Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 2, 1991 TAG: 9102020164
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV/1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON NEW RIVER BALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
As the guard in charge of delivering their mail, Riddle was one of the few bright spots in their otherwise dismal daily lives.
Plus, he was a decent guy, they said.
But Riddle is gone - one of the many reservists now doing time in the Saudi Arabian desert.
So, the inmates are turning the tables. Instead of him lifting their spirits with mail from home, they are hoping to raise his.
Thursday, about 15 inmates in the prison's General Educational Development program put together a care package for Riddle, complete with candy and crackers, cheese puffs and beef jerky, sunflower seeds and personalized notes from each inmate. It was mailed Friday.
"I think that box will give him a lot of encouragement, knowing that a lot of us back here are behind him," said inmate Eric Caldwell, 21, of Richmond.
Caldwell, who is serving 20 years for burglary and grand larceny, said he imagines serving in the army can be like serving time - at least when the mail bag arrives empty.
"When you're in combat, just like when you're in jail, and you don't get any mail, you can start feeling real down," he said.
"In a way, he's cut off over there just like we're cut off in here," Kevin Ratliff added. A Roanoke native, Ratliff is serving six years on a probation violation.
A package from home, even from a bunch of prisoners, can only help him feel better, the inmates said.
Willie Short went one further.
Something from them might mean even more to Riddle, he said. After all, how many other soldiers will be receiving packages from the prison population?
"He would never imagine a package from us," said Short, who is serving seven years for statutory burglary. "Man, is he going to be surprised."
For one thing, inmates and guards - even guards that deliver mail - traditionally keep their distance.
"Inmates and officers aren't really what you call buddy-buddy with each other," said Juan Hunter, 27, of Chesapeake, who is serving 15 years for malicious wounding and robbery.
"When he was here everybody gave him a lot of flak, but that's normal to give the guards a hard time," Ratliff said. "The truth is, although nobody would admit it, he did his job well and he was a good guy."
Riddle, 25, has been a correctional officer at the Pulaski unit since November 1989. He is serving with the 304th Military Police Company in Saudi Arabia.
That's good news for Iraq, the inmates agreed. Riddle's job is to guard prisoners of war.
"You do him right and he's going to do you right. I think the Iraqis will be lucky to have him as a guard," Hunter said. "Plus, if they have a certain time for mail, Riddle will make sure they get it."
Which is more than they can say for themselves. Since Riddle was called up about six weeks ago, they said mail delivery at the prison hasn't been the same.
"Everybody's been looking forward to him coming back," said Ronnie Bernard, 21, of Virginia Beach, serving seven years on drug charges. "Ever since he's been gone the mail has been messing up."
by CNB