BAGHDAD (Army News Service, March 7, 2007) - As a sergeant major with years of experience in the Army, Sgt. Maj. Manuel Daponte is used to people being a little intimidated when they approach him. But Mutada Ali, 4, son of Iraqi National Police Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun, isn't intimidated by much.
"I was sitting in the general's office when Mutada came in. He came right up to me and climbed into my lap," recalled Daponte, of Westport, Mass. "That was the beginning of the friendship."
Since then, Mutada and Daponte, the senior enlisted U.S. advisor to the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, have been nearly inseparable.
As the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of four 11-man U.S. training teams who advise more than 2,700 Iraqi Army and police personnel, Daponte works closely with the Iraqi general, who commands the 8th Bde., 2nd Iraqi National Police Div.
Where Ali goes, Mutada follows.
"He's always stuck with me. He doesn't want to stay home," the general said with a laugh.
When Ali heads out to watch his forces train or conduct operations, Daponte acts as Mutada's battle buddy, watching out for him and keeping him out of trouble.
Mutada even accompanied his father during recent clearing operations in the notorious militia stronghold of Sadr City. Daponte was right beside him for much of the time, helping the boy collect U.S. unit patches from Soldiers and making sure he picked up his candy bar wrappers.
While it might be odd to see an American sergeant major "babysitting" a mischievous Iraqi boy in the middle of a war zone, Daponte insists that the time he spends with Mutada reminds him what he is fighting for.
"I love kids. I have two daughters of my own," he said. "To have someone like this come along and remind us that the world is a simpler place outside of war is a great thing."
(Sgt. Mike Pryor writes for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs.)
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