CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Soldiers of the 1538th Transportation Co. had the opportunity to share some caring from home with a local school in the town of Gumaira, Baghdad province, Iraq, Feb. 10.

The 1538th Soldiers, an Indiana National Guard company from Elkhart, Ind., are under 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, and nearing the end of their yearlong deployment to Iraq.

Prior to deployment into Iraq, this Indiana National Guard unit knew they wanted to do this mission. Several of the soldiers work for Con-Way Freight Inc. in Indiana and the company had donated a large amount of shirts, hats, cups and a variety of other items, as did many Indiana residents, with the intention of giving to the local Iraqi community.

1st Sgt. Jeffrey Spencer of Westport, Ind., said, “We will win this war through the next generation. It put a smile on each of their faces. Hopefully, it lets the kids know that American soldiers are caring.”

Many of the soldiers of the 1538th were actively involved in passing out clothes, candy, school supplies and toys to the children. Staff Sgt. Loretta Fluck, a National Guard soldier who was assisting in the event for the school, felt good about the role she played in helping the children.

Fluck, the 1538th assistant truck master and native of Elkhart, Ind., said “It was nice to do something truly positive on the lowest level. When you watch the news back home, they only show the negative effects of the war. It is not very often that you see the good things soldiers do.”

Taking time out from normal missions meant a great deal to these transporters and brought meaning to being here.

“To see the looks on some of their faces light up over the little things such as a stuffed animal, put a warm feeling inside you. I know for myself I sometimes wonder what we are doing here, or why is the real reason we came, but when you see that you are helping children have a better life, it makes it truly worth the sacrifice you give,” Fluck said.

“I left with a feeling of pride, knowing we helped make these children’s day a little better,” said Capt. Phillip Anderson, a native of Plainfield, Ind., commander of the 1538th Transportation Co. “Seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces when they received a teddy bear, sports bottle, hat and many other items brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart.”

Spc. Angela Pentecost, a Corydon, Ind., native said, “Humanitarian missions help remind the soldiers what we are here for. Personally I like doing these types of missions because I get to interact with the children and give them a positive look at an American soldier.”

The accomplishment of this mission was a joint effort that involved several commands.

Capt. Lane Pughe, a Los Angeles native, provided much of the groundwork for this humanitarian mission. Pughe is currently serving in Iraq with the 419th CSSB from Irvine, Calif. Without his support and coordination this mission could not have taken place, according to a press release from the military.

Additional security and transportation was provided by Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Regiment, 27th Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, of the 25th Infantry Division from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The national police was also involved in the success of this mission. They provided security for the school, and felt very good about helping the children, according to the release.

“This was a visible sign in the rebuilding of Iraq. Being able to touch those children’s lives is an impact that will last a lifetime on the soldiers who helped and the children who were present,” Anderson said.

“I am honored, and humbled to play a part in bringing joy to a few children’s lives. The children were so happy, and it warmed my heart to see the joy in their eyes,” said Sgt. Lynn Ellyson, a dispatcher for the 1538th, and Mooresville, Ind., native. “The mission was successful. I felt it brought as much joy to me as it did to the children.”

“The district we were in was a poverty stricken area and the living conditions were poor and run down. For these kids to get something was a sight to behold,” Spencer said. “It will take years for Iraq to be a modern country and I hope that our mission was a giant step.”

The citizen-Soldiers of the 1538th Transportation Co. deployed in July 2008 and are scheduled to return from Iraq this summer.