In Iraq or on leave, soldier helps with kid brother's readin

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In Iraq or on leave, soldier helps with kid brother's reading

02:41 PM CDT on Monday, May 30, 2005

The Houma Courier

HOUMA -- Since his big brother's National Guard unit was sent to Iraq, 10-year-old Marco Mendizabal has kept his brother's photograph pinned to his shirt.

During a two-week leave, Army Spec. Mario Mendizabal Jr. went with their mother to a conference with Marco's teacher.

And when he returned to Iraq, one of the treasures he took with him was his kid brother's spelling test. Marco, who has had problems with reading and spelling since he entered school, was the only student in his class to get an A.

"Mario said, 'I studied with Marco for this test,"' said Marco's teacher, Susan Ganier. "He was so proud."

Tuesday morning, the school was to announce that Marco is the most improved student in Acadian's Project Read program, which he entered three years ago after having to repeat first grade.

In spite of dyslexia, he has mastered the reading skills needed to move to fourth grade.

"He's grown so much academically," Ganier said.

Mario, 23, a member of the Houma-based Charlie Company of the Louisiana National Guard, has kept close tabs on Marco's progress since October, when he went to Iraq.

Marco's drive to succeed shows the brothers' bond, Ganier said. "He just works so hard. He wouldn't disappoint his brother."

Mario knows how hard reading can be -- he fought similar learning disabilities at a time when programs such as Project Read were scarce.

"He refuses to see his brother struggle like he did in school," said their mother, Claudia Mendizabal.

The brothers meet online about once a week and occasionally talk on the phone, she said. When they meet online, Marco must do his own typing, to help with both his spelling and his computer skills.

Marco has done more for his brother than learning to read, Mendizabal said.

"Marco has become a young man," she said. "He's taken up responsibilities his brother had."

He takes out the garbage without being asked and washes his own dishes, she said.

He also reads to his 3-year-old sister, Magen.

"I go to the public library and check out books," Marco said.

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Information from: The Courier, http:// http://WWW.HOUMATODAY.COM

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)