News Article from The Sunday Review, July 4, 2004 re: A Golden Heart: Athens Soldier Beloved by Imprisoned Iraqis

UNCLASSIFIED
RELEASED IN FULL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM E LANDFAIR
• DATE/CASE ID: 30 NOV 2004 200303827

United States Department of State
Assistant Secretary Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Washington, D.C. 20520-5824
July 22, 2004

NOTE TO CifE SECRETARY
Attached is a summary of a good news story about an Army Reservist who got it right in her treatment of detainees in Southern Iraq. Maj. Garrity is from Athens, PA – not far from where our farm is located in the far north of the state. Since all we hear from ICRC and the press is bad news about U.S. treatment, this is a story that ought to reach beyond Northern Pennsylvania.
I am copying this to Richard Boucher.

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A GOLDEN HEART: ATHENS SOLDIER BELOVED BY IMPRISONED IRAQIS (summarized from The Sunday Review, July 4, 2004)
Pictures from Camp Bucca, a U.S.-run detention center near Umm Qasr in southern Iraq, show a very different picture of prison life than the images of Abu Ghraib that have saturated the media. Notably, the pictures show American soldiers and Iraqi prisoners smiling together. Most of the pictures include Major Stacy Garrity, an Army Reservist from Athens, Pennsylvania.
As Major Garrity used to walk through Camp Bucca, children would chant: "good, good major!" They would give her a small, braided "friendship bracelets." At least one detainee wrote to her that "when we see you, we feel hope." Iraqi generals at the camp called her "Golden Heart." To others, she was "The Angel of the Desert."
. Garrity served at Camp Bucca for one year, keeping life flowing for the masses of Iraqi
• detainees. Garrity handled processing at the prison, interacting with everyone who came in and out. She was also responsible for family visitations and interpreters, and She served as a Red Cross liaison.
Garrity took her mission to watch and care for the Iraqis very seriously. Often, she told detainees: "You will never be mistreated while you are here." It was her conviction that anybody who came through the gates at Camp Bucca would be treated with dignity as a human being. She followed the Geneva Conventions, looked out for the detainees and treated everyone with respect and dignity. Iraqis under her care lived in large tents, got water from water buffaloes, and received ice two times a day from the U.S. soldiers. The Iraqis showered twice a day, received extra clothes and blankets, and got cigarettes twice a day.
Garrity also took on projects that were not in her job description. She procured soccer balls, volleyballs, chess, checker and domino sets, and newspapers. She set up a post office system where families could leave letters . for detainees. She helped a Christian olphanage nearby get money, toys, clothes and food. She helped design a family visiting system, arranging schedules and organizing bus drivers. .•
Her attention to prisoners' well-being earned her affection, as evidenced by the gifts and thank-you cards given to herby Iraqi prisoners. One detainee in particular didn't want to leave Camp Bucca. A young Iraqi who speaks three languages kept committing minor crimes so he could keep coming back to Camp Bucca. Each time he would be released he would say "Major Garrity, I'll see you in two days!" And in two days he would return.
When Garrity received word this spring that she was going home, the detainees were very Upset by the news. Many of the detainees invited her to visit their families — they think of her as a sister. It was because she cared. And she helped. Helping was her job, Garrity insists. Most of all, it makes sense. One of the most important things, she believes, "is to win hearts and minds." If Iraqis like Americans, they won't hurt Americans.
Garrity has also served in Haiti six times for short-term missions and in Saudi Arabia
during the Gulf War as an administrative officer. Garrity graduated from Bloomsburg
University, where she joined the ROTC, with a business administration degree.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM E LANDFAIR UNCLASSIFIED
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DATE/CASE ID: 30 NOV 2004 200303827

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TWELVE -A — THE SUNDAY REVIEW, JULY 4, 2004 C RELEASED IN FULL

eroes
.C• A. golden .hear

Athens soldier beloved by imprisone
BY NANCY COLEMAN
.(570)2651632 .•

-
• The Daly/Sunday Review
.C.
•

' Stacy Garrity used to walk
through camp, under the sting­ing . sunlight. Her boots
crunched thesand.

Dark-haired kids would see
her. "Good, good. _major)"

•
they'd chant. Perhaps one
would run up with a :small,
green,. braided object like a

•
rope. He'd give it to her.
It was called a "friendship

bracelet" ,.
And she was their friend.
This was Camp Bucca, a

southern Iraq detainee center.
Stacy, from Athens, a U.S.
Army Reserve officer, - served.

