“I recently received an email from Christine H., someone
who I have been in contact with since early on when my deployment first began here in Baghdad. We have had correspondence
on many occasions and she has sent packages (Beanie babies) and put me in contact with children back in the states who I now
write back and forth with.
But it was not till today when she sent me a link to this site
did I realize that she and all the people responsible for this organization”really get it”.
As a soldier with boots on the ground here in Iraq I have seen first hand how something as simple as a beanie
baby can help build trust and start positive dialogue between people who have for what ever reason come to mistrust each other.
Just as American children are not born to hate neither are Iraqi children, it is taught! Here in Iraq hatred for Americans
and our way of life comes from and a small group of extremist and children are easy targets to instill this hatred.
Most people here want all the same things we do as Americans, provide for our families and a safe
environment for our kids to grow in.
Since I have been here Christine and many other people who answered
my request posted on ANY
SOLDIER.COM have filled my trucks with toys, clothes and shoes. These items which are sent to me from these
caring people are as important to my mission here in Iraq as my weapons are. They have provided my soldiers and me the opportunity
to do what it is that we were sent here to do. And that is to help these people have a better life. The beanie babies are
one small way to show them we care and helps open the door to a trusting relationship between the American soldiers and the
people who they were sent here to help.
If anyone is considering a donation to this site, I would like
to tell you that it’s not just a beanie baby; it’s your way to become involved in building the trust between the
people of Iraq and America soldiers who were sent here to help them.
Respectfully,
LANCE PAUL ROBEAUX
SSG / US ARMY
