sparky212
Apr 13, 2009, 12:19 AM
London Cpl. Oscar Trachmann spent the past seven months riding shotgun on dangerous convoys through explosive-laden roads in Afghanistan.
Cpl. Oscar Trachmann gets a hug from his girlfriend, Traci Boland, amid the cheers from school children at London International Airport yesterday. Trachmann returned home after a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
"It gave them a better understanding of the role of Canadian soldiers and the cultural differences." -- Teacher Dana Barber.
Coming home yesterday, he faced something really tough.
"Oh God. This is . . . a big. I am very shocked," he said. "Whew. Wow."
Facing Trachmann were dozens of cheering Grade 5 and 6 pupils from Holy Rosary elementary school in London, waving banners to welcome home their pen pal.
In the midst of the chaos, Trachmann's tearful mother and girlfriend greeted him with big hugs.
"Can I have a hug too?" a girl asked.
Trachmann easily obliged, himself battling tears.
After all, he had come to know the children well the last seven months, thanks to dozens of letters he and the pupils exchanged.
His girlfriend, Traci Boland, got the pen pal exchange rolling last year.
Her niece, Hailey Belaire, is in the class.
"Hailey has always had a special connection with Oscar," Boland said.
"She wanted to keep in touch with him when he was gone," Boland said.
The children's letters included drawings, stories about home life and questions, lots of questions.
"The main questions I got were, 'What do I eat? Where do I eat and what do I do?'" Trachmann said. "I looked forward to every single letter.
He replied by e-mail, giving the children a lesson not only about Afghanistan culture, but also life as a soldier.
"It gave them a better understanding of the role of Canadian soldiers and the cultural differences between the countries," teacher Dana Barber said.
"It helped them to see soldiers are real people, who liked to play air guitar just like them."
Trachmann got a lot more than pictures and stories from home.
"He felt loved and wanted and supported, which is a big thing. A lot of them (troops overseas) feel they are alone," Boland said.
The children also bought a teddy bear, photographed it around London, then sent it to Trachmann.
Trachmann returned the favour, photographing the bear on his travels.
"That teddy bear has a lot more experience than many soldiers over there do," he said.
He apologized to the children that the bear had to be stuck in his backpack for the trip home and wasn't part of the reunion.
The children didn't mind at all. They were lucky Trachmann even made it to London yesterday.
The bad weather almost forced the plane to land in Toronto.
"I was begging and pleading, saying just do anything to make me land in London," Trachmann said.
While Trachmann spoke to the media and children, proud mother Mary watched on.
"You constantly read the paper, listen to the radio, listen to the television. It is really stressful," she said of her son's tour.
"But I wouldn't change a thing. I support him 100 %."
So did the children, although they expressed concern about war.
"It's not the best place to be," said Troy Dezial. "If I was there I would really miss my family."
Classmate Patricia Dahl wondered about making peace through war.
"It is a good thing because they are trying to keep the peace but I think it is bad thing because if you are trying to keep peace then you are doing war."
After yesterday's chaotic celebration, Trachmann planned to spend the day catching up on family news and grabbing a meal with his girlfriend.
Then Trachmann, a reservist with 4 Royal Canadian Regiment, has to start looking for a job.
Randy Richmond is a Free Press reporter
Cpl. Oscar Trachmann gets a hug from his girlfriend, Traci Boland, amid the cheers from school children at London International Airport yesterday. Trachmann returned home after a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
"It gave them a better understanding of the role of Canadian soldiers and the cultural differences." -- Teacher Dana Barber.
Coming home yesterday, he faced something really tough.
"Oh God. This is . . . a big. I am very shocked," he said. "Whew. Wow."
Facing Trachmann were dozens of cheering Grade 5 and 6 pupils from Holy Rosary elementary school in London, waving banners to welcome home their pen pal.
In the midst of the chaos, Trachmann's tearful mother and girlfriend greeted him with big hugs.
"Can I have a hug too?" a girl asked.
Trachmann easily obliged, himself battling tears.
After all, he had come to know the children well the last seven months, thanks to dozens of letters he and the pupils exchanged.
His girlfriend, Traci Boland, got the pen pal exchange rolling last year.
Her niece, Hailey Belaire, is in the class.
"Hailey has always had a special connection with Oscar," Boland said.
"She wanted to keep in touch with him when he was gone," Boland said.
The children's letters included drawings, stories about home life and questions, lots of questions.
"The main questions I got were, 'What do I eat? Where do I eat and what do I do?'" Trachmann said. "I looked forward to every single letter.
He replied by e-mail, giving the children a lesson not only about Afghanistan culture, but also life as a soldier.
"It gave them a better understanding of the role of Canadian soldiers and the cultural differences between the countries," teacher Dana Barber said.
"It helped them to see soldiers are real people, who liked to play air guitar just like them."
Trachmann got a lot more than pictures and stories from home.
"He felt loved and wanted and supported, which is a big thing. A lot of them (troops overseas) feel they are alone," Boland said.
The children also bought a teddy bear, photographed it around London, then sent it to Trachmann.
Trachmann returned the favour, photographing the bear on his travels.
"That teddy bear has a lot more experience than many soldiers over there do," he said.
He apologized to the children that the bear had to be stuck in his backpack for the trip home and wasn't part of the reunion.
The children didn't mind at all. They were lucky Trachmann even made it to London yesterday.
The bad weather almost forced the plane to land in Toronto.
"I was begging and pleading, saying just do anything to make me land in London," Trachmann said.
While Trachmann spoke to the media and children, proud mother Mary watched on.
"You constantly read the paper, listen to the radio, listen to the television. It is really stressful," she said of her son's tour.
"But I wouldn't change a thing. I support him 100 %."
So did the children, although they expressed concern about war.
"It's not the best place to be," said Troy Dezial. "If I was there I would really miss my family."
Classmate Patricia Dahl wondered about making peace through war.
"It is a good thing because they are trying to keep the peace but I think it is bad thing because if you are trying to keep peace then you are doing war."
After yesterday's chaotic celebration, Trachmann planned to spend the day catching up on family news and grabbing a meal with his girlfriend.
Then Trachmann, a reservist with 4 Royal Canadian Regiment, has to start looking for a job.
Randy Richmond is a Free Press reporter