Kids and reporters have at least one thing in common ? we’re curious by nature. We ask lots and lots of questions.
The fifth-graders in Mrs. Mary Ludeman’s class at Oxford Elementary demonstrated their inquisitive sides Thursday when the teacher’s daughter and her friend visited the classroom to answer questions about their recent military service in Iraq.
Sgt. Julia Ludeman, of the U.S. Army Reserve 415th Civil Affairs Unit, and her friend Specialist Jeff Cline, of the same Kalamazoo-based unit, were deployed to Iraq back in February and stationed in Tikrit. They returned to the United States at the end of October.
‘Were you scared?? was the most commonly asked question among the fifth-graders.
‘Yes, at times we were very scared,? said Julia, who graduated from Oxford High School in 2000. ‘But that was only when we left the base. When we were on the base, it was pretty safe.?
‘Sometimes you’re scared and sometimes you’re not. It changes everyday,? she said.
‘There’s lot of times over there when you are scared,? Jeff said. ‘But I think most of the time you felt pretty comfortable and kind of at home.?
The only times Jeff said he really didn’t feel safe were those spent driving on the Iraqi roads. ‘Being out on the roads was pretty dangerous because of all the bombs out there,? he said.
When it came to bombs and explosions, Jeff said, ‘You jump a little bit every time you hear them. You never really get used to it.?
Student Ashley Rini asked Julia and Jeff about their jobs in Iraq, while Zachary Raisch asked what they did for fun in their off-hours.
‘Our unit tried to help the Iraqi people, so we can make the way they live a lot better than the way it was before we got there,? Jeff said. ‘We rebuilt schools and churches.?
‘Made sure (the Iraqis) had clean water and medical supplies,? Julia added.
For fun, Jeff and Julia said they watched movies and ‘played lots of volleyball.? A makeshift volleyball court was constructed on their base and Jeff said his mom mailed them 20 balls because they kept getting damaged by thorny plants and barbed-wire.
‘We were going through balls like crazy,? Jeff said.
Julia said she enjoyed shopping the local outdoor marketplaces which were full of merchants selling things like gold jewelry and scarves. ‘It reminded me of the (Disney) movie Aladin,? she said.
However, whenever soldiers left the base Julia said they ‘always had to be alert? and on the look-out for bad guys. ‘You take your weapon with you wherever you go, no matter what,? she said.
Brooke Grubb asked Julia and Jeff how the Iraqis treated them.
Some Iraqi people would stare at the soldiers because ‘they’re not used to seeing Americans walk around,? Julia said, but many ‘liked to waive at us when we drove down the street.?
‘We really trusted the people we worked with? such as the Iraqi interpreters, some of whom played volleyball with the soldiers, Julia noted.
‘Most people are happy we’re there, but some people, not many, don’t like us very much, so they try to make it tough for us,? Jeff said.
Some students asked about Julia and Jeff about their weapons.
‘Did you sleep with firearms ? you know like clutching them?? asked Carter Cornell.
‘No, but they were next to our beds,? Julia said.
Kyle Boeve, Tanner Hetchler and Rick Pendred asked about the type of weapons they used.
Jeff said there were M-16s, handguns, grenades (‘those are fun?) and M-249s, which he described as ‘big machine guns.?
‘For a little guy like me, it’s fun to carry the big guns,? he said.
Kyle Feeney and Larissa Krueger asked about the kind of food the soldiers ate.
‘We had American food on the base like cheeseburgers and french fries,? Julia said. Although she did sample some Iraqi food, such as rice and lamb stuffed in a pita bread, Julia said she still prefers American food.
Carly Anderson and Kasey Kiracofe asked what the air was like, how it smelled.
‘The air was really dirty,? Julia said, noting it smelled like a combination of dirt and sewage.
‘I did appreciate being home and smelling the clean air,? she said.
Everett Wilder asked Julia and Jeff what they missed the most while serving in Iraq.
‘I missed my family and friends,? Jeff said. ‘It was kind of tough over there. You feel like you’re in a whole different world. It seems like American is so far away.
Julia said she missed ‘being able to go anywhere you want, anytime.?
‘You could never leave the base unless you were organized to go somewhere,? she said.
Ryan Reason asked about the kind of clothes the soldiers wore.
Even though the temperature reached highs of 130 degrees Fahrenheit, soldiers are not permitted to wear shorts or T-shirts. ‘Only long sleeves and long pants,? Jeff said. Add to that helmets and personal body armor, U.S. soldiers are carrying around an additional 25 pounds in the extreme heat, he said.
It’s not clear at this point whether Julia and Jeff will be re-deployed to Iraq.
But one thing’s for sure ? they were a definite hit with Ms. Ludeman’s class.