ARTICLES

Back from Iraq, soldier visits students

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Children from the sixth grade class of St. Bridget School in Richmond had a surprise visit from a U.S. Army officer with whom they had communication back when they were in the fifth grade.

Major William Molina was on duty in Iraq and had hoped that one day hoped that he could personally thank each of the children who had written him each month and contributed items sent in a “Care package” he received while overseas. But when he returned home to his wife and children in his native California, it didn’t look like he’d have the opportunity to travel to Richmond to express his thanks.

However, when he began a special six-month assignment in northern Virginia in May, he knew he was only two hours away from Richmond. He made quiet arrangements with school principal Anne Carroll and Lt. Col. Don Mosman, father of three St. Bridget School students and with whom he had served in Iraq.

On May 21, the day of his surprise visit, the 6th grade students were asked to go to the church basement, but none of the students except Patrick Mosman, Col. Mosman’s son, knew the reason for the gathering.

The children were thrilled by the surprise. As they all sat on the floor with Major Molina joining them on the floor, many had questions they wanted to ask.

They learned that the Army officer, a native of Salinas, Calif., had enlisted in the Army when he was 18. He is of Hispanic descent and has a wife Liza (which she pronounces as Lisa), two sons, Taylor, 16, and Julian, 9. The family is expecting a new baby around Thanksgiving, just about the time Major Molina is expected to return home in Chula Vista, Calif., near San Diego.

“You really had to keep your guard up,” Major Molina answered when asked what it was like to be in hostile areas of Iraq.

“As a child I wanted to be a soldier,” he said. “I grew up and it stuck.”

He told the students that their letters meant a lot to him. He remembered some of the names of students — like Patrick, Liza (his wife’s name), Zachary and Charlotte.

“I wrote to all 58 students, some of them had asked questions which I tried to answer,” Major Molina told The Catholic Virginian.

One of the students asked what he did in his spare time while in Iraq.

“I worked out at the gym, watched movies and read, but working for Col. Mosman, I didn’t have much spare time.”

His Army superior, who had brought Major Molina to the school, stood in the background and grinned.

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