‘Teddy Troopers’ perform airborne mission in Iraq

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Service, July 18, 2005) – They can be seen parachuting into various areas around Baghdad bringing smiles to the faces of Iraqi children.

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 Chief Warrant Officer 04 Randy M. Kirgiss, pilot for C. Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter).

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.

“I got the idea from a lot of my friends who conducted humanitarian missions on some of my previous deployments,” Kirgiss said. “In Bosnia, I saw school supplies donated; in Kosovo, teddy bears were given out. I wanted to model something after the Candy Bomber who parachuted bags of candy to kids. It was from this idea that Operation Teddy Drop began.”

Rest of the story

I wonder how many other things like this are being done that we dont hear of?

[Del Arroyo]

Because the window for this to be touching and encouraging ended a year or two ago. Now it is only hilarious and sad.



DA

[Del Arroyo]

Look, I gave the article a full read, and there is an encouraging note to it, namely that it shows a soldiers who cares and really do want to do a good job and help the people. It also shows a soldier who is on edge, lost in the midst of an endless war, doing what he can to stay sane and try to make a difference. It does not matter that he is totally out of touch with the mood of the people he is dropping to-- it is a poignant and universal statement on the human situation.

And I mean, heck, maybe the kids really do like getting the teddy bears, and if their parents have the right sense of humor, they'll probably laugh. But this is definitely not a PsyOps job...

DA

[Redleg]

. But this is definitely not a PsyOps job...

DA

The article never claims that is a PsyOps job - it only states this in regards to any offical Army effort.

In order for his airborne humanitarian mission to get off the ground, Kirgiss needed support from his chain of command, his unit, and from friends and family to help him gather the stuffed animals. He received complete support in helping him begin his humanitarian efforts.

[JimBob]

Can anyone else hear Flight of the Valkyries to Teddy bears parachuting down? But cheers to those doing it. Any bit helps and the impossible takes a while.

[Red Harvest]

I expect this sort of thing from our troops. Our people care, or we wouldn't be there.

P.S. They started with pinatas, but that had some landing zone issues...and the pinata donkeys with chocolate candy were not sending the right message in the desert environment. Sorry, I couldn't help but think of some recent birthday parties.

[Samurai Waki]

Some Soldiers over there also give out aid packs to families in need, all made or paid for by the soldiers family. It's the little things that count, when you get enough people to do a bunch of nice little things, it turns into one good big thing, I think its part of the American spirit to try and be compassionate to others. Maybe our Government doesn't really care about the people in Iraq, but I do, I want them to say "yeah, I think these Americans are alright". instead of "Death to the American Infidel Devils!"

[scooter_the_shooter]

This is what I really don't like about our news all they show is the bad. They never show the soldiers running orphanages or building schools or anything else that is good.

[Ronin]

why wasn´t i told about this????


they are throwing teddy bears???....this changes EVERYTHING!!!!

all is well then....i´m 110% pro-war right now...woopdy-doo.



*wondering if i actually have to put a sarcasm warning on this one*

[Redleg]

*wondering if i actually have to put a sarcasm warning on this one*

Why yes you should - its not near obvious enough.

[Mongoose]

They need to stop spending money on toys and start spending more on food and security IMO. though i doubt that teddy bears cost that much....

[Redleg]

They need to stop spending money on toys and start spending more on food and security IMO. though i doubt that teddy bears cost that much....

Whose's they? Did you notice that this is an individual project not a military sponsored project?

[Goofball]

Well I'm not sure how much something like this will help, but it certainly can't hurt. Hats off to Kirgiss for pushing the idea through.

[Ser Clegane]

They need to stop spending money on toys and start spending more on food and security IMO. though i doubt that teddy bears cost that much....

I don't think that some teddy bears would have a substantial impact on the budget for the Iraq operations (if they are even part of the "official" budget).

However, considering how people who were children after WWII here in Germany fondly remember receiving chocolate from American GIs - I think this is an "operation" worthy of being mentioned. Winning hearts and minds can also be done with little things and investing in the trust and friendship of the future generation of Iraqis certainly isn't a bad thing - especially if it genuinely comes from the heart.

[Louis VI the Fat]

That's true, Clegane. Single chocolate bars or a handfull of cigarettes at the right time have endeared persons for decades to Americans.

The bloke has his heart in the right place, so I won't be cynical about it.

[Ronin]

Why yes you should - its not near obvious enough.

actually i just changed my mind again.....


throwing teddy´s over iraq like this is totally irresponsible!!!

just imagine, a free-falling teddy bear can hit one of the many caches of hidden WMD´s that we all know are all over iraq and cause a horrible nuclear/biological/chemical explosion....


FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!...THINK OF THE CHILDEN!!!

[Redleg]

actually i just changed my mind again.....

Well at least you are consistent with the inconsistent - you must have a lot of things in common with George W. Bush.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

just imagine, a free-falling teddy bear can hit one of the many caches of hidden WMD´s that we all know are all over iraq and cause a horrible nuclear/biological/chemical explosion....

We are not teddy bear killers. Their not free falling they have parachutes.

[Mongoose]

Whose's they? Did you notice that this is an individual project not a military sponsored project?

It is?! i guess i stand corrected

actually i just changed my mind again.....


throwing teddy´s over iraq like this is totally irresponsible!!!

just imagine, a free-falling teddy bear can hit one of the many caches of hidden WMD´s that we all know are all over iraq and cause a horrible nuclear/biological/chemical explosion....


FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!...THINK OF THE CHILDEN!!!

I think this is another case of how evil Bush is. He is using the same effcts team he used to fake 9-11 to make the being droped look like teddy bears.

He plans on increasing his support by pretending to drop toys while in reality he is carrying on his evil plan to destroy as many muslims as possible.

Did you know that he was behind the crusades? don't let the fact that he was born ~900 years before fool you!

[AntiochusIII]

Did you know that he was behind the crusades? don't let the fact that he was born ~900 years before fool you!

Are you sure? I mean, first of all, Bush needs to at least speak in either Latin or French BEFORE he could do any political moves to garner support for the Crusades. And he can't even speak proper MODERN English!

Oh, and the idea is nice enough. I suppose that a few more teddy bears in Iraq isn't going to harm anyone, and is a good gesture enough.

[Del Arroyo]

I just though it was kind of weird to be dropping teddy bears from helicopters, which I would imagine would have to kind of frightening for most people over there. I mean, if I were an Iraqi and I heard a helicopter overhead, I'd probably try and get out of sight. Not that these guys are running around trigger-happy gunning people down, or that I place the blame for collateral damage on US forces-- I don't-- but still, helicopters overhead would make me nervous. Just common sense.

DA

[Mongoose]

Are you sure? I mean, first of all, Bush needs to at least speak in either Latin or French BEFORE he could do any political moves to garner support for the Crusades. And he can't even speak proper MODERN English!

Contrary to what you might think, Bush knows both Latin and French and proper modern English. He uses those skills to do things like use his time machine and create events like the french surrender in WW2.

Did you know that they were winning until he used his hypno powers to force them to surrender? And the only reason he did it was to have more ammo against them.