Mission “Support our Troops” Accomplished at the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center
February 28th, 2011
On February 10, 2011 the Office Assistant/Medical Office Support Trades hosted a luncheon in honor of Lieutenant Alex Pruden of the United States Army. The students have written letters to Lt. Pruden and his troops and put together care packages for them. The students also follow the platoon’s blog to see updates on the troops. Now they get to meet him in person.
Delia Wilkins, the Office Assistant Instructor, said that it is a positive experience for the class because the students not only get to practice their writing and communication skills, but they really get involved and then they start writing from the heart.
Lt. Pruden is home on mid tour from FOB Blessing in Afghanistan. The trade adopted Lt. Pruden and his platoon last year as a writing project and it turned into so much more. He was very interested in learning about each student and putting a face with the letters he had read many times. He also provided the students with a glimpse into the life of his troops and the Afghanistan people in the area they serve. Their main purpose being to 1) Secure the people; 2) improve the governance; and 3) development of the area by building much needed walls, roads and even schools.
Lt. Pruden said, “Remember that the sacrifices these troops make are pretty incredible”. He said that one of his troops is serving his fourth deployment and has missed half of his sons eight years.
His story was incredible and as Lt. Pruden returns to serve his final months of his one year deployment the students were able to provide encouragement. The students provided him with some of his beloved beef Jerky for his return trip to Afghanistan. The students were grateful for the opportunity to meet a true hero and I think Lt. Pruden learned a thing or two from us as well.
In closing these words taken from the platoons’ blog say it all, “Although we have made and will continue to make great sacrifices in the service of our cause, the one thing we will never sacrifice is the foundation of a true warrior: The moral principles upon which we stand. As an American soldier, I’m proud to say (and I’ve said it before) that upholding those values is what makes us different. We will bleed, sweat, cry in pain and in sorrow; but above all, we will stand together and fight with honor.”