Soldiers and Soccer Balls

Air Force Major Rodger Martin with two local Iraqi children who received soccer balls. Photos Courtesy of Major Rodger Martin

By Maria Connor

Every news broadcast, every picture of armed American soldiers patrolling Iraqi cities on the front page of a newspaper, every political debate about the war reminds Micki Mennet-Martin that her son is in the midst of a very dangerous situation. She has found comfort and encouragement from a very unusual source - soccer balls.

During the last four months, Mennet-Martin of Ramona, has shipped 35 soccer balls and 16 air pumps to her son, Air Force Major Rodger Martin.

Martin and his fellow service members distribute the equipment to Iraqi children when they or their family members come in to a local medical clinic for treatment.

Most times, the soldiers strike up a game of soccer before they present the gifts.

The goodwill gesture has served to bridge the cultural gap between American soldiers and Iraqi citizens in a way no one expected.

Air Force members playing soccer ball with local Iraqi children.

"Playing soccer was like having a common language," Martin told his mother.

Pictures he sent home showed barefoot Iraqi children and American soldiers chasing soccer balls across hard dirt fields. The very same gear Mennet-Martin had packed and mailed.

"Now those balls are living clear across the world in Iraq," she said.

She purchased the first batch of equipment from the Ramona K-Mart store.

After hearing why she wanted them, the store manager gave her a 25 percent discount.

When Martin e-mailed how thrilled the kids were to receive the balls, she knew she wanted to send more but would need help.

She asked members of the Ramona Rotary Club, of which she is president, if they would pitch in to cover the cost of the balls and pumps. With assistance from the 52-member organization, including an offer from one local merchant to get the balls at cost from one of his suppliers, she was able to send several more packages.

Friends from the Julian Women's Investment Club also donated to the project.

Mennet-Martin shared her son's stories and pictures with everyone who pitched in to show them what a difference their help made. For some, it brought the conflict in Iraq to a personal level for the first time.

For the deployed soldiers, the community's generosity has helped them feel good about their involvement in Iraq.

"The current environment doesn't leave many opportunities for Americans to safely interact with local Iraqis on a personal level.

"The simple gifts instantly transform somber gazes into smiles, timid children into friends for life. And the troops that participate walk away refreshed and uplifted, knowing that in a small way, with the generosity and support from organizations like Ramona Rotary, we've helped bring a little peace to this otherwise troubled region," Martin wrote in an e-mail.

Learning to squeeze as many deflated soccer balls as possible into a box for shipping has helped Mennet-Martin work through her fear and worry.

She said it has been empowering to know her efforts have a direct impact on her son.

"I think it's something we can do, whether you are for or against the war, to help the guys over there do their job," she said. "Anything we can do to help them is worth doing.

Martin is career military and his wife and three children live in Central California. This is his second tour in Iraq. He is expected home soon.

Even after her son's return, Mennet-Martin plans to continue sending balls and pumps to the military personnel to distribute.

"I don't want to stop just because Rod's coming home because someone else's son or daughter is still over there," she said.

Contact Mennet-Martin at 760-789-0802 to donate soccer balls, pumps and financial contributions.