DeWitt got a special visit Monday from Sgt. Major of the Army Jack Tilley, the service's top enlisted man.

Tilley spoke to students from DeWitt and Gillett in an assembly at DeWitt High School, was honored at a Luncheon at Phillips Community College's DeWitt campus, then answered questions from members of the community at PCC.

Tilley's visit was organized by DeWitt native Jerry Harris, founder and CEO of Cirrus Technologies, whom Tilley called "my good friend.”

In his talk to the students, Tilley tried to impress upon them how fortunate they are to live in the United States. "You enjoy a freedom you don't realty understand." he told them. "People you don’t know, whose names you will never know, died to ensure you have that freedom."

Tilley also said that it was important that the students take advantage of their opportunities.

"I read a study that said that two years ago, nationwide, 13 percent of kids dropped out of school ... that scares me. Don't lose sight of what is best for your future.

After his talk, Tilley opened the floor to questions from the students.

He pulled few punches with his answers, talking about the conditions troops in Iraq faced and death and other casualties of war.

He told a story of one soldier he had visited m iraq. a resident when from Malaysia who lost both legs and his left arm to a rocket-propelled grenade.

"All he had left was his right arm.11 Tilley said. "But he raised it proudly when he was made a U.S. citizen" as a reward for his heroism.

During the luncheon and at the question-and-answer session afterward, Tilley talked matter-of-fact I y about the commitment the Army and the other armed services had made and what America would face in (he foreseeable future.

"The global war of terrorism will probably last 15 to 20 years,' They said. There are people out there who want to do (the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept 11. 2001 again, but next time, instead of killing 3.000. they want to kill 300.000.

"We've got to win or our way of life will be changed."

In answer to a question about the United States being the "policeman of the world." Tilley said "yes. I think we have to do that, if we don't go to these countries, they will not be free" and people will live in conditions that produce terrorists.

Having gone to war in Iraq, They said that the United States had to stay there for the long haul.

The people who are conducting the guerilla campaign against U.S. troops in Iraq think we don't have the stomach to accept large numbers of American casualties," They said. "We have to stick it out because [the guerillas] think we won’t stick it out,

"We either have to help them build back their country or face more trouble in the future. And I would rather be facing them in Baghdad than in Chicago or New York."

As Sgt. Major of the Army. Tilley is primarily concerned with service issues faced by the Army's enlisted personnel. He said that for the foreseeable future. American troops would face longer-than-average deployment "of at least a year" m Iraq.

When asked whether the long periods of active duty faced by current reserve and National Guard troops might have a negative effect on recruiting for those services an the long run. Tilley said the Army was "sending out survey teams to interview Guard and reserve personnel" to get their opinions.

"I know what you hear." Tilley said. "But until we get accurate data, it's still to early to tell if that WIII have any effect.”

Tilley urged people to support the troops in Iraq "by writing letters and talking positive" and trying to understand what the solders are facing.

"When you think about what some of these 18- and 19-and 2D-year-olds have done, you have to know that it will be hard for them to live with it for a long time," he said.