Air National Guard member's daughter brings soccer ball joy to Iraqi children Published March 15, 2010 By 452 AMW 452 AMW MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- PHASE I Elias, Whitney, Torrey and Denali Linton, children of Major Christopher Linton of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing of the Air National Guard, pack soccer balls for shipment to Iraq. Denali raised the money to purchase the 10 soccer balls herself. The balls were mailed Jan. 29. PHASE II Children in Kirkuk, Iraq, were the excited recipients of Denali Linton's soccer balls. "My buddy Senior Airman Bobby Evans (pictured) went outside the wire to distribute those soccer balls," said Master Sgt. William Chang, 297th ATCS, Hawaii Air National Guard. Sergeant Chang sent the photo back so their 'Soccer Angel' could see the smiling faces of the children in Iraqi who received the balls. "The Iraq children's eyes just open up when they see a gift like this; they truly love the sport of soccer," said Sergeant Chang. For more information regarding Operation Soccer Ball, visit www.operationsoccerball.org.