq with Chang. Kutaka said she sent 119 slightly used or
new balls, most of them courtesy of the Leahi Soccer Club. Pasha Hawaii
Transport Lines shipped them free — saving her more than $300.
"It's a good idea, giving soccer balls to the Iraqi children," Kutaka said.
"If they get to the children, that will change the whole complexion
over there, the way they think about us — that Americans are good
people. It gives them some way to play and be happy and not think about
the blood and guns and war for a little while."
Another Hawaii resident, Dudley Foster, whose grandson is a member of the
Windward Arsenal Soccer Club, got the team to help collect balls. Under
coach Master Sgt. John Reay, the players and their parents gathered
about 100 balls to be shipped aboard a military tanker, Chang said.
"Our Army brothers are currently distributing the balls for us. They usually
take a bunch of soccer balls with them when they go 'outside the wire'
on their missions. No specific street, just basically in the
surroundings of Kirkuk City," Chang said.
He can be reached at maika@hawaii.rr.com.
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