European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes education monday february to 1993 somali kids return to classroom Ivy Steve scholar staff writer Mogadishu Somalia salad Husein Abdullo s eyes sparkled As he stood amid a group of somalian children at a ref Ugee Camp of the outskirts of Mogadishu. Abdulle an English teacher explained that above All the children wanted food. But after food he said what the children wanted most was to return to school. And that is a dream members of the army s41st engr in Are helping fulfil. The school Complex where Abdullo an the wide eyed children were standing had been turned into a refugee Camp to House those displaced by years of civil War and famine in Somalia. The refugees live in several dozen makeshift huts most no More than several feet across. The huts now occupy what had once been the playground. The somalis built the huts from cardboard Sticks pieces of plastic and tin cans and anything else that offered Protection from the harsh environment. Where school desks had once been emaciated children and adults slept and often died. But outside the school Complex was Large Field that Abdullo thought would be an Ideal place to relocate the huts and free up the school for educational Pur poses. The Only problem was that the Field was covered with years of trash and a heavy growth of Brush and Trees. There was no Flat Clear land on which to put a hut. Abdulle took his idea to Irish Relief workers who handled the feeding of the refugees. They put out a Call to any Mili tary unit that might possess the right equipment to Clear the land. According to 1st it. Wright Wall a Pla Toon Leader with the 41 is s 642nd combat support co heavy equipment of fort drum n.y., his unit was ready to help. Our primary Mission Here was to Clear areas so units could set up operations Wall said. We have bulldozers and other Earth moving equipment that we brought to Somalia. Our secondary Mission is to provide humanitarian Relief where Pecan it took Wall s platoon less than two Days to Clear the Field so that the refugee Camp could be relocated. And a beaming a s4s by Millar curious somalian youngsters gather around members of the 41st engr in As the soldiers prepare to Clear a Field Ofil curls and Brush. Dull watched As the Bulldozer made it last pass Over the Field. Now we can move the huts and Ope the school Abdullo said. Educating our children is the Only Way to  a better future we re very grate Ful to the  school which Abdullo said Wilt accommodate up to 400 children should open soon. I he children will have no books and few supplies but what we Lackin resources Abdul said we will make up for in  school project is Only one humanitarian Effort involving the 41st.the unit also helps bring water to Resi dents of Mogadishu. A pump for an underground Welt that provides water to thousands of City residents had once Bee powered by an electric Generator. The pump brought water through a comple labyrinth of pipes to a tank above ground where the water could be , the Generator had Long ago disappeared the victim of thieves who Likely sold it for scrap now twice a Day Wall and members of his platoon take a portable Generator and attach it to the pump. As thousands of so Malis wait in line the above ground tank is filled. The somalis draw their water an save walking several Miles to the next Dearest Well. These people  extremely hard life said maj Harold chapped executive officer for the 41st. If we can make their lives More bearable we re Happy to  s is oar Millor. S4s Gary Milter somalian teacher salad Husein Abdulle maj. Harold Chappell these people educating our children is the Only Way have an extremely hard life. If we Carlo provide our country a belter future make their lives More bearable we re i re very grateful to the  Happy to  i. By  pm Bush thanks youngsters for helping him tee off my Jimi Jones their terrific drawings and Good ideas for his future  writer writing special letters to unusual recipients was nothing new to children in Porry Hummer s class at Atterberry elementary school. The youngsters visited and wrote to children of members of the former soviet military assigned Toone time East Germany. And her pupils mostly the children of . Servic members assigned to the Frankfurt Germany area took part in a letter writing project to offer advice to resident Clinton. So it was no Surprise that a classroom discussion about departing president Bush prompted pupils to wonder about the future for Bush and his wife bar Bara. Thev started giving me suggestions about what he could 4o," Hummer said last week. That led to a suggestion Booklet that included student drawn illustrations which eventually was scat to the  the Surprise was that Bush wrote Back. In a Jan. 4 letter hush told the classmates unit thei had really made my  lie sent a letter a signed photograph and a Book Hummer said All of which will be framed and Hung in the school. The children Are just thrilled that they have got ten a personal response from former president Bush said Hummer the school s teacher in the talented and gifted program. It shows the children that they can make a difference that they can correspond with famous people and that they Are  the children offered Bush some interesting suggestions. One child said Golf lessons might help him really learn to  since Bush knows Washington so Well another suggested there might be a future As a limousine Driver. Several suggested he become a social studies teacher considering his knowledge of world affairs. Remembering former president Reagan on thought the big screen might be Worth a try. An he encouraged Bush to buy a House in Colorado next to his grandmother and several is ignited he join the in Bush s four paragraph letter he told the Chil Dren he would follow the suggestion to play Golf but .1 honestly had not considered becoming a cashier trying out for Hollywood or learning to be a Wres Tler. � Bush wrote that he and his wife were looking for Ward to a Bright future in Houston and encouraged the children to study  s cover letter had explained that most of the children were military family members. It also said that the school had voted for him in its mock election and that we were sorry that he was going to be around any longer Hummer said. M i to the Scho i s National student Par Tii Jed Elc Toni garnering 214 votes Kkt Canton s 114 and Ross Perot s 48, of Bush s letter ended with a word of thanks to you p3fe�ts As you Are Awa for your loved a Meu the american people Are to h Mac of of armed forces and Youcan be proud of your parents service to our