•• there a year keeping Iifc4ityw­ing for its.masses ofIraqi pris­
.
°nets:
. "Golden Heart." That's what
some Iraqi generals there called
her. To others, she was "The
Angel of the Desert."
.C"W.hen.'we see you, we feel
hope," at least one person wrote

• subinItted photo
to her.C.
.... 'CIt • was because she cared. Maj. Stacy 0611:Hy of.Athens stands with some young friends during her recent And Chelped. • yearld Iraq..Garrity., a •meMber.of.the U.S. Army. Reserve, served at Camp Bucca .-.•
WhY?Cdetainee center in southetniraq.C.C . .C
.
• \C
Well,' there's the. Geneva • :.
.
'thing more. "Somethin•g; g1C"'thin degree from -Bloomsburg miss. anyone —' • miss. she has threeConvention. And issues .of dig­has to be inside you," she says. University. Today, she's product • sisters, Maureen, Paige and
nity• and respect. And good
Commonsense.' • • "I genuinely like people," marketing manager . at Osram- Jennifer; one living grandmoth-
Sylvania in North Towanda. er, June Garrity of Sayre, and a. she states simply.C
But for this young woman HerHCCfather and his wife, fiancé, Dan Gizzi of Elmira. C•
. with blue eyes and golden curls "It's easy for me ... it's not a Howard and: Tammy LynnCYears ago, herparents joined
traVeli •the world ..; burden." . :
Garrity, Live is Waverly, and her the Navy Reserve. Try it!
vilio'S..gone to Haiti six times -on
•" -Stacy graduated from Sayre mom, Beverly Arbie, and her
•sfibrt-terna missionsCHigh See HEART, Page 13A
who •.in.1982iAt first interested husband, John, in Scranton.
•
wears a sniall.ctoss ring .;..who •in 'political Science,' she finally
' C And L- Stacy doesn't-want to
likes to smile there's,sprne- ••
. • :11 41.-C-4- * *
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REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM E LANDFAIRCUNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 30 NOV 2004 200303827

HEART
Continued from page 12A •
Howard urged Stacy. So in college she joined ROTC and took basics at Vert Knox, 1C.y. `The most difficult eight weeks I've ever-experienced!"
But she learned self-confidence. She's been in the Reserve ever Since. •
During the Gulf War she served five months as an administrative officer in Saudi Arabia. She retorted home and all was quiet •
Then came 2003. That Jeamary she and the 800th.Brigade headed for Iraq. •
Stacy praises 0•0301.5 support. 'They were just wonderful!" (David Vne's heri boss, she wants you to know.) She never
• worried about her Job. 'Come home safer. they said.
By the cad of March, she was at Banes-The land was flat desert that coughed upsandstorms. "No green!" Stacy says. Temperatures averaged 110 to 115. "The highest it got was up over 140." It hurt to breathe.
Several miles around, the camp held enemy prisoners atm, criminal detainees (Iraqis who committed climes went ether Iraqis) and security detainees. Al .ages. "Kind of • broad spectrum. Stacy 'com­ments. The popolatton varied, but at one
'time Buena held more Man 8,000 detainees, and 2,000 plus soldiem
At first, soldiers' facilities were simple-TentaBarrel latrines. MRAs (meals ready tricat).
Later, they improved: Trailers. A dining hall. An MWIt (morale, welfare and recre­ation) tint ht the MWR tett, they watched. MOVieS..P1sYsd ping-pong and used the Internet. MRAs gave way to eggs,„ burgers and chicken. People .who'd lost weight gained it back, Stacy notes. • .
And — Ahhhl sighing through rest shelters was ... air conditioeingl • ' •
"I was In b tent," Sacy says: Maybe 8-by-S feet, her section held her mattress, fan, family photos and • some books. — though she never had time to read.
Their job Was to watch, and tare for, the Iraqis. And during this ugly sad couttever­sial conflict,' Stacy took 'her ininion•seri­ou,sly. Often, she told detainees: "You will never be mistreated while you're hem;
It was her carrviction, "Anybeity that .
one _through mar gales WOWS -be' treated
with dignity as • henna being.• • •
She can't . praise • he, fellow soldiers • manor
'en°10:' `'.!?.Vet!eeen
ago eat 'artlfeur, way?" They lioived the Geneva Convention.They looked out for detail/1m. •
"They treated everybody with dignity
and respect"

Iraqis .Eved in big tents,. too. They( got
water from water buffaloes, and the sol­diers brought them ice two timee:i•dsy.
They showered twice a day, Stacy says, and
later got extra clothes and blankets. .

They alio got cigarettes twice a day.•It
calmed them.
One U.S. officer, a smoker, asked why
they didn't help Iraqis kick the habit.

*** 4. ... .
•

UNCLASSIFIED
THE SUNDAY REVIEW, JULY 4, 2004 — THIRTEEN -A

Heroes
• "Becausel don't want uppeople like One caropoUnd even had a week-long soc­yen to stop smoking all at theeame tinier . .cer tourgantent . Stacy kidded him.C
The Americans prOiided! netesP
Klett'
Detainees' breakfast was bread and • Stacy add some others setup Mailboxes,
cheese or hard-boiled eggs, with milk or where families could leave letters. She
joke and tea. Diener was a bigplate ofrice helped a 'Cluistian orphanage nearby get

with chicken, beef or Vegetibidli, kW bread ,m_ oney. toYs, clothes, food- .
and tea. "$o their food was not bad," Stacy' CAnd they cksigned a thingy visitinger- • .
nom She kdows- She trieclitC

tem, arranging schedules,and organinog At Thanksgiving detainees had fruit and bus drivers. On visitation day
s, they set up
at Christmas, .304- "Mecry. Christmas! lines; people looking for detainees, abed-
Happy New Year!" the Iraqis wished the • Wed visitors, women and kids, and walk­soldiers. Daring' Itainadao, the Americans ins. If someone bad traveled far, they tried ­served meals before sunrise and after sem- their best to get them In, Stacy says. And if
set, and gave out dates in the daytime, tel- a lady cried — Well get you int We'll get
lowing Muslim practices. • Cyou Int 'C•C• ••

