U.S. Assistance

CJTF-HOA

LIRA, Uganda (June 17, 2007) – Army Spc. Daniel LeGeer, force protection for Bravo Company 489th Civil Affairs (CA) Battalion Team A16 holds one of the babies from the Lira Babies’ Home on Father’s Day. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy (RELEASED)

Uganda Civil Affairs donates time and supplies to Lira Babies’ Home
CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

LIRA, Uganda--They have 10 fingers and 10 toes, but what they don’t have are two full-time parents to tend to their every need. That is where the staff of the Lira Babies’ Home and the Bravo Company 489th Civil Affairs (CA) Battalion A16 comes into play.

The orphanage staff is the primary provider for the children, but on Father’s Day weekend the U.S. military civil affairs team stopped by to donate supplies and lend a helping hand with the 18 babies who call the orphanage home.

“We went to the orphanage on Father’s Day, and since I couldn’t be with my child, I thought it would be nice to visit the babies who don’t have a father in their lives they can celebrate,” said Navy Lt. Vincent Palrose, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa engineer.

For Army Spc. Daniel LeGeer, force protection for Bravo Co. 489th CA BN Team A16, it was also an opportunity to celebrate with children who were not his own.

“My kids are three and four, so being able to bond with the babies on this special day takes away the pain of missing my own kids, even it’s only for a little while,” he said.

On such a special day, the CA team donated blankets, bottles, bibs and other baby supplies that are necessary when raising a child.

“These kids don’t have a lot, so it’s nice to be able to bring them items they’ll be able to use on a daily basis,” said Army Cpl. Nicole Deal, Bravo Co. 489th CA BN Team A16.

According to Sarah Atoo, director of Lira Babies’ Home, the gifts and assistance are greatly appreciated.

“I enjoy when they visit because they help feed the babies and they bring gifts for them, which make the babies really happy,” she said.

And it’s because of their smiles the CA team keeps coming back to the Babies’ Home when the team schedule permits.

“It’s the little things such as a baby’s smile that makes doing good deeds like this completely worth it every time we come out here,” said Deal.

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa began operations at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti on May 13, 2003. The task force’s mission is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. The mission is accomplished by partnering with nations on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.

Website:
http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/