GI helps furnish Iraqi school

MOSUL, Iraq -- A Waukegan GI helped outfit a new high school in Iraq with the delivery of 400 new desks and chairs.

The furniture delivery was the culmination of the school's opening and the final project for Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, led by Capt. Joseph Himpelmann.

"The ministry of education built them a new high school, but was unable to furnish it with desks and chairs so we were able to fill in that gap," said Himpelmann, a native of Waukegan. Iraqi Security Forces helped in the Oct. 31 delivery to Al Qosh High School in northern Ninewah province.

After local civic leaders in Al Qosh identified the need for furniture at their new school, Battery B submitted the request for funds to complete the project. Once given the go-ahead, the battery chose a local contractor and the process was on its way.

"The whole process came together today from our relationship with local leaders to meet an urgent and compelling need in the community," Capt. Himpelmann said.

"Due to the availability of forces for the past five years, the U.S. has focused inside the city limits of Mosul. For us to be able to go out and expand our reach outside the city proper and visit some of these cities and villages that haven't seen the U.S. presence or the civil affairs projects, really adds to the stability of the area as we prepare to transition out of Iraq," Himpelmann said.

For Himpelmann and his battery, this was the last of many reconstruction projects they have completed during their year-long deployment in Mosul.

"Altogether, we've completed about 35 projects, employed close to 3,000 people and spent in excess of $1.5 million for my battery alone," said Himpelmann. "We had to complete our projects that we were responsible for no later than Nov. 1, so we went right up to the wire to get them done."

Over the course of their deployment, Battery B not only provided furniture to local schools, but has also organized trash cleanups, sewage projects, and opened soccer fields and recreational parks throughout Ninewah province.