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1ST ARMORED DIVISION ENGINEERS JOIN WITH GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO PUT MORE BOOKS ON BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY SHELVES

V Corps Release

Release Date: 3/2/2004

16th Engineer Battalion release

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Combat engineers from V Corps' Task Force 1st Armored Division and a German University located at the unit's home station got together recently to add to the reference material on German language and culture available to students at the Baghdad University College of Languages.

When officials with the division's 16th Engineer Battalion learned that the the university did not have enough contemporary language books -- and particularly German literature -- to properly support the students, particularly German literature, they reached out to the students and faculty of Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, in Giessen, Germany, for book donations.

"The 16th Engineer Battalion is stationed in Giessen, so it was a natural connection for us to contact our hometown university for help," said Lt. Col. John Kem, the battalion's commander. "Dr. Stefan Hormuth, the university president, was very generous in collecting books to begin the rebuilding of the library of German literature."

In Giessen Capt. Casey Connors, the 16th's rear detachment commander, coordinated for the pickup of more than 500 books and 300 pamphlets for shipment to Iraq.

Sgt. Wesley Dickerson and Spc. Oralio Bowie of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Engineer Bn., helped deliver the books to the language library. "We have spent the last nine months working here (in Baghdad) at the Bab Muadham campus," said Dickerson. "It is great to see the results of our efforts, especially the help from the students and teachers back in Giessen."

Dr. Dhai Al Nafir Hasan, The Dean of the College of Languages and a professor of Russian studies, said he was especially thankful for the assistance. His department manages a college that teaches Spanish, German, Russian, Farsi, Hebrew, English, French, and Italian to more than 4,000 day and 3,000 evening students.

Getting new teaching materials is a very difficult challenge, he said. "We are honored to accept these books from President Hormuth," said Dr. Hasan. "Our students have suffered from the conduct of the war and the isolation because of Saddam. We hope this kind of cooperation can continue in the future."