In just a couple of months, Master Sgt. William Chang and other Hawaii Air National Guard members have collected and distributed more than 450 soccer balls to Iraqi children on the streets.

“;The response that I've getting from the people of Hawaii (and other parts of the nation) has definitely been overwhelming. ... I just want to make sure that I can thank everyone that helped out,”; Chang wrote in an e-mail. (He has since arrived home.) “;It's just such a wonderful feeling seeing how one simple article can go a very long way in helping out others. I wish I could meet everyone in person and shake their hands and thank them.”;

Chang, of Makakilo, who is part of the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron at Kalaeloa, asked the Star-Bulletin in January to help publicize “;Operation Soccer Ball.”; The project was recently started by the Kirkuk Regional Air Base's Rising Four foundation, which hopes to make a positive impact on kids through soccer.

The biggest contributor from Hawaii was Karen Kutaka, mother of Senior Master Sgt. Blaine Agena, who is stationed in Iraq with Chang. Kutaka said she sent 119 slightly used or new balls, most of them courtesy of the Leahi Soccer Club. Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines shipped them free — saving her more than $300.

“;It's a good idea, giving soccer balls to the Iraqi children,”; Kutaka said. “;If they get to the children, that will change the whole complexion over there, the way they think about us — that Americans are good people. It gives them some way to play and be happy and not think about the blood and guns and war for a little while.”;

Another Hawaii resident, Dudley Foster, whose grandson is a member of the Windward Arsenal Soccer Club, got the team to help collect balls. Under coach Master Sgt. John Reay, the players and their parents gathered about 100 balls to be shipped aboard a military tanker, Chang said.

“;Our Army brothers are currently distributing the balls for us. They usually take a bunch of soccer balls with them when they go 'outside the wire' on their missions. No specific street, just basically in the surroundings of Kirkuk City,”; Chang said.

He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).