TERRE HAUTE — Dylaney Plasse expects to get mail from her dad, Master Sgt. John Plasse, a member of the military who is serving in Afghanistan.
But on Tuesday, all of Dylaney’s fourth-grade classmates also received letters from her dad. “Oh my gosh,” was the typical response in Janet Greulach’s classroom at Lost Creek Elementary.
Last month, Greulach’s class sent 11 care packages to Plasse, who shared them with other members of the military serving with him. The class, with help from parents, sent nonperishable food items along with letters, colored pictures and photographs.
In response, Plasse sent the class a certificate of appreciation as well as individual thank-you letters that acknowledged each child. He also sent each child photographs as well as paper currency from Afghanistan.
“They were just ecstatic,” Greulach said. “Whenever we talk about him, their eyes just light up.”
Even though they are only fourth graders, “I believe they understand the meaning of war and what it means to them and to us and our country,” Greulach said.
Plasse, on leave as Terre Haute’s city police chief, is serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is with the Indiana Army National Guard.
Plasse’s certificate thanked the students “for your dedication, commitment and noble support to those who proudly serve in the armed forces of the United States of America in our efforts to train and mentor the officers of the Afghanistan national security forces.”
Some of the children read their letters. Often, Plasse wrote, “It’s an honor for me to serve our country.” Also, he ended the letters by telling the students to “take care and do well in school.”
He signed most of the letters, “Your friend, John.”
Dylaney’s letter, understandably, was more personal. “I can’t wait to get home and see you,” he wrote. Her dad gets to come home for a two-week visit later this month.
She read part of the letter, but part of it she kept private.
Class members try to support Dylaney, Greulach said.
Among the students who read their letters were Kaitlin Harris and Hunter Steveson.
Receiving a letter and other items from Master Sgt. Plasse “just wowed me,” Harris said. “I was so happy to hear from him … I know he helps out our country and he serves for us.”
Steveson said he appreciated Plasse “using his time for us … It makes me happy that he’s OK.”
If he could talk to Plasse, Steveson would tell him, “Thank you for serving our country.”
Sending the packages to Plasse and other soldiers also meant a lot to Kariana Wolfe, a student teacher in Greulach’s class. She is a student at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Wolfe’s boyfriend, Chase Booe, has been stationed in Iraq for the past year, but he is expected home this month “for good,” said Wolfe, who is from Clay City.
Wolfe said she feels a “deep connection” with Dylaney. Wolfe has had other family members deployed.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed with how [Dylaney] has coped with having her dad gone,” Wolfe said. “We talk on a daily basis, I always ask how her dad is doing and if she’s heard from him.”
The class also has sent letters to Booe and some of his friends overseas. “They were thrilled to receive them,” Wolfe said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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Police chief writes letters to his daughter’s 4th-grade class from Afghanistan
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