Boy helps shower Beanie Babies on Iraq

James Early, 11, and his grandmother Ann Bassett joined forces to help shower northern Iraq with Beanie Babies.

James, the son of Rick and Julie Early of Kalispell, said the idea started with a call from his grandmother in January.

"She asked if I had any Beanie Babies that I didn't sleep with or play with any more," he said.

Bassett, who lives in Enumclaw, Wash., explained that the husband of her doctor's assistant was deployed with the 4th Air Cavalry Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry from Fort Lewis to Kirkuk, located in northern Iraq.

The Beanie Babies were needed as friendship gifts for the helicopter pilots to drop from the air to the children in the area.

James Early heard Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Martin's experience.

"He flies in a helicopter and all the kids come out of the houses screaming 'Beanie Babies,'" he said with a smile. "They don't have a lot in northern Iraq."

The story goes that pilots first dropped soccer balls, but that proved rather dangerous with some bopping people on their heads. But the small, soft animals proved a popular alternative.

As it turned out, James had about 200 between his collection and the collection his sister gave to him.

After saving a few favorites as mementos, James sent the rest to Iraq.

He and his grandmother received certificates of appreciation as well as flags for their contributions to Operation Beanie Baby Drop in support of Darkhorse Troop, 4-6 ACS.

James' certificate states that his flag was flown over Iraq during combat operations on June 27. He said his grandmother received her flag first and brought it with her on a recent visit to his family in Kalispell.

"My grandmother brought hers to show my class," he said. "But she doesn't have patches."

Along with a flag, James received highly coveted Darkhorse 4-6 ACS patches. In a letter from Martin, James learned that he was awarded the title "Honorary UH-60L Blackhawk Crew chief" along with a crew member flight patch and a troop hat patch.

Also in the letter, Martin explained that the unit's aircraft have special markings which the people learned to recognize after a few drops.

"The children are always waving to us because I think that with your help and the help of others we have touched their lives," Martin wrote.

James attends Kalispell Middle School and participates in productions of the Whitefish Theatre. He hopes to become either an actor or a Lego designer.

His mother teaches language arts at Kila School and his dad works as a business analyst for Plum Creek.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.