Re: Ex-POW Takes Message to Children

Date: February 27, 2004

"Ex-POW takes message to students

Laura Cruz El Paso Times

Former prisoner of war Cpl. Joseph Hudson was eager to talk to hundreds of children at Aoy Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon, and the students were just as excited to meet the well-known military hero.

"I've learned that he was a prisoner and he was freed," 5-year-old Paola Rodriguez said. "I've also learned that soldiers help us be free and they are good."

Hudson, a member of Fort Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company, spoke to about 400 pre-kindergarten through second-grade students about the importance of education and staying in school.

"I love talking to school-age children," said Hudson, who answered questions from the children about being a soldier. "It's excellent to see them smile. It's also pretty interesting to be here, because it took me five years to graduate from high school, but I stayed in and finished."

Hudson, 24, and Spc. Shoshana Johnson, Sgt. James Riley, Spc. Edgar Hernandez and Pfc. Patrick Miller from Fort Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company were captured March 23 when their convoy was ambushed in Iraq. They were freed April 13 by a Marine Corps unit.

Kindergarten teacher Dolores Anna Chacon, who invited Hudson, said the 507th's story moved her and she wanted to share their it with her students.

"Initially my goal was to meet Mr. Hudson because many of my family members were in the military," Chacon said. "My interest has always been to honor our veterans, and I want to share that honor with my students."

After talking with the students, Hudson took time to read to Chacon's classroom of 14 students a book about the Statue of Liberty.

"They're young, but they are still aware of what is going on in the news," Chacon said. "This visit allows them to see someone from the military and connect it with what they've learned."

© 2004 El Paso Times, a Gannett Co., Inc. newspaper"