Fourth-graders at Clear Lake got a firsthand perspective of what it’s like to serve in the military and the war in Iraq when U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Gable visited them last week.
‘Everybody looks forward to everything you guys send,? said Gable, who once attended school at Daniel Axford and Oxford elementaries. ‘Almost every day we got letters from home or packages from home. I got a lot of letters from you guys and from other schools.?
Decked out in his dress uniform and standing next to his proud little sister, Cassidy Williams, a fourth-grader at Clear Lake, Gable spent 35 minutes answering students? questions.
A 2006 graduate of Almont High School, Gable spent 13 months in Iraq at Al Asad Airbase, the largest U.S. military airbase, where he worked as a mechanic, repairing everything from humvees to cargo trucks.
When asked if he ever got scared in Iraq, Gable replied, ‘A little, sometimes.?
‘When we first got there everybody was a little scared. They didn’t know what to expect,? he explained. ‘After awhile, you kind of just get used to everything.?
According to Gable, it’s a lot safer over there now, then it used to be and ‘it’s getting better.?
‘All the people are pretty much on our side now. They try to help us out whenever they can,? he said. ‘They feel safe with us there. We built up their police and their army, so they feel safe to walk on the streets.?
Many students asked questions about the children in Iraq. Gable, the son of Oxford resident Julie Williams, said they go to school five days a week just like here and once they complete the third-grade, they begin learning English as a second language.
Unlike here, where people read a wide variety of books, the main book that’s read in Iraq is the Koran, the holy book of the Islamic faith. ‘As soon they can read, that’s what they start reading,? Gable said.
Unfortunately, education is not made the top priority for children like it is in the United States. ‘It’s kind of hard for the kids to stay in school very long because a lot of them have to stay home and help out their family.?
Whenever military personnel encounter Iraqi children, they give them candy, books, paper, pens and whatever else they ask for or need.
As for life on a military base, Gable said most of the servicemen and women live in small, air-conditioned trailers that house five people each. However, he was fortunate enough to have his own one-man trailer.
There’s plenty of food on the base, but it’s ‘not as good? as the chow here, so any food sent from home is always much appreciated and enjoyed.
Gable said soldiers are allowed to bring personal items from home and some even brought televisions with them.
‘You can pretty much bring whatever you want,? he said. ‘If you can fit it in your bag, you can bring it out there.?
Some students were curious if people from other countries serve in the U.S. military.
‘One of my best friends that I had over there is from Africa,? Gable noted.
One student inquired as to how much Gable gets paid as a corporal. ‘They don’t pay you that much, but we also don’t have to pay for a house, utilities or food,? he said.
For someone looking to retire early in life, Gable noted enlisting in the Marines is a good choice because anyone who serves 20 years is eligible to retire. A person entering the Corps at 18 could be done working when they’re 38.
Gable hasn’t quite decided if he’s going to stay in the Marines or leave when his current hitch is up in June 2010.
Right now, he’s focused on earning his sergeant stripes and finding out where his next assignment will be.
‘Probably Afghanistan,? he said.