Neenah 8th Grade Students able to talk with teacher in Iraq.

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Neenah School Children Talk to Teacher in Iraq

WBAY.com
16 Dec 2003

Tonight the minds of some 8th grade students at Horace Mann Middle School in Neenah are on a lesson from their teacher. With help from Bill Lumaye of WTAQ Radio, students talked with Major Jeff Ponkratz today.

Lumaye is broadcasting live from Iraq this week, as part of Operation Hometown Pride, giving families back here at home a chance to speak with loved ones from the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion.

"We actually didn't think we were gonna get through," said D.J. Howard, one of Ponkratz's students, "I think it was a miracle we got through...it was like destined to happen."

Through the WTAQ studiothe kids sent their message via telephone.

"Hi Mr. Ponkratz. We miss you very bad and Merry Christmas!"

"Okay did you catch that? I sure did. Ohh that's awesome."

"It was really fun to actually get to be able to say something to him," said Kayla Shuh.

"I haven't heard him in a long time," Derek Rasmussen told us, "but when I heard him I was relieved that he's safe."

Ponkratz's major message?

He told the kids to cherish their American education.

"It's a very different world than what you live in and the world that the kids live in here. I just encourage you to recognize."

Something the kids say they are doing.. Saying they know what it's like to miss an important part of their school.

The 432nd is expected to be back home sometime in May.

Listeners thank troops via radio broadcast

Overseas Thankyou
(Green Bay-AP) -- A Green Bay radio station broadcasting from Iraq put the troops in touch with loved ones and others back home today.

W-T-A-Q's Bill Lumaye is visiting with Green Bay's 432nd Civil Affairs Batallion this week.
Lumaye arrived in Iraq shortly after Saddam Hussein was captured.
Soldiers told Lumaye finding Hussein was a big morale booster. Major Jeff Ponkratz says the Packers' win was great, but finding Hussein was so much better.
Sandra Ponkratz called the station after hearing her husband interviewed. She was able to tell him how much misses him and looks forward to his return.
And the mother of Jeremiah Kruesher was able to talk to her son on the air and tell him family members send their love and will be thinking of him this Christmas.
Lumaye is broadcasting from Iraq through Thursday.

(Thanks WTAQ-Green Bay)

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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