ANGELS ON HIS SHOULDERS

[TexasStooge]

By David Casstevens , StarTelegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas - Dressed in boots and desert camouflage, a military police band around his arm, Army Sgt. Tim McCullough smiled at the rows of first- and second-graders seated cross-legged on the shiny gymnasium floor.

"How are you?" he greeted them.

"Good!" the children chimed as one.

McCullough had planned this day months ago, after the letters arrived. Last spring he began to receive stacks of them, dozens, some a full page, others only a few declarative sentences, each printed in a child's hand and signed "Sincerely" or "Love" or "Your friend."

At an outpost near Nasiriyah, south of Baghdad, the 26-year-old from Hurst sat on his cot. He unfolded one letter.

His eyes drank in the words.

[stormchazer]

God Bless Army Sgt. Tim McCullough and all the other heroes.