BAGHDAD CARNIVALE

Maybe it was the desert heat getting to them, or maybe it was being so far away from home.

Whatever the reason, a group of south Louisianians in Iraq recently formed the wacky and wonderful Krewe of Baghdad, and they're planning a Carnival celebration in October.

"Since a bunch of us are from the New Orleans area, we would like to bring a piece of Mardi Gras to the troops," Staff Sgt. Jeff Kinder wrote in a recent e-mail message. "The idea is to have a lot of fun, help the morale of the troops and raise money for some local charities." ...

The money they raise will be donated to several orphanages in Baghdad.

"We are trying to focus on the orphans of the war," Jeff wrote. "We would like to show that our troops care about the children here."...

Mardi Gras lovers are invited to mail items to Jeff; for those who can't afford the shipping but would like to send Carnival goodies, the Gumbo Krewe has volunteered to collect and ship items.

"We'd like to offer an alternative, a way for everyone to feel they've helped out the guys and gals over there protecting our country," Gumbo Krewe organizer Danielle Bradley said.

The celebration will be in mid-October, but not on a Sunday, because the chaplain, known as "Bagh-Dadio, the Highest, Most Holy Master of the Krewe of Baghdad," wants to be on hand to collect money for the orphanages.

With help from the folks back home, it's sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

"We are going to have a great time, and those kids are going to get something wonderful out of it," Jeff wrote.