A collection of letters and emails from around the world as well as links to related sites.

Kick for Nick was started by  Nick's father.  Nick was a soccer player back in high
school, he was a  friend of my brothers.  While I did know Nick, it wasn't until
my Junior  year of college, when he was killed in Baqubah in 2006, that I knew
he had  joined the Army.
Shortly before I graduated college I  decided to join the Army and go to
Officer candidate School or OCS.  When I  heard of the Kick for Nick program I
knew immediately that I wanted to be  a part of Nick's dream to bring soccer
balls to the kids of Iraq.  Before I  left for OCS I made sure to put a few soccer
balls in the collection bin outside  the Village Market, hoping that soon I
would be the one passing them out in  Iraq.  Sure enough, here I am in Iraq
after 14 months of training, passing  out these soccer balls that might as well
be solid gold.  I cannot begin to  describe for you the enormous impact each
soccer ball has on the kids and the  community.
Kick for Nick has become such a  success that the new Commander of CENTCOM
Gen. David Petraeus has written a  letter to it supporters and the Madaras
family.
The very  first shipment of soccer balls Mr Madaras and the supporters of
Kick for  Nick sent made an enormous impact.  Our plan was relatively simple, go 
into a neighborhood and see if any locals would trade us a weapon for a
soccer  ball.  To be honest I was expecting moderate results, AK-47s are a way of 
life in Iraq, as common as a baseball mitt in a garage. Before we had walked 
down the first street, people were running up to us with weapons wanting to 
trade for a soccer ball.  I couldn't believe it.  Within the first  hour, we
had run out of soccer balls and returned to the FOB with 37 weapons  from just
one small neighborhood.   We have done this a few more times  with equally
remarkable results.   Once the Battalion 2-30IN heard  about the result, I was
soon inundated with requests for soccer balls, which Mr  Madaras and Kick for
Nick were quick to fill.  We have received well  over 300 soccer balls all of
which have helped form a bond between the Iraqis  and the unit which has served
in drastically reducing violence in our small  piece of New Baghdad.  As far as
I'm concerned each soccer ball may very  well be responsible for saving the
life of a U.S. Soldier.  We could always  use more soccer balls.  The more
people can send the better off we are,  truly. Nick's dream has affected so many
people all over this country.   Kick for Nick ships soccer balls to units all
over Iraq, Nick had it  right, start with the kids and you can change a
country.  And while these  little tokens of friendship may not save Iraq from the
insurgency overnight,  they may very well provide the foundation for a change. 
And that's all we  as soldiers and citizens can ask for.  A soccer ball in the
hands of a  child is an instant conversation without using words.  It bridges
the  language barrier instantly.

Keep in mind this is just one guy's  observation of a small piece of the
puzzle over here.  I am so grateful to  be associated with this amazing
organization and am honored to be carrying out  Nick's dream.


Very Respectfully
2LT Corey A Walsh
Chaos Company  2-30 IN