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Return to First Friday Briefing St. Simon's Students See 48th Brigade at Work Story by Staff Sgt. Angela Keller
All was quite at the 48th Brigade Combat Team’s tactical
operations center (TOC) situated in the gym at Suddenly the professional air that usually permeated the TOC
was disrupted by small bodies running about the center and small,
sometimes loud voices asking question after question of the Soldiers who
worked there. No, it wasn’t news media, protestors or even terrorists
disguised as small children. It
was Shea and Camri Noble, who attend Oglethorpe during the regular
school year. The sisters,
like many of Saint Simons’ residents, were curious about what Soldiers
were doing, especially since they were in the place where the sisters
usually were reading, writing and learning math. “We’ve never seen Soldiers this close before,” Shea
said while walking from station to station and intently watching each
Guardsman as he worked. “Yeah, said Camri, “it’s really cool to see them here,
and to get to talk to them.” The youngsters, along with their mother, had earlier obtained
permission from the military police watching the school’s entrance to
go in and learn what being a soldier is all about.
On their way in to the place that’s like their second home the
sisters make a break for the school cafeteria, not realizing the
importance of going to the gymnasium where personnel were waiting to
escort them. “At the time, we certainly didn’t realize we needed to be
someplace else, and of course we had no idea what we were going to
encounter once we got inside,” their mother lamented. As Shea and Camri, followed by their mom, entered the
cafeteria their eyes were met by the wall-to-wall camouflage. In their
excitement the youngsters started taking pictures, not knowing they
shouldn’t. “You should have seen the heads turn and the eyes stare
when that happened,” mom said. “You could have heard a pin drop.” As stern, yet bewildered, faces began to surround them, Brig.
General Roadheaver, the 48th’s commander, approached the Nobles. After
talking with the three, Rodeheaver personally escorted mom and daughters
through the TOC. “Cool,” the girls agreed excitedly. “That’s gonna be
so cool.” As Shea and Camri made their way through the 48th’s brain
center, one could tell it was as much a treat for the Soldiers to have
the girls around as it was for them to be there. “Those of us who have families really enjoyed it because
we’re away from our loved ones,” one Soldier said after talking with
the youngsters. As the tour came to an end, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dick
Crowe of the Guard’s safety office gave the girls T-shirts and Army
glasses. “A little
something to show our Soldiers’ appreciation for them caring enough to
what to get to know them,” Crowe said. General Roadheaver also gave the girls an Army coin,
something only given to Soldiers who do an exceptional job during a
mission. “These young ladies are the future of our state and of our
nation,” Rodeheaver said. “Their Before leaving the school, Shea and Camri presented General
Roadheaver with a poem that Shea had
composed during the school year.
Entitled, “I Am Proud to Be an American.”
it outlined why the fourth-grader was grateful for the freedoms
she has and the rights she is guaranteed. “I am proud to be an American, because I know I am free,”
the poem read, “to live as a young girl with rights and liberty.
After September 11th, the terrorist thought they had won.
But our country came together and said that we weren’t done.
Flags flew high, banners waved, what a glorious sight.
Then our military Soldiers said, now it’s time to fight.
Our President is still working hard to see that we are safe.
God bless this might nation, a great and wonderful place.” Roadheaver
seemed so touched by the poem that he had it laminated and hung on one
of the TOC’s walls for all to see. Several Soldiers who read the poem
said they were glad the girls had the tenacity to invade the Operations
Center. The break in became
one of many lights of support and respect shown the Soldiers by the
communities around them. |
