Lieutenant ‘Pen Pal’ Increases Students’ World Understanding

By Larissa Lytwyn

Derek Szmyt of Trumbull was a junior in college at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass., when terrorists attacked the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Like many of his peers, the young criminal justice major wondered how he could help carry on the legacy of the attacks’ thousands of victims. 

He decided to join the Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Today, he is a 23-year-old second lieutenant of the armory division stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.

Over the past month, Lt Szmyt has been corresponding with the fourth grade students in Head O’ Meadow teacher Patricia Aschauer’s class. Ms Aschauer is a longtime friend of Lt Szmyt’s mother, Susan, whom she has known for more than 20 years.

Both Ms Szmyt and Ms Aschauer agree that the students’ “pen pal” experience with Lt Szmyt has given them an authentic perspective on the ongoing war in Iraq.

“When Derek first told me about his decision [to join the army], he had already signed up,” said Ms Szmyt. “I felt a mixture of worry about his safety and this incredible sense of pride at his dedication and bravery.”

After completing basic training, Lt Szmyt chose to attend the US Army’s Armor School at Fort Knox, Ky., to learn how to manage and operate military armored vehicles including tanks and strykers.

In a letter emailed to students, he explained he had chosen to join the armory division because his now-deceased grandfather, a veteran of World War II, had been involved in armory.

Lt Szmyt was deployed to Iraq this past Christmas.

“Most soldiers stay for an average of 12 to 18 months,” said Ms Szmyt. “His time there has just started.”

After telling the students about Lt Szmyt, Ms Aschauer encouraged her students to write or email letters asking him to talk about his favorite foods and interests, as well as about his experiences so far in Iraq.

Students expressed their own unique interests in their letters. Liam Reynolds and Char Ferris included their own comic strips. Several students decorated their letters with cheerful drawings.

“I wrote a big ‘Thank You’ on my [letter],” said fourth grader Lilia McEnaney. “I wanted him to know how much we all appreciated the way he was fighting for us, for our freedom.”

Lilia’s classmates shared her sentiments.

“I think what he is doing is really brave,” said Samantha Steimle. She discussed how her grandfather had been involved in the Army.

“It took a lot of courage to do what my grandfather did,” said Samantha.

Several other students also talked about their sense of admiration they had for grandparents and other relatives who had been in the armed forces. Many students said their grandfathers had fought during World War II.

“The fact that their grandparents fought in wars gives them a direct kind of connection with Lt Szmyt,” said Ms Aschauer.

Another connector was learning that Lt Szmyt had “adopted” two stray dogs and named them “Mary Kate” and “Ashley” after the Olsen twins.

The students said they were surprised and saddened to hear, through one of Lt Szmyt’s first correspondences, that many of the Iraqi children were fearful of the American and Iraqi soldiers.

“While my students were upset at first to learn that the Iraqi children threw rocks at the soldiers, they came to understand why,” said Ms Aschauer. “It doesn’t, of course, condone the [Iraqi] children’s behavior, but it gives a greater context to it.”

Her fourth graders, she continued, came to understand the climate of chaos and bloodshed in Iraq, as well as the almost constant sound of exploding bombs and gunfire.

Ms Aschauer surmised that Iraqi families warned their children to stay away from American and Iraqi soldiers because simply being in the same physically dangerous areas could prove potentially injurious.

But, while the American and other coalition forces in Iraq are on a mission to rid the area of terrorists, they are also engaging in peace-building and restoration efforts as well.

Most recently, Ms Aschauer’s class conducted a candy drive for Iraqi children. Lt Szmyt said he plans to carry the candies in a backpack to give to the Iraqi children when he sees them.

Educational Assistant Christine Herwig said that the meaning of Lt Szmyt’s email really became clear to her during his last email to the class on February 10.

Lt Szmyt wrote, “My men and I are in constant danger here in Iraq, along with all the other soldiers. But it is not all of the Iraqi people who want to hurt us. Many people are glad the Americans are here, fighting for their freedom. But there is a group of people we call the AIF (Anti-Iraqi Forces) who want to hurt the Iraqi people who support us. We are trying to protect the innocent people from them as well as ourselves.”

This statement, said Ms Herwig, really helped her understand why American forces are in Iraq.

Ms Aschauer’s students agreed that doing what Lt Szmyt does everyday includes challenges not everyone has the character or the will to face.

“It’s very brave of him to do what he does, and it takes a lot to do that,” said Daniella Genovese. “And I think we all really, truly appreciate it.”

Ms Szmyt said the letters were a “big part” of what kept her going. “The ongoing correspondence is a great comfort to me,” she said, “and I know how happy it makes Derek, too.”