Delco grads doing their part in Iraq, Afghanistan

Delco grads doing their part in Iraq, Afghanistan

Media, Pa. -- As two former Penn State Delaware County students and University graduates, Eric Voigt and David Fleming, have spent many perilous months helping with U.S. efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, faculty and staff at the campus have been keeping tabs on their whereabouts and actions via e-mail.

Recently, the campus community decided to take its support a step further by collecting and sending several boxes full of non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, magazines and puzzle books, as well as stuffed animals and toys for needy children in the countries where the alumni are based.

Voigt, an Army captain who graduated from the University in 1995 with a degree in education, is working in the Fire Support Coordination Element of the 10th Mountain Division, at the site of a former Soviet airfield north of the capital city of Kabul.

"The airfield is surrounded on three sides by the Hindu Kush, which are absolutely awesome," he wrote in an email. He was very pleased to receive his first care package this month from his friends back at Penn State Delaware County.

"The people at Delco make it a great place to learn and grow. That I can, to this day, consider people who 12 or 13 years ago were my professors and employers (Voigt held a job for a couple of years in the campus' instructional services department) speaks volumes for what a great place the Delaware County campus is," wrote Voigt, who anticipates leaving Afghanistan for the U.S. in mid-April.

It can't come soon enough for Theresa Walls, a former co-worker of Voigt's in instructional services who served as a reader at his wedding. She has received periodic e-mails from Voigt, and been instrumental in gathering items for Voigt's care package.

"We've kept in touch over the years, and we (sent the care packages) to help with morale," Walls said.

Fleming, who graduated from Penn State Delaware County in 2001 with a degree in American studies, is a Marine lieutenant and infantry platoon leader. He was overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom last spring through summer, and was redeployed to the country after a brief return to the United States. He has been corresponding periodically with Stephen Cimbala, professor of political science.

"Currently Dave is engaged in post-conflict operations, which include a combination of peacekeeping, counter insurgency and nation building, working with Iraqis while being under sporadic attack," said Cimbala. "He's a young military officer and just an extraordinary person. I believe when Dave is done with his military career, he'll become a teacher."