Photo By Sgt. Clay Beyersdorfer | Soldiers from Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Nearly 20 soldiers from Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, got the opportunity to video chat with a few “friends” back in the States on Oct. 23.
Friends who they have never met.
These new friends are sixth graders at the St. Paul’s School for Girls, a private school in Brooklandville, Md.
Over the past couple of weeks, soldiers have received care packages and hand-written letters from the students who worked to provide the soldiers a feel of home.
Packages included snacks and personal hygiene items.
The video chat session on Oct. 23 allowed both the students and Soldiers an opportunity to not only meet each other, but thank each other for what they have done.
The meet and greet allowed the students the unique opportunity to ask Soldiers first-hand questions that they prepared.
“How much training do you do?” One student asked.
First Lt. Israel Rubio, the executive officer for Company C, had the answer she was looking for.
“Just like you all are in school and are constantly learning, we as Soldiers are learning too,” Rubio said. “We constantly are training and learning so we know what to do out here and stay sharp.”
Other questions included “What kind of food do you eat?” “What do you do in your free time,” and “How much do you sleep?”
Soldiers each had the opportunity to answer questions. Plenty of laughs provided for a fun atmosphere and there were smiles on both sides of the camera.
Sitting in on the video chat was Brig. Gen. John Thomson, 4th Inf. Div. and Regional Command (South) deputy commanding general for support, who played a major role in coordinating the donation.
Thomson spoke about how lucky the girls were to have the chance to go to school, and how important getting an education is.
“Over here in Afghanistan, girls used to not have the opportunity to go to school, but over the last 12 years we have helped make that happen,” Thomson said. “Girls now are going to school; women have more rights than before – a lot of good things have happened over the last couple of years and are continuing to happen here in Kandahar.”
One student asked Thomson about his favorite part about deployment.
“For me it is all about being around the Soldiers,” Thomson said. “We have some great men and women here making sacrifices for their country, and being around them and watching them work so hard is what I like.”
As the questions ended, Amy Phillips, the teacher of thesixth grade class, had some final encouraging words for the soldiers.
“I just want to thank you for your service and what you are doing for the girls,” she said.
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2013 06:48 |
| Story ID: | 115771 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 357 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Soldiers thank Baltimore-area girls’ school, by SGT Clay Beyersdorfer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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