TROOPS BUILD RAPPORT WITH PANAMANIANS (LAST IN A SERIES)

CAIMITO, Panama -- Missouri National Guard troops participating in Task Force Mule aren't only building roads, schools and health clinics in Panamanian villages southwest of the capital city, but their building relationships with the Panamanian people.

Before troops arrived in mid-January, the villagers had never seen a Caucasian, the heavy equipment being used by Guard troops for the construction projects or the helicopters that shuttled officers and troops to the various work sites.

And, the experience has left an indelible impression on many of the troops from the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion.

"They don't think people like us would be working in their village," said Glen Allen native Sylvester Eaker, a sergeant assigned to the Jackson unit. "They are really happy to see us."

Chris Jauch of Jackson agreed: "They bring us food and offer to do our laundry. They really like us being here and doing this."

Juan Rodriguez lives outside Santa Rosa where Guard troops are building an addition to the school. He brought his wife and five children into the village last week to see what the troops were doing.

"We are very happy and fortunate that they have come here," he said through an interpreter. "I wanted to bring my family here to see where I will be working tomorrow."

Rodriguez, like other people living in and around villages where the Guard has construction projects, volunteers to work with the troops a few days a week. He also said he walked his family into the village so that they could see a helicopter up close.

"They've been flying overhead a lot this week," he said.

Many of the villagers run out of their thatch homes and wave at the helicopters as they fly over head.

Helicopters landing in the villages also has been a unique experience for some of the pilots.

"You have to watch out for animals," Maj. John Stevens of Springfield said. "They will run right underneath the chopper as we're landing."

Stevens said the animals in rural Panama aren't accustomed to the heavy machinery and the sound of a helicopter landing. Pilots make sure villagers aren't riding a horse when shooting an approach for landing. By being a little considerate, the villagers appreciate the troops even more.

In addition to the villagers bringing food and offering to do the soldiers' laundry, the troops have returned the hospitality by bringing equipment for their national pastime and other things to many of the villages.

"They like their baseball here," one officer said. "We saw one group using a ball that was torn up, so we got them a new baseball."

The troops and villagers also have exchanged T-shirts and hats.