thedrifter
04-14-08, 08:23 PM
Class welcomes soldier, pen pal home from Iraq
Monday, April 14, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- When Maj. Andrew Rice arrived at Pepper Ridge Elementary School on Monday, he expected to visit only the first-grade class of his nephew, who had written letters to him during a seven-month deployment in Iraq.
Instead, he was greeted by the entire student body and staff, who lined the halls dressed in red white and blue and held flags and posters they had made themselves.
“You are excellent at doing secret missions,” said the helicopter pilot, who was saluted by a Boy Scout in uniform.
Principal Diana Coombs hosted an all-school assembly before classes. “It’s a big thank-you and a welcome home,” she said.
Rice nearly postponed his visit when he couldn’t find his uniform, which was in storage. “I took one last look,” he said, and found the uniform just in time – much to the relief of his family.
His brother, Ben Rice, wife Susan and their two pre-school daughters – with whom Andrew Rice is staying – took part in first-grade activities with their son, Whitton, 7 and his classmates.
“I went to Iraq about the same time you were starting first grade,” he said. Rice returned to the U.S. two weeks ago.
Rice is a member of the Atlanta, Ga.-based Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 77, and is based at the Reserve unit at New Orleans. The Mattoon native was with U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years before becoming a part of the Reserves.
In a question-and-answer period with Peg Lovin’s class, he said Marines don’t have recess but he did get a lunch break.
“My bedtime was 2 in the afternoon and I got up at 10 p.m.,” he said. He was part of a two-man crew on the Cobra assigned to a 12-hour shift from midnight to noon.
Much of his job included escorting medical helicopters, he told the students, showing them photographs of the helicopter.
“It would go all way from here to the wall,” motioning to the opposite side of the room, he said as he described its size, and “it’s as tall as this ceiling.”
Students gave Rice a book they had made for him. He sat in a rocking chair with first-graders gathered around. He looked at the book cover to cover, letting each of the 25 students read the page they had created.
In it, they thanked him for their freedoms: “Going to school to get smart,” going to church, picking their friends, having birthday parties, going shopping and having lots of food and clean water.
“I will keep this book forever,” he promised students.
What’s next for him is uncertain, except meeting his unit in New Orleans for the next few weeks. He may get reassigned or get a job as a civilian.
His nephew, Whitton, said it wasn’t difficult keeping a secret about the surprise even though his uncle was at their house.
Having his uncle in class, he said, “was very fun. It was exciting.”
Ellie
Monday, April 14, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- When Maj. Andrew Rice arrived at Pepper Ridge Elementary School on Monday, he expected to visit only the first-grade class of his nephew, who had written letters to him during a seven-month deployment in Iraq.
Instead, he was greeted by the entire student body and staff, who lined the halls dressed in red white and blue and held flags and posters they had made themselves.
“You are excellent at doing secret missions,” said the helicopter pilot, who was saluted by a Boy Scout in uniform.
Principal Diana Coombs hosted an all-school assembly before classes. “It’s a big thank-you and a welcome home,” she said.
Rice nearly postponed his visit when he couldn’t find his uniform, which was in storage. “I took one last look,” he said, and found the uniform just in time – much to the relief of his family.
His brother, Ben Rice, wife Susan and their two pre-school daughters – with whom Andrew Rice is staying – took part in first-grade activities with their son, Whitton, 7 and his classmates.
“I went to Iraq about the same time you were starting first grade,” he said. Rice returned to the U.S. two weeks ago.
Rice is a member of the Atlanta, Ga.-based Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 77, and is based at the Reserve unit at New Orleans. The Mattoon native was with U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years before becoming a part of the Reserves.
In a question-and-answer period with Peg Lovin’s class, he said Marines don’t have recess but he did get a lunch break.
“My bedtime was 2 in the afternoon and I got up at 10 p.m.,” he said. He was part of a two-man crew on the Cobra assigned to a 12-hour shift from midnight to noon.
Much of his job included escorting medical helicopters, he told the students, showing them photographs of the helicopter.
“It would go all way from here to the wall,” motioning to the opposite side of the room, he said as he described its size, and “it’s as tall as this ceiling.”
Students gave Rice a book they had made for him. He sat in a rocking chair with first-graders gathered around. He looked at the book cover to cover, letting each of the 25 students read the page they had created.
In it, they thanked him for their freedoms: “Going to school to get smart,” going to church, picking their friends, having birthday parties, going shopping and having lots of food and clean water.
“I will keep this book forever,” he promised students.
What’s next for him is uncertain, except meeting his unit in New Orleans for the next few weeks. He may get reassigned or get a job as a civilian.
His nephew, Whitton, said it wasn’t difficult keeping a secret about the surprise even though his uncle was at their house.
Having his uncle in class, he said, “was very fun. It was exciting.”
Ellie