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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

April 27, 2003
Release Number: 03-04-185


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MARINES DELIVER EQUIPMENT, KEEP LOCAL SCHOOL OPERATING

AS DIWANIYAH, Iraq - Marines from the 1st Force Service Support Group helped the Veterinarian Science Department at Al Qadisiya University in Ad Diwaniyah start their summer semester on time by moving desks Friday from the university campus to an off-campus animal laboratory.

Al Qadisiya University buildings are currently unusable because of damage caused by looting that started Apr. 7 after Iraqi and coalition forces passed through the area. Marines who first inspected the site found most of the windows and doors either removed or broken. Electrical outlets and light fixtures were ripped out of the walls. Computer equipment was stolen, and large amounts of textbooks and educational equipment across the campus were burned, broken or stolen.

The veterinary professors needed about 100 desks for the 300-student department. First Force Service Support Group civil affairs personnel loaded two truckloads of desks from the main campus and drove to the off-campus lab site. Their arrival was gratefully received by professors and students alike.

The Marines and Iraqis unloaded the desks together and the professors expressed thanks to the Marines for their help.

"The people were excited and happy to see what the Marines did. They can't wait to tell the people in Ad Diwaniyah - they will be very appreciative," said Mahir Shaouna, an Iraqi translator and liaison for the coalition forces.

Since Marines moved onto the campus Apr. 18, they have allowed professors to retrieve any documents and personal effects the looters might have left untouched. Coordination has begun between the 1st FSSG's engineer and the university's facility manager to use local labor to come in and repair much of the damage caused by the looting.

"We are here to support their education and give them a sense of hope that things will be returned to a normal lifestyle again," said Lt. Col. Valerie Thomas, 1st FSSG civil affairs liaison officer. "Hopefully the message they will take back to their neighbors and friendsis that we are doing everything we can to help get the Iraqi people back on their feet.

"That is a huge message."