Sharon Soldier Speaks to Stoughton Students from Afghanistan Using Skype

After corresponding with his mother-in-law's second grade class at Stoughton's since being deployed to Afghanistan a year ago, Sharon resident Lt. Col. John Lee recently spoke to both second grade classes at the school for the first time, through Skype.

Lee and the 26th Yankee Division of the Army National Guard returned to the U.S. last Thursday.

But, a couple of weeks before returning home, Lee took some time out from his evening to chat with the second graders live from Afghanistan.

The second graders in Barbara Mills (his mother-in-law) and Jess Rosenthal's classes at the South asked Lee about everything from the weather to what Afghan children did for fun to why he was there to where he sleeps.

It was a unique chance for the youngsters to learn about a different culture.

"It was surprising for me to meet someone that high up in the Army," student Evan Hoover said.

"It was really fun to talk to him. He's really nice," student Grace Laloy added.

The students gathered in Rosenthal's classroom, watching Lee on a SMART board.

After the second graders waved goodbye, Lee spoke with two of his six children: Robert, 4, who was dressed in a replica 26th Yankee Division uniform, and Jake, 2, as well as with his in-laws, Barbara Mills and Stoughton School Committee member Allan Mills.

Lee and his wife, Jennifer, live in Sharon with their children. He chairs the Sharon Zoning Board of Appeals. He's served in the Army National Guard for more than 20 years, but this was the first time overseas. While in Afghanistan, Lee had regular chats with his family via Skype.

Allan Mills said he "gave a lot of credit" to his daughter for handling the situation while her husband was away.

"John is a true Patriot. Certainly the type of guy who stepped up," Allan Mills said.

"John is a family-oriented man. It was a great sacrifice for him [to go to Afghanistan], given the number of children."