Reminders of home

October 02, 2006

There's a construction paper turtle sitting on Maj. Ryan Guiberson's desk.

"That's my Molly," Guiberson said as he glanced back at the wall of his office that holds the pictures of his girls.

He's got five of them at home, including his wife. The children: Emma, Lucy, Molly and Kate, ages 9 to 18 months.

Memories of the littlest family members back at home are everywhere. Drawings by students from Immaculate Conception school in North Little Rock line every room at squadron headquarters. The artwork shows soldiers and airmen waving as they stand beside American flags and flying airplanes.

Lt. Col. Mark Czelusta said he's not leaving Iraq without them. They need to go to a museum someday, they're that important, he said.

In the squadron's crew rest room — a place where they call home, can check e-mail or just hang out — there's a letter displayed amid a slew of colored pictures that caught my eye.

Some editing has been done to the letter by some member of the squadron. It adds to its charm.

"Dear Army Guy, [The word Army is marked out and replaced with Air Force]

Thank you for being in the army. [Once again marked out and replaced with Air Force]
I'm a cub scout from Pa. We all appritiate [sic] all the work you do. I'm from cub pack 59. We just went whitewater rafting. It's a lot of fun. In cub scout camp we're learning how to shoot a bb gun [BB is marked out and replaced with M-16] and a bow and arrow. Maybe it would help you win the war. I'm the best bb shooter in my group.

Your 10-year-old friend,
Harry."

Posted by editor at October 2, 2006 09:47 AM