Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kirk Bell | Spc. Melissa Esparza-Mathis interacts with a group of Iraqi children during a mission...... read more read more
By Sgt. Kevin McSwain
210th MPAD
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq -- Her mother spoke nine different languages. She knows three and is learning her fourth. Spc. Melissa Esparza-Mathis, who works as a supply clerk for the 19th Support Center, 3rd Corps Support Command, said her 9-year-old sons have already learned five languages.
"They speak German, Farsi, Spanish, English and Arabic — I want my children to be better than me," she said. "You make yourself an asset by learning all you can and teaching others."
When she isn't working as a supply clerk, Esparza-Mathis is a translator and language teacher for servicemembers at Logistical Support Area Anaconda. She teaches Farsi, which is the language spoken in Iraq, as well as psychology, at the Education Center here.
Her first language is Spanish and she learned English after starting school. She is now learning Arabic.
"It's imperative that we know these languages because we can't defeat what we don't understand," she said.
In addition to her multiple language skills, Esparza-Mathis has multiple military occupational specialties " supply clerk, linguist and journalist. She said that here at LSA Anaconda about 40 percent of her time is spent on missions as a translator.
"The military is a passion for me; the ideals that coincide with the military have always been something to be proud of," said Esparza-Mathis.She said she was influenced by her military upbringing to join the Army.
"I was surrounded by the military and I believed in it, and when you believe in something so great, you just have to be a part of it," she said.
Before Esparza-Mathis was an active duty Soldier, she was in the Army Reserve. She said she was a part of the 211th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Walker County, Texas, and when an opportunity arose she volunteered to go on active duty.
In her civilian life, Esparza-Mathis said she worked as a counselor and ran for public office, becoming the first Hispanic woman to be appointed county chairwoman for Walker County.
"I counseled male offenders in the penitentiary and also worked with the youth," she said. "But the area I really want to work in is women's advocacy."
Esparza-Mathis" family has been a great source of support throughout her life. "My family made this achievable," she said.
She said she prepares before every mission to ensure she is safe and ready to learn from her experiences. Going outside the wire is a very different experience, but if you are aware of the dangers, and pay attention, you can gain a wealth of knowledge, she said.
Esparza-Mathis teaches psychology 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Farci 7 p.m. Thursdays.
"Anyone who has the desire to learn has 90 percent of the battle won," she said speaking of learning Farci.
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2006 11:21 |
| Story ID: | 7251 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 32 |
This work, Soldier spends free time educating peers, by MSG Kevin McSwain, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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