The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia

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Spring 2007

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Along with all the other Guardsmen and women on his post in northern Iraq, Drew “Dewey” Aldinger endured sweltering summer heat and an ever-present threat of violence. Yet during his six-month tour, he found many opportunities to extend kindness and generosity to the Iraqis he encountered – especially the kids.

Aldinger, a post-graduate master’s student in Curry’s teacher education program in health and physical education, joined the Air National Guard in 2003 to take advantage of its education incentives. Then in winter 2006, with one semester at Curry left to go before graduating, he volunteered to serve a tour in Iraq so a friend and fellow Guardsman wouldn't have to.

Soon after he was settled on a base near Kirkuk in the Kurdish-dominated area of Iraq, Aldinger began reaching out to the kids who came near the fence he patrolled. He shared with them candy, cookies, and sodas that friends back home had mailed to him. A manager for the UVa men’s soccer team, Aldinger often received soccer balls in the mail, which he also shared with the kids.

“I’ve always had a heart for kids and for giving,” Aldinger says. “I want to be like Jesus, and he was about loving others.” Besides, the Iraqi kids were easy to help, he adds. “They were grateful just for some water.”

Dewey’s academic advisor at Curry, professor Ann Boyce, said she received periodic emails from Aldinger while he was in Iraq, and they were always inspiring. “I have to say that he is perhaps the kindest person that I have had the pleasure to work with in my 18 years at the University.”

Aldinger’s greatest regret is that he couldn’t talk with the kids because of the language barrier. Some of the kids from the town could speak a little broken English, but “Hey, mister!” was the limit for many of the shepherd kids who stopped by.

Aldinger’s tour ended just in time to begin the new fall semester at Curry. After graduation he says he may delay his teaching career for active duty in the military. “I liked being able to help the people of Iraq and to protect the people back home.”