So little for us...so much for the children of Kosovo

By [name redacted] Second Lieutenant, United States Army
I am currently a Second Lieutenant in the 16th Engineer Battalion presently serving in Camp Monteith, Kosovo. I grew up in Sterling where my family currently resides. Seeing some of the things that I have has touched me in such a way and caused me to write several churches asking for help for the people out here in our sector�help in terms of donations of school supplies and clothing.

Sometimes you come across things in life and you cannot turn away. I couldn�t turn away 18 months ago and I can�t turn away now. About 18 months ago I faced a very big decision, where I was going to go for my first duty station. I had the opportunity to go to places such as Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, or Fort Stewart, Georgia. However, after seeing what I saw my conscience would not let me go to any one of those places even though those places would provide me with the comfort and security of being in the United States and being closer to home.

Shortly before I had to make my decision, tensions rose in the Balkans. Soon after the bombings began. Then the swarm of refugees leaving Kosovo. The pictures that I saw on television, in the newspapers, and on the Internet have been forever imprinted in my heart. What touched me the most were the pictures of the children. I could see the sad expressions on their face as they wondered why. Why the war? Why are we leaving our homes? Why me?

I�m not sure if I agree or disagree with the policy that has put us here or not but that is irrelevant. I could not look into the eyes of the children and turn away. I felt that it was my duty to do my part, no matter how small to help brighten the future for these children. That is why I chose Germany as my first duty station. That is why I am in Kosovo right now.

The other day I went on a mission with Second Squad, Assault and Obstacle Platoon in our company. Our mission was to merely escort a group of medics, nurses, and doctors to the nearby town of Lovce, one of eight towns in my company�s sector. At first we thought that this would be a routine escort mission but we would later realize that this mission would forever touch our hearts and remind us all of why we came here. We do escort missions all the time. Sometimes it is for the Croatians, sometimes the Serbians, sometimes the Albanians, sometimes for the UN, and sometimes for new units coming in or leaving.

So to us escorting is routine. First link up with the party that we are escorting, take them to where they need to go, provide security with our armored Humvees and machine guns while they do their thing, and then provide for a safe ride back. This mission was like the rest except for one thing, the children.

As soon as we set up our perimeter the medical team went to work and set up a make shift clinic inside a local school. Once set up the medical team provided free medical attention and medication to all the people in the town. Medically all went well. What touched us was the children. After setting up in the area the local children quickly swarmed our Humvees. I got out along with several others who were not manning the machine guns to talk to them. Some of them spoke very little English but through hand gestures, we were able to communicate. What amazed me was that these children were so young, so happy, and so unaware of the situation that surrounded them. They had so little in terms of clothing, shoes, school supplies, and toys.

But it took so little to make them happy. Our Humvees were littered with plastic bottles of water so I decided to take the bottles and make make-shift water guns for them. I merely poked a hole in the top of the bottle with a knife and once squeezed the water shot out. So little to us yet so much to them. After several of the kids were asking to put some of our gear on. We let them try on our 30 lb body armor and helmet (we wouldn�t dare let them touch our weapons).

You should have seen the smiles on their faces. So little to us but so much to them. Later that afternoon, several of the soldiers and I started kicking a ball around with the children. Again, so little to us but so much to them. I was sincerely touched by all the children in the town and left feeling extremely guilty.

I felt guilty because we, Americans, have so much, so much that we take for granted. Whereas these children lack many of the luxuries that we have been blessed with such as clothing, toys, school supplies, and a peaceful nation. The children that are the worst off seldom have any idea of how little they have. I want to do my part, we can do our part to make this worn torn land a better place for these children.

You can help by sending donations to:

[name redacted]
16th Engineer Battalion Task Force Falcon
Camp Monteith
APO AE 09340