By Deb Pint, Correspondent

It got up close and personal for some eighth-graders at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake Nov. 4, when students visited via Skype video teleconferencing with servicemembers stationed in Iraq.

The 15-minute conversation, part of the “Adopt-a-Troop” project, was the students’ first teleconference with the military soldiers.

Chaplin John Morris of the 34th Infantry Red Bulls Infantry Division stationed out of Rosemount talked to the students about how important their contributions are to soldiers serving far away.

Morris told the students that the servicemen and women are all away from their families and get homesick.Skyping with soldiers:
Eighth-grade students at
Hidden Oaks Middle School
listen intently to Chaplin John
Morris as he spoke via video
teleconference from Iraq.

“When we receive your letters and cards, we get the encouragement we need to do the job we have to do over here,” he explained to his rapt audience.

More than 160 students in the Gold Team community crowded into the school’s media center for the video teleconference. Due to technical difficulties, the students could only see Morris on a small computer screen in the front of the room.

Morris explained that he and the other soldiers could see the class as they asked questions and listened to his message.

He told the students that the Red Bulls are currently advising and training the Iraqi Army on how to protect their oil fields. The soldiers also interact with leaders of local schools and medical facilities in the area.

Morris went on to answer student questions, which ranged from what the weather is like in Iraq, to the food that is eaten there. Morris said they are stationed in the warmest part of Iraq, but winter could bring freezing temperatures at night and some dust storms are as thick as snow storms in Minnesota.

The students cheered when Morris told them that the soldiers recently got a Burger King and Pizza Hut on base.

One student asked what the soldiers do during their spare time, and as Morris told them, other soldiers in the room during the teleconference smiled at that question, saying that there was very little free time.

However, he told them they get a chance to play volleyball, watch movies, exercise and run, and spend time conversing on Skype with their families at home. The soldiers even had a chance to watch the recent Vikings victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Morris urged the students to study hard and to continue to send their support to the Red Bulls.

Math teacher Kelly McDermott coordinates the project, which has adopted soldiers stationed in Iraq for the past three years. The students write letters and send cards and care packages to servicemen and women stationed in Iraq.

“During this three-year period, we’ve sent over 200 care packages and have raised over $1,000 for shipping,” McDermott explained.

“I feel very passionate about supporting our troops,” McDermott continued. “After our first year of participating in this project, Congressman John Kline awarded our team with the ‘Star of the North Award’ for our community service.”

The Gold Team recently made cards for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, in addition to sending holiday care packages. They hope to have more Skype teleconferences with their adopted soldiers before the servicemen and women return home this January.

In the past, McDermott’s class has adopted her brother-in-law’s soldiers stationed out of Vilseck, Germany and some soldiers from Alaska.

“We’re so fortunate to get a local group this year, because it makes it so much more real for the students,” McDermott explained.

The Red Bulls also have recently been featured on WCCO-TV after news personnel traveled to Iraq to document the group’s activities.

McDermott and her team acknowledged Savage business Fabcon for its support of items for care packages. McDermott also credits substitute teacher and parent Chip Sharratt, a Navy veteran, for helping to contact additional support for their adoptive soldiers.

“Plus, I’ve had many parents and local businesses donate money and items for this project. It’s a great thing we’ve got going,” she smiles.