Army Specialist Russell Baldwin was treated like a celebrity
Friday when he, dressed in his desert camouflage, visited the
students at Ladd Lane School who had sent him letters while he was
stationed in Iraq.
Hollister – Army Specialist Russell Baldwin was treated like a celebrity Friday when he, dressed in his desert camouflage, visited the students at Ladd Lane School who had sent him letters while he was stationed in Iraq.
Fourth graders at Ladd Lane school sent the 22-year-old San Benito High School graduate notes and care packages, which he shared with his fellow soldiers. The correspondence brought comfort to Baldwin while he was in the combat zone.
“It’s an unexplainable feeling,” he said. “It gets hard dealing with stuff (in Iraq), but knowing you have support from home is great.
Baldwin, a long-time Hollister resident who joined the Army three years ago, is on two weeks rest and relaxation leave and will return to Iraq to finish his tour. He has been in that Persian Gulf state for six months and expects to put in another four months before he returns to Ft. Lewis in Washington.
In the letters, the children mainly asked Baldwin questions about what he was doing in Iraq, and they sent him movies.
One of his favorite movies that he received was “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.”
Baldwin said that he didn’t have much free time to write back to the students, adding that he hardly has enough time to write to his mother.
On the playground Friday, kids surrounded him asking questions and getting his autograph. One child asked if you had to have a good arm to be in the Army so you can throw grenades far.
Yes, a good arm helps, Baldwin said, but even if you can’t throw far there are jobs in the Army for everyone.
In Iraq, Baldwin’s squad clears houses and provides security for convoys northwest of Mosul.
“You’re always focused,” he said. “Training takes over. Fear is always there, but hesitation is not.”
Though Baldwin always wanted to join the Army, the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States provided a catalyst for his enlistment.
“I felt it was something I needed to do. I didn’t feel right sitting home,” he said.
During his R&R, Baldwin will go to Las Vegas and visit family in Southern California.
After he spent several minutes fielding questions and handing out autographs on the playground, Baldwin went inside and answered questions from the fourth grade class.
“Did you shoot anybody?” one child asked.
Baldwin smiled and said, “Let’s stay away from that question.”
Another child wanted to know if Baldwin fought people or protected people.
“Both,” Baldwin answered.
One young girl asked if there had ever been a woman in the Army.
“Yes, a lot” Baldwin said. “Unfortunately there aren’t many on my base.”
The children laughed to this response, though they probably didn’t get the joke.
Most of the other questions centered around weapons and food.
“Did you ever buy a chicken?” a student asked.
“We had a chicken,” Baldwin said. “We cooked it on aluminum foil with spices from the chow hall, and it was pretty good.”
Baldwin showed the children a Meal Ready to Eat, prepackaged meals that soldiers eat out in the field.
“I like those,” a child said.
“Try eating them for a month,” Baldwin said. “You’ll choke on them.”
Though Baldwin is glad to be home for a visit, he wants to get back to his squad.
“It’s going to feel good to get back to my buddies,” he said. “I kind of feel like I’m sitting on the bench right now. The squad is real, real tight – like brothers.”
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
