Base helps Iraqi children Published June 17, 2008 By Master Sgt. Randy Mallard 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sometimes, it just takes a word to get something moving. Here at Goodfellow Air Force Base, it was an e-mail from a Naval officer deployed to Camp Bucca that motivated Master Sgt. Benjamin Miranda, then an instructor with the Goodfellow NCO Academy, to take action. The e-mail simply requested educational supplies for two Iraqi schools. Sergeant Miranda saw it as an opportunity to help the future generations of Iraqi children and improve the future relations between the United States and Iraq. He sent out a request for school supplies to the base populace and several off base groups. "A lot of these children do not have the means to get a pencil to educate themselves," Sergeant Miranda said. "We can make an impact for children in Iraq." The result was Team Goodfellow and the community stepped up and met the challenge. Within a short time enough material was collected to fill five boxes, each weighing close to 70 pounds, which were mailed to Iraq to be distributed to the students who are future generation in that country. It's a tribute to the amazing results one e-mail can produce if that e-mail motivates one of Goodfellow's senior NCOs.
