Valley soldier adopted by Christian Schools students

Feb. 23, 2007

By SHARON G. McBRIDE

Frontiersman

PALMER - What kinds of weapons do you use? Have you ever fired a RPG? Did you have to do a lot of training? How many people are in the Army? Do you eat MRE's? What do the women do in the Army?

These are only some of the questions students attending Valley Christian Schools fired at a soldier visiting their school recently. That soldier, Spc. Trey Shockey, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry Brigade, Alaska National Guard, was home on leave, and took some time to talk with students at the private school.

Shockey got rock star treatment from the class that included an autograph session. The combined third- and fourth-grade class adopted Shockey last fall, and they have been writing him letters since he deployed in October.

Shockey was just one of hundreds of soldiers from the Alaska National Guard who took over as the quick-reaction security force for operations at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Shockey is with the largest deployed unit of the Alaska National Guard since World War II.

The parent of a 4-year-old, Shockey told the kids he has enjoyed his deployment so far, even though he has been away from his little girl and wife for the past few months. He also told them he thoroughly enjoys reading their letters.

&#8220It gave me such an extraordinary feeling,” Shockey said. &#8220It's pretty neat to know that people are thinking of me all the way across the world.”

Shockey heads back to the war in March.

And the third- and fourth-graders at the school have more plans to keep writing him while he's gone.

&#8220We started writing him because we knew that it could mean a lot,” said Ellen Brister, the teacher of the combined third- and fourth-grade class. &#8220And it was just an excellent opportunity to get them writing in the first place.

&#8220It definitely has stimulated their creative side, because a few of them sent him drawings, too.”

Shockey said he plans to share the wealth by providing other classes at the school with a few more names of soldiers who would like to receive letters and pictures, and perhaps a few care packages too.

&#8220The stuff you guys send is always a boost,” Shockey said. &#8220There are a few soldiers that I work with that need a boost too.”

In the meantime, Shockey said, he's going to enjoy the rest of his leave with his family.

&#8220I don't like that he's gone,” said Leila Shockey, his wife. &#8220But he enjoys it, and it's something he really wanted to do. All I can do is to make sure to take care of stuff while he's gone and wait patiently for him to come home.”