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U.S. Soldier Makes A Difference For 19 Afghan Boys

For 19 boys in Afghanistan, Tim Green (3rd from left in back row in camo's) is the ultimate big brother. During his time at Bagram Air Base, Green took it upon himself to take the boys, ages 7 to 15, under his wing.

Bob Hite/News Channel 8

By BOB HITE bhite@wfla.com

Published: Nov 24, 2005

BAGRAM - AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- For 19 boys in Afghanistan, Tim Green is the ultimate big brother.

Green, a command sergeant major in the Army, says the boys kind of adopted him. But anyone can see that the opposite is true.

During his time at Bagram Air Base, Green took it upon himself to take the boys, ages 7 to 15, under his wing.

He and his men taught the boys English. They got them clothes and taught basic hygiene and nutrition. They made sure the boys had the basic supplies needed for school.

Soon the soldiers learned that school supplies weren't enough. The schools needed teachers and heaters to keep out the cold.

So Green and his men took up a collection. They paid for space heaters. They paid salaries for three teachers.

Green is proud of what the boys have learned.

"Right now, they are polite, they have manners, they are courteous, they are clean, they are educated," Green says.

The boys have learned all of these things from Green and his troops.

Mubaris, one of the boys in the group, says he has learned something else:

"I like the soldiers, the American people," the child says. "You helped me out."

Bob Hite