Richland students have special guest on Veterans Day

ESSEX, Mo. -- There was probably no greater lesson taught on Veterans Day 2014 that the one presented to the entire student body and staff at Richland Schools on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Students entered the gymnasium for the district's annual presentation to area veterans, which was conducted in its usual fashion. A grateful audience applauded the military service of 18 local veterans and afforded them the opportunity to have professional photos made of them, utilizing equipment recently acquired through an educational grant.

But then it was time for what students knew only to be a mystery guest. When the lights went out and the big screen in the gymnasium came on, a familiar face came into view. While several slides of Staff Sergeant Cody Jones were shown to the audience, Jones' voice came live over the phone and resonated within the Richland gym -- all the way from Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Staff Sergeant Cody Jones is the husband of Richland's school nurse, Carlie Jones. The couple's three children attend school at Richland. The story of his deployment last April is one that the small, rural school district outside of Essex knows well. On Tuesday, they got a first-hand look at SSG Cody Jones at work on a military base in Operation Enduring Freedom while they listened to his voice from thousands of miles away.

Students had been asked to submit any questions they might have for Jones days ahead of time, but had no idea they would be hearing him him live on Veterans Day. After a greeting to his family and the students, their guest explained his task in Afghanistan.

Jones is with the 220th Engineering Company of the National Guard. He was a full-time member of the guard when deployed. He currently serves as the Unit Supply NCO for the unit. In that position, Jones is responsible for ordering and issuing all gear and supplies such as clothing, ammo, equipment, gear, and food for the soldiers in his unit.

The mission of the 220th in Afghanistan is primarily the "deconstruction" of forward operating bases which were built at the beginning of the war 10 years ago.

Jones responded to a list of questions from the students. What does he miss the most? His family, of course. When is he coming home? No word yet. He doesn't know. What is the time difference in Afghanistan? Kandahar is 10 and one-half hours ahead of Essex. What does he eat? Anything that tastes good.

Jones explained that his base in Kandahar is about twice the size of the city of Essex.

"For me, it was interesting to hear that he is not having as much contact with the locals as what he earlier had," said Jones' wife, Carlie. "He used to be off the base and among the general population a lot, but with his current job, he rarely gets off the base."

Jones explained to the Richland students what a typical day was like and noted the extreme high and low temperatures in Kandahar.

Students and staff members were visibly moved by the presentation.

"Several told me afterward what a good job Cody did, and that they learned a lot," Carlie noted.

Jones and his unit receive continual support from the students at Richland while their deployment stretches on.

"The Beta Club sends care packages and cards every year to soldiers," Carlie explained. "This year, they will be sending these to Cody and other soldier's in his unit. Other individuals at school have sent him care packages, and his church family has also sent many to him as well."

Richland teacher, Kyle Carter, said that especially moving was a round of applause for Carlie Jones following her husband's "visit," and for the couple's children, Austin, Avvie, and Gracie, who all were recognized.

"It was touching, and it was appreciated," he said.

Through modern technology, Jones is able to communicate with his family almost daily.

"We talk about every morning on the way to school," Carlie says. "And we use Face Time and sometimes get to talk to him in the evenings. It's a lot better than his last deployment when we sometimes went two weeks without talking to him."