Iraq, once a fertile land, has been devastated by drought, war and neglect. Farmers in Ninewa province are looking for relief from a government program called Greenhouse Demonstration, some structures called hoop houses, and an American called “Farmer Fred”.

Fred Woehl, an agriculture specialist for the Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team, has brought hope to the people of Qaraqosh, Nimrud, and Al Qosh through greenhouses, tractors and seedlings.

Before coming to Iraq, Woehl worked in Harrison, Ark., as a Farm Loan Manager for the Farm Service Agency and US Department of Agriculture. Over the course of a year, Woehl has forged relationships by addressing the needs of Iraqi farmers and working with the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture and the Ninewa General Directorate of Agriculture to build greenhouses in the province.

Recently, the PRT held a lottery for the Greenhouse Demonstration, a grassroots organization whose goal is to aid farmers. Lottery recipients in Qaraqosh, Nimrud, and Al Qosh will receive greenhouses – or hoop houses, as they’re locally known – along with training from the Ministry of Agriculture. In return, the farmers will repay a portion of their agricultural profits back to the agriculture associations to help fund additional greenhouses for its members.

The simple design of the metal and plastic hoop house uses the heat from the sun to create a controlled environment to extend the growing season. The farmers of Qaraqosh are excited about Greenhouse Demonstration and hope it will spread to the rest of the Ninewa province. This Qaraqosh group is the first agricultural organization in Iraq diverse in gender, religion and culture.

In Nimrud, farmers formed together in hope of creating a better life in their neighborhood. Recipients of six hoop houses decided to place the structures at one location so they can work together, and provide better security.

Nimrud remains one of the most violent towns in Ninewa. U.S. Forces recently constructed a floating bridge across the Tigris River to make travel easier for USF, Iraqi Security Forces and civilians in the area. The agricultural association there, headed by two shaykhs, one Sunni and one Shi’a, agreed the bridge was very positive for the neighborhood even though attacks have increased since it was built. Association members told Woehl they would report any suspicious activity surrounding the bridge – another sign of the PRT’s successful relationship with Nimrud.

As one meeting began, the Sunni shaykh brought his nine-month-old daughter to sit on Woehl’s lap. His relationship with the shaykh and his agriculture organization has grown since the birth of this child, with Woehl feeling welcomed into the shaykh’s house as a member of the family. He has built similar friendships in the Shi’a community.

“Since the beginning of the war, we are proud to be friends with the U.S., and especially, Farmer Fred,” said the Shi’a shaykh.

Agriculture in Iraq has been neglected for many years, and under Saddam, farmers were told what they had to grow. Once the hoop houses are completed, the General Directorate of Agriculture will show the organization how to successfully make the most use of them. The farmers will soon grow tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, squash, egg plant and okra.

“We are very optimistic about the future of Iraq. We, like everyone else, want a better life for our people,” said the Sunni shaykh.

In Al Qosh, Yazidis, Muslims, and Christian farmers met to discuss the future of their organization and inspect the hoop houses. Women from an all-female agricultural group swarmed Woehl, asking him about opportunities to grow flowers and start their own businesses, while arguing amongst themselves, “We can’t do this – Yes, we can!”

The recent unification, enthusiasm and efforts of the farmers throughout Ninewa province, supported by Farmer Fred’s commitment and passion for the people, has instilled a sense of confidence in the farmers here to overcome their many challenges.

MNF-I

Capt. Kelly Calway, 25th Infantry Division analysis control element battle captain, takes part in the Yezidi culture during her visit to the Yezidi temple in Lalish, Iraq, Aug. 2. It's customary to make a wish while tying knots in satin fabric inside the temple. Photo by Spc. Daniel Nelson

Members from Command Post-North, Task Force Lightning, made visits to both the Yezidi temple in Lalish, Iraq, and the Hermos Christian Monastery in Al Qosh, Iraq, Aug. 2.

The group, led by Brig. Gen. Robert Brown, deputy commanding general (support), Multi-National Division-North, first went to the temple in Lalish where they met with Prince Tahsin Ali, prince to all Yezidis in the world.

Brown and the CP-North Soldiers gathered together with Prince Tahsin and his fellow Yezidi religious leaders in a meeting room to visit and share stories with one another. The Soldiers were told about Yezidi customs and rituals and shared in a meal of fruits from the area with the religious leaders.

