Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children

[norml]

Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children
By Spc. Derek Del Rosario, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service


CAMP TAJI, Iraq, July 15, 2005 – They can be seen parachuting into various areas around Baghdad -- specially trained individuals recruited during Operation Iraqi Freedom 3, whose primary mission is to bring smiles to the faces of Iraqi children.


Army Spc. Benjamin L. Kepenke, a crew chief with Company C, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter), prepares a "Teddy Trooper" for its descent to children below. Operation Teddy Drop is a humanitarian mission geared to give teddy bears to Iraqi children. Photo by Spc. Del Rosario, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

These airborne "soldiers" are actually "Teddy Troopers" or "Para-Bears," stuffed animals with makeshift parachutes jumping into the arms and hearts of children during Operation Teddy Drop.

The commander for this unique operation is Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Randy M. Kirgiss, a pilot with Company C, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter). He said he started the airborne mission as a way to impact the lives of Iraqi children.

Kirgiss began the operation in mid-April, inspired by previous humanitarian efforts he had witnessed, as well as by Col. Gail Halvorsen, the "Berlin candy bomber" who dropped candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift.


snip


http://www.dod.mil/news/Jul2005/20050715_2081.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Now if we really wanted to impact the lives of Iraqi children,

how about this brilliant idea - stop bombing their country and killing their parents.

I have always hated these kinds of stories. Like teddy bears are really going to make that much difference? And what do you think the kids during WWII remember better - the chocolate bars our soldiers gave them or watching people die?

[CanuckAmok]

3. Plus, in Bosnia, etc... you don't go NEAR those kinds of things.

In the type of "insurgence" warfare going on in Iraq, smart people never pick things up off the ground.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Good point

Oh man, you don't suppose . . .

Nah, our soldiers would never do that.

[CanuckAmok]

9. No, but...

...with all the waring factions in the area, someone might rig bears.

Not only that, but owning one of those bears might be a family's death warrant, should the wrong group end up occupying their territory. Same thing happened with radios found tuned to AFR in East Germany.

It's a good gesture, but poorly executed. I'd say a better goodwill gesture would be to stop killing Iraqis.

[norml]

4. Web Results 1 - 10 of about 442 for "operation teddy drop". (0.13 seconds

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 442 for "operation teddy drop". (0.13 seconds)
Tip: Save time by hitting the return key instead of clicking on "search"

BLACKFIVE: Operation Teddy Drop
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Operation Teddy Drop:. » Pri`viet!
from The Politburo Diktat Vy govorite po-angliyski? Ahh goot! ...
www.blackfive.net/main/2005/07/operation_teddy.html - 40k - Jul 31, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Paul Harris Online: Operation Teddy Drop
Here's the site for Operation Teddy Drop, the airborne operation to drop teddy
bears for Iraqi kids, run by US Army pilot Randy Kirgiss and his Blackhawk ...
www.harrisonline.com/2005/07/operation-teddy-drop.htm - 14k - Cached - Similar pages

The J-Walk Blog: Operation Teddy Bear Drop
... "Teddy Troopers" or "Para-Bears," stuffed animals with makeshift parachutes
jumping into the arms and hearts of children during Operation Teddy Drop. ...
j-walkblog.com/index.php?/ weblog/posts/operation_teddy_bear_drop/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

DefenseLINK News: Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children
It was from this idea that Operation Teddy Drop began." In order for his airborne
humanitarian mission to get off the ground, Kirgiss needed support from ...
www.dod.mil/news/Jul2005/20050715_2081.html - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

‘Teddy Troopers’ perform airborne mission in Iraq
Operation Teddy Drop is a humanitarian mission geared to give teddy bears to
Iraqi children. ... It was from this idea that Operation Teddy Drop began.” ...
www4.army.mil/OCPA/read.php?story_id_key=7615 - 16k - Cached - Similar pages

‘Teddy Troopers’ perform airborne mission in Iraq
It was from this idea that Operation Teddy Drop began.” In order for his airborne
humanitarian mission to get off the ground, Kirgiss needed support from ...
www4.army.mil/ocpa/print.php?story_id_key=7615 - 9k - Jul 31, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

American Geek: Operation 'Teddy Drop'
Operation 'Teddy Drop'. Here's a very real indication of some of the good stuff
going on in Iraq. Stay tuned, because more and more good stuff really is ...
geek-usa.mu.nu/archives/105416.php - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

Navy SEALs.com - Articles: Viewing Article
Operation Teddy Drop is a humanitarian mission geared to give teddy bears to
Iraqi children. ... It was from this idea that Operation Teddy Drop began. " ...
www.navyseals.com/community/ articles/article.cfm?id=7532 - 22k - Cached - Similar pages

ThreeBadFingers » Blog Archive » Operation Teddy Drop
Operation Teddy Drop. posted by Jeffrey D. King the evening of July 21st, 2005.
The Uncooperative Blogger takes up a worthy cause. ...
www.threebadfingers.com/?p=371 - 223k - Cached - Similar pages

Local News - Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - www.lancastereaglegazette.com
But her part in Operation Teddy Drop didn't stop there. ... She isn't the only
American participating in Operation Teddy Drop. Kirgiss wrote he has received ...
www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/ pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/NEWS01/505140301 - 26k - Cached - Similar pages


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22operation+teddy+drop%22&btnG=Search

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. These kids will be targets.. or they will pick up rigged bears

[6000eliot]

2. "Here kid. Sorry we killed your parents."

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. My point exactly

Fuckheads.

[sasquatch]

8. This is a distraction because someone in the BCF just killed a hooker

or something equally as disgusting.