The teacher turned soldier to give the example | Chronic

By Ana Breccia
@anabreccia

A part of the anthem to Sarmiento could describe the story of the master and hero of the Malvinas Julio Rubén Cao: "To see the great country you fought, with the sword, with the pen and the word". And it is that the teacher and Matanzas de La Tablada, teacher of the school No. 32 of Laferrère, wanted to leave their students an indelible mark as a marker, for the rest of the year. eternity. On a voluntary basis, for his country and his flag, he participated in the Falklands War that began on April 2, 1982.

"I had to make a speech at school, I always remember him with his little drafts that he did with me at home with his companion." In one part he said: "What the Argentineans are able to defend the country, it is "How could he, after writing that, not go to war?"remember Delmira Cao, your mom, in dialogue with Chronic.

And he adds: "He was not willing because he liked wars or because he was part of the army." On the contrary, he was a pacifist, he loved Ghandi and he had many values After his speech to his students, how was he going to stay? " contradiction. "

Julio finished high school in a school for teachers in Ciudad Evita, but his father wanted him to be a health professional. Faithful to his wishes and to the calling of his vocation, the young man who, at the age of 16, was already teaching in the villages, told Delmira: "Mom, do not tell Dad anything, but I have to tell you the truth, I will not pbad the exam because I do not want to be a doctor."

And it was clear that he wanted to wear his white coat and a chalk in his hand for the rest of his days. During confrontations with soldiers in poor neighborhoods, he repeated: "I do not do politics, I'm here to teach".

When he decided to enroll in the race as a teacher at the Padre Elizalde Institute of Ciudadela, he urged his sister to sign up with him and share the race together. "Look Graciela, you can not stop studying because you have to be an independent sister."

During his career, he fell in love with a teacher, Clara Barrioswith whom he is married. At one point, he forgot to ask for an extension and that's when the war broke out. "Julito saw his comrades pbad in the trucks, without hesitation he told me" Mom, how will I leave my companions alone