Doug Mitarotonda, an American working in Bosnia for the summer with non-governmental organization Friends of Bosnia, and Adis Omerovic, a 9-year-old from Simin Han Center for Women and Children, play soccer at Eagle Base Saturday. (Ivana Avramovic / S&S)
EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina — SFOR troops replaced military boots with sneakers to play with their young guests for a day and show them around the peacekeepers’ home.
Almost 30 children and an equal number of military volunteers played volleyball and soccer and painted faces Saturday during a one-day summer camp for Bosnian refugee children from Simin Han Center for Women and Children.
The troops could not use military equipment or transportation to bring the children on base, so they turned to the Friends of Bosnia, a volunteer agency, for help.
First Lt. Camella Andrews of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division, who was in charge of organizing the visit and fund-raising, took care of the rest. The soldiers gave about $600 to buy pizzas and sodas for lunch, plus shirts and little Bosnian flags.
The children were so excited to be on base that they rushed three at a time through metal detectors. They had to be sent back through one by one, Andrews said.
Once inside, a full schedule kept the children busy. In addition to games, the troops passed out some important messages.
The children got a fire prevention class, learned about dental hygiene and had a lesson on traffic safety. Hans Langhammer, the civilian base safety manager, provided reflective belts for each, plus bikes for two whose names were drawn at random.
But that was not all the children took home.
Capt. Holly Hilleman had written to her son who plays soccer and asked if his club in Kansas could send some equipment.
The boys — only boys play soccer in Bosnia — got cleats, uniforms and new soccer balls. The boys and soldiers tried them out in a soccer game.
“These guys are very good soccer players,” said Sgt. Gregg Kleine of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division, to fellow soldiers after the game. “They ran circles around me.”
The father of two volunteered to play soccer, though he did not know the rules. The kids returned the favor by teaching him the basics.
Andrews said many of the soldiers miss doing things with their own children, and the camp helped make up for that. “They’re having just as much fun as the kids, if not more,” she said.
Several translators spent the day helping the children and soldiers communicate, but they could not be everywhere. So the troops and visitors resorted to gestures, and the children’s limited knowledge of English.
“Our message is coming across fine,” said Spc. Lorraine Givens of the 260th Military Intelligence Company. The mother of two spent her own money for a watch, sunglasses and some candy for two boys, Dalija Alihodzic, 10, and Mirsad Porobic, 9. The generosity was well received.
“I’ve had a great time today, said Dalija. “Better than ever before.”
