thedrifter
04-04-09, 06:04 AM
Children meet Marine pen pals
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April 3, 2009 - 7:27 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
Since fall, the students at Johnson Primary School have been writing to deployed Marine pen pals. Friday, they met them in person.
About 40 Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, started corresponding with students at Johnson Primary starting in October. They returned from their seven-month deployment late last month.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Foote had numerous pen pals during the deployment, he said. Friday morning, he sat on a blanket on the floor of the school's multipurpose room - rainy conditions had forced the picnic indoors - playing chess with one of his 7-year-old friends.
Writing and receiving letters from the children was a morale booster, Foote said.
"It's good to hear from anyone in the rear," he said, plus the children write interesting things.
"It puts a little humanity back in life," Foote said. "It makes us remember why we're out here."
Lt. Ken Amador, chaplain for CLB 26 and father of 8-year-old Mikenna, said he started the pen-pal program as a way to connect with his daughter and her classmates. At first, the Marines and sailors wrote generic letters and sent them to the school. Then the children responded to specific service members.
"I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm from the Marines," Amador said. The letters were "a bright spot about once a month."
The deployment aboard the USS San Antonio was Amador's fifth. But, he said, "you never, ever get tired of getting mail."
Cpl. Aaron LaBorde corresponded with Ravyn Bennett, 7, during the deployment. She said she wrote to him about sports and art.
LaBorde said knowing people are willing to write letters to deployed troops was a good morale boost.
The deployment was LaBorde's first. He said things could occasionally get boring aboard ship.
"The letters helped a lot. It gives you something to do," he said. Still, "trying to write to a 7-year-old is a little harder than it looks."
Caroline Morgan and Madison Shirley, both 7, said they enjoyed writing to and receiving letters from deployed Marines, since both of their fathers have deployed.
"It's not fun," Caroline said of deployment.
Foote, a corpsman, said some of the children would ask questions about what they were doing, even asking "how many people have you killed?"
He would explain that his job was to take care of Marines and sailors, to keep them from getting sick.
"You have to be careful how you word things," so as not to scare them or promise too much, he said. Mainly, they wrote about their favorite TV shows, favorite colors, friends and activities.
"I think we had as much fun as they did," Foote said.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
April 3, 2009 - 7:27 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
Since fall, the students at Johnson Primary School have been writing to deployed Marine pen pals. Friday, they met them in person.
About 40 Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, started corresponding with students at Johnson Primary starting in October. They returned from their seven-month deployment late last month.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Foote had numerous pen pals during the deployment, he said. Friday morning, he sat on a blanket on the floor of the school's multipurpose room - rainy conditions had forced the picnic indoors - playing chess with one of his 7-year-old friends.
Writing and receiving letters from the children was a morale booster, Foote said.
"It's good to hear from anyone in the rear," he said, plus the children write interesting things.
"It puts a little humanity back in life," Foote said. "It makes us remember why we're out here."
Lt. Ken Amador, chaplain for CLB 26 and father of 8-year-old Mikenna, said he started the pen-pal program as a way to connect with his daughter and her classmates. At first, the Marines and sailors wrote generic letters and sent them to the school. Then the children responded to specific service members.
"I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm from the Marines," Amador said. The letters were "a bright spot about once a month."
The deployment aboard the USS San Antonio was Amador's fifth. But, he said, "you never, ever get tired of getting mail."
Cpl. Aaron LaBorde corresponded with Ravyn Bennett, 7, during the deployment. She said she wrote to him about sports and art.
LaBorde said knowing people are willing to write letters to deployed troops was a good morale boost.
The deployment was LaBorde's first. He said things could occasionally get boring aboard ship.
"The letters helped a lot. It gives you something to do," he said. Still, "trying to write to a 7-year-old is a little harder than it looks."
Caroline Morgan and Madison Shirley, both 7, said they enjoyed writing to and receiving letters from deployed Marines, since both of their fathers have deployed.
"It's not fun," Caroline said of deployment.
Foote, a corpsman, said some of the children would ask questions about what they were doing, even asking "how many people have you killed?"
He would explain that his job was to take care of Marines and sailors, to keep them from getting sick.
"You have to be careful how you word things," so as not to scare them or promise too much, he said. Mainly, they wrote about their favorite TV shows, favorite colors, friends and activities.
"I think we had as much fun as they did," Foote said.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie