The following article is about my cousin Jayson. My Aunt Mary is not only my godmother, but one of the best persons I have ever known. I couldn't help but tear up when I read this.

Regardless of how you feel about the war, remember there are hundreds of stories about soldiers just like my cousin.

And I thank God for each and every one of them!


Soldier's gift to students on hold, but still prized
Posted: Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 - 01:51:25 am CST
By Hillary GavanDaily News staff writer

As Newark Elementary School remained under lock down on Friday afternoon because of the Footville bank robbers, the school children missed out on a special gift.

Major Jayson Dodge of the U.S. Army was planning on sending his brother Tom Dodge to deliver a flag to the school in light of the upcoming Veteran's Day.Instead of meeting with the kids, however, Tom Dodge was inside his home as helicopters soared overhead looking for the criminals.

Tom Dodge said he remained hopeful that the school assembly will be rescheduled next week and said his brother was thinking about the children. During his time serving in Iraq, Major Jayson Dodge said he received amazing support from children at Newark Elementary School.

Jayson's mother, Mary Lamm-Feltman, worked with the kids to send 60 pounds of Orbit gum and Nutter Butter chocolate bars to the soldiers as well as letters, cards and pictures.“It was a real morale booster,” Jayson Dodge. “It was a lot of fun, especially the drawings and letters. I'd read them to all the guys and it took our minds off things.”

To thank the children, Jayson Dodge purchased an American flag and took it with him on a mission. After his brother takes it to the kids, there are plans to put it in the school's display case.

Although Jayson Dodge, a former Newark Elementary School student and Parkview High School graduate, wasn't able to get the flag transported to the kids on Friday, he shared with the Daily News how he's served his country.

Dodge got commissioned as an Army officer in July of 1996, after completing an ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin - Stephens Point and was later deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.He worked as fire support officer and was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 4th United States Calvary and later became Assistant Battalion Operations Officer for the Third Battalion 7th Field Artillery Regiment 25th Infantry Division.

“It's not all that much fun when you are there, but once you get back and look back, you realize what you've done,” Jayson Dodge said.Although it was difficult being away from wife Laura and his 10-year-old daughter Emma in their home in Hawaii, Jayson Dodge feels proud of what he helped to accomplish overseas.

Jayson Dodge started his service in Kandahar, a more conservative area of Afghanistan. He said the most rewarding part of his service there was working with the elections. He was one of the few American soldiers with a mostly Afghan Army protecting the city in the days before people had the chance to hold an election.“I remember seeing people come out after voting and they had ink on their finger. People were just overjoyed that they were electing their president,” he said.

Jayson Dodge interacted with the people of Afghanistan on a daily basis. He would go into the villages and see what they needed.“We would see if the Taliban was running around,” he said. “We helped them get the schools and wells rebuilt. We would help with agriculture and help them stand back up. The people were very appreciative. I really enjoyed my time in Afghanistan.”During the last part of his service in Afghanistan, Jayson Dodge was stationed in Herat, a more liberal part of the country.

While he saw women in burqas in Kandahar, the people of Herat were starting to enjoy life without the Taliban.“They had music stores, shops and bazaars,” he said. “Girls were going to school and a lot had changed for the better.”After he returned in 2005 from Afghanistan he was deployed to Kirkuk, in the northern part of Iraq in 2006.

In Iraq he worked in command of AlphaBattery 3rd Battalion 7th Field Artillery Regiment. He patrolled along the oil pipe lines and gas fields and taught Iraqi soldiers how to protect their country's assets. In just four months, Jayson Dodge saw a lot of progress. The number of improvised explosive devices went down and the Iraqi soldiers learned how to man checkpoints, use rifles as well as ride and maintain Humvees.“They kind of got bragging rights about training with the Americans,” he said.

After Jayson Dodge got promoted to Major, he worked overseeing others. He finally returned in 2006 to his home in Hawaii. Now he is looking forward to moving to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin to train the national guard units which will be deployed.“I've been gone quite a bit, but I'm used to it. It's part of the job and part of life,” Jayson Dodge said.