With a calendar that dates back 6,756 years, Yezidism is claimed to be the oldest religion in the world.

“It was incredible to see such an ancient place with amazing rituals,” said Capt. Kelly Calway, 25th Infantry Division analysis control element battle captain. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Following their time spent sharing in their different cultures, the Soldiers were taken into the Yezidi temple with a guide who explained the Yezidi religion and answered questions from the group. Soldiers even took part in some of the customary Yezidi rituals such as making wishes while tying knots in a satin fabric and tossing a scarf onto a smooth-faced rock three times to have wishes granted.

The tour of the temple ended as some of the Soldiers were taken to Zemzem, a cold-water spring on the lowest level of the temple where the Yezidi people go for baptism and prayer.

“It was such an honor to be able to go there and see just a completely different religion, culture and way of living,” added Calway.

Soldiers from Command Post-North, Task Force Lightning, along with members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team for Ninewa province passed out Nainoa dolls and Beanie Babies to the children of Al Sayda Orphanage in Al Qosh, Iraq, Aug. 2. Photo by Spc. Daniel Nelson

The group left Lalish and headed to the Christian village of Al Qosh where they spent time at the Al Sayda Orphanage and toured the monastery.

While at the orphanage, Brown and the other Soldiers took time to play with the children of the orphanage and handed out Beanie Babies and Nainoa dolls. Brown had the story of the Nainoa doll translated to the priests and children of the orphanage, as it carries a sentimental history behind its existence.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, a native of Hawaii, was a platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion of the 21st Infantry Regiment who was shot and killed in January 2005 during his deployment to Mosul, Iraq.

Proud of his Hawaiian ancestry, Nainoa graduated from the University of Hawaii with a master’s degree in business administration.

“Hoe would hand out the dolls on missions, and the kids loved them,” said Brown. “The dolls are hand-made by women and young girls in Nainoa’s honor.”

Nainoa’s father and a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, Allen Hoe, has continued to send the dolls to Iraq in his son’s honor.

Before sending the dolls to Iraq, they are blessed at St. Andrews Priory School in Honolulu where they are made.

The Beanie Babies that were being handed out were donated by Students from the First Presbyterian Weekday School in Granada Hills, Calif., where Brown’s aide-de-camp, Capt. Melissa Lewis’ mother teaches. Each student brought in one Beanie Baby during their last chapel of the year.

“A lot of the parents felt like it was a good lesson for the kids to share with the Iraqi children,” stated Lewis.

With smiles on their faces, the children at the orphanage gathered around Brown and the Soldiers to get their gifts.

“It was really cool to be able to hand out the beanie babies and dolls and see their faces light up,” said Calway. “It was nice to be able to bring some joy into their lives.”

The Soldiers enjoyed their time at the orphanage as they talked with the children, gave them high-fives, and even played ping-pong with some of them. Before leaving and heading to the monastery, the Soldiers gathered all the children together with their Nainoa dolls and Beanie Babies in hand to take a photo.

It’s an incredible honor to be able to continue the small, symbolic gesture in Nainoa’s honor, stated Brown.

Soldiers from Command Post-North, Task Force Lightning, along with members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team for Ninewa province, Iraq, visited Hermos Christian Monastery near Al Qosh, Iraq, Aug. 2. Crosses can be seen on mountain tops from the steps that lead up to the monastery. Photo by Spc. Daniel Nelson

After loading into vehicles, the group started their steep drive up a winding road that ended at Hermos Christian monastery, which is set near the peak of a close by mountain.

Like the temple in Lalish, Hermos monastery is built into the mountainside and opens up to many ancient underground caverns and tunnels, and the Soldiers spent time exploring and taking photos of the crosses that were etched into the rock.

“To see the cross up in Iraq was really cool because you don’t see that around here,” stated Calway.

Before departing back to Forward Operating Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq, the mayor of Al Qosh invited the Soldiers to his house for a lunch. The presence of the Soldiers drew a gathering of people from the neighborhood as the people were curious to see what was going on.

The Soldiers met with the people and began handing out what was left of the Beanie Babies they had brought with them on their mission. Some of the Soldiers even took time to play soccer in the streets with the children.

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Daniel Nelson