The Viking Views Senior Issue • May 13, 2005 - North Canton City ...

[ news ]Hometown hero returns from IraqPHOTOS BY MERRITT WOODSSimon thanks Hoover for letters, packagesRachel Bosyj Staff WriterHoover welcomed home a warhero April 27. Mike Simon, a1999 graduate, visited Hoover tothank students who sent letters and carepackages to his unit serving in Iraq.“The letters were awesome. We receivedover a thousand letters from high school studentsall the way through the elementarystudents,” said Simon. “We knew our countrywas behind us, but getting the lettersmade me, the rest of my platoon and everyoneelse feel supported and that was a greatfeeling.”The letters provided a much needed connectionfor Simon back to the U.S.“We felt out of the loop. When I foundout that the Red Sox beat Yankees in theWorld Series, I thought they were lying tome,” Simon said. “It was the little things likethat we enjoyed most about the letters.”During his presentation, he spoke of theadvantages a Hoover education offers.“[Hoover] is what gets you there, but thework, time and number of papers you writedetermine how well you succeed. Everythingaround us here sets us up for achievement;use all of it,” Simon said. “Whateveryou want to do, do it because no one is evergoing to stop you.”Simon graduated from Hoover in 1999.6 u the viking views u 05.13.05He was a wrestler and a member of Leadership,Teen Institute, Student Council andNHS. During his high school years, he realizedthat a job with “an office, walls and adesk” was not for him.“I knew I wanted to be in the mud andoutside, not in an office with deadlines andeverything,” Simon said.During his junior year of high school hefinally picked up the Navy applicationplaced in the trashcan by his mother because“her baby wasn’t going to war,” and sent itin. Simon was rejected four times by theacademy.“Even after I got those rejection letters, Iknew this was something I wanted to do, soI kept sending stuff in and eventually theysaid ‘yes’ and gave me a chance,” Simonsaid.Simon’s journey began Aug. 18, 2004,when he was deported to Iraq to participatein Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a platooncommander of the light armor division,giving him responsibility over 36 other marinesand six vehicles.“It’s a land of unpredictability. Each andevery day brought different things,” Simonsaid. “I never knew what was going to happennext.”Simon missed many things during histime in Iraq.“First and foremost I missed my familyand friends. They are the most importantthing to me, and when I was overseas, it washard to be away from them for so long,”Simon said.He also missed American conveniences.“I missed the simple, everyday things likea hot shower and a house to live in. I don’tthink I heard a toilet flush for over sevenmonths,” he said.Sophomore Ali Mayhew, who listened toSimon talk, feels that he had a lot of goodadvice.“I thought what he had to say was interesting.He seemed really down to earth andhad many life lessons and good tips,” shesaid.Sophomore Tyler Callon was one of thestudents that sent letters overseas.“I felt good when I wrote the letters.Sending the letters uplifted their spirits andlet them know that there were people in theUnited States that supported them,” Callonsaid.Overall, the letters played an importantrole by keeping a connection between Ohioand its soldiers.“It was through the kindness of peoplethat made a not-so-happy place feel a littlemore comfortable,” Simon said. “The kidswill never really understand the scope of whatthey did and the impact they had on us. I cannever repay them for what they did.” nV