News 3 Special Assignment: Iraq

Posted: 10:40 am CST February 6, 2004Updated: 3:39 pm CST February 6, 2004

Anchorman John Karcher and photojournalist John Wacker spent eight days in Iraq. They kept a daily online journal on Channel 3000 and sent back digital photos. Now, their packages are airing on News 3 all this week. You can send them a message, using our online forum here.

This is the first time ever TV cameras have been allowed into Mother Teresa Orphanage in Iraq.

Inside, there is no fear, no war -- just soldiers and kids.

Members of the 32nd visit there twice a week. Each hook up with their special friend.

The kids are abandoned by parents who couldn't pay medical bills. Some are found on curbs. Some are victims of war without families.

"It's nice to hang out with some kids once in a while, to take the edge off normal combat duties here in town," said Sgt Wade Hallett.

Cpt Scott Southworth is in the processing of adopting one boy, who was found on a road seven years ago. He now speaks English as well as Arabic.

There's Mustafa, Nancy, Omar, Yassir, Fatimah, Haidar and Ala.

Lt Sheree Gunderson of Ellsworth works with a special child as well. His mom has cancer. His father left. Relatives took two of the kids but didn't want him because he's disabled.

Gunderson plans to use her own money to help pay for his needed heart surgery.

"It helps me more than it helps them," she said. "It takes my mind away from everything that I'm here for and they make me laugh."

From Waupun, From Janesville and all points in between, hundreds of boxes from kids like this poured in when word hit Wisconsin these kids were in need.

It's warmed a lot of hearts in this war zone.

Besides the weekly visits here, members of the 32nd had a Christmas party for 103 Iraqi children. Gunderson said they had 290 presents, each containing about five gifts -- all from Wisconsin.