"I think in general, we respected eachC• Stacy loved meeting families. 1Wo•
others' eaftures:Stacy :Ayr. -Cyoing women brought their father's college -

Her job was to procesii all detainees boob, so he could study. They 'were "ser
going in and. out, arrange family visits, sweet," 'Stacy says. "Loved their father."
oversee interpreters, work with the Red °theta tried to king the soldiers gifts, an

Cross and do huge Wetly repeats. Her Iraqi custom. (Soldiers, of course, couldn't C• days were long.C-accept them) - • She saw detainees every day. "They redly appreciate the United States," Stacy says. Under Saddam, "they
'They all wanted to tel you their go­said they were in prison." Now, they were
.. ries." A sick mom, two wives, eight kids. I HAVE to go hornet '
-happy. They were free. - • And when the US. caught Saddam —
' "We listened to as many as we could,"
Story says. All detainees had the chance to

the detainees celebrated. "They were chanting," Stacy says. 'U.S.A.! US-A-I"
appeal their easel: • • • •
Aild:'"Geotge Bush!" C-
• ' She still ressembela Sam•A Syrian, Sam CCjust ki-job, stacy insists.
Help'
the--.
had go" to Baghdad te - Prate° Mqst of all, it made sense. One of the most •
mosques from coalition force!. Instead, he important things, she believes, "is to winfound Iraqis looting than "This is messed hearts and minds," she •ssys. If Iraqis likeup!" be thought He•headed for home bat Americans, they won't hart Americans.
was captured by the coalition. •
. "This is no lie," Stacy declares. "Eighty-
They brought him to Buena. He was
rem percent of the detainees thit left •
taken care of. He worked As an interpreter.
thanked me for the good treatment (of thehelping the Americans, and even became a
guards)•"
Christian.
They invited bee to visit' "Yost can comeStacy helped Sam get'released and even to my family any tinter they declared. "Werani bimnff at the Baiikairport. Today. he's
home in Syria. think of you like a singer •
One general spoke perfect wide and • • And again and again, they'll stop, and.

drew cartoons. Not a fan of Saddam Enf•thefr hinl over their heart And God
Hussein, heft sortendeted the first day of bless your mother and your fathers:"
the war. He was released while Stacy was-CThe hot months passed. Mae* waded

there. -It" .. • - bail. Pasoners came and. prisoliers left;
She tetr teemed bellied. ../.m ;mini and soccer balls ;mated over the dirt The

.
sad about that." • - ' - 'desert sun crushed the earth. . ..
And then . . 'itherep, one detainee 7 . Therm, Alit, Wing, Stacy got word She
who loved it, et Canita Cand..he didn't • wa.'.''"nit "°'ne. • .wags to leavel'Young S-wii.lnilliiet — • '-"Ilse{': .rre very enact," she tor of the spoke three languages -;•-•¦ bufkept commit:. detijnisesalvdoe't got Who will listen to
-;.• . , • 7 -'. '..•. • '
ting minor crimes pile scald come beck. ns? . .. •CHad.some mental ptobleins •C' It wee herd. far. Stacy, too — thmt was
Itetei °4114• °ger
S ey.0 ie. - • •-•'"' •CuCe nre
• So he'd get out. "Mika Garrity, I'll see tiled. All the'.would
you in two dryer he'd deelare. C. "Things were Cwell wharf'. left" She • "And I'd see him in .two daysl" Stacy Packed-And the came h‘ne°'•
or.C
Teoy,itr7sCba at 0dworsk:•sheiiya
ancvit4frv4ia.alk
There roueminor incidentsC

oxiiti4,0 Vasa Ra C •
' •Cs-teal:10f i tent- Shea :neat her Tam-
but usualli..all was cant "I never had house inily....•.. a problem:: Stag .etatet.CAgree bad •.a•. •C
But she remembersincthir:
problem."C•C'C• .CaWay. Comrades in boots inti khaki,
Cwas kind.
Maybe 1?ScaiLie -with bracelets.Said, seeking Misch old The Red Crom 'urged 'cams tb give shd rim*. And the generals, Who loved : C•
Iraqis recreational items. So Stacy got coo- her....
cer balls, volleyballs, and chess, checker Csteex their Golden }lout •
and domino sets, donated.by the Kuwaitis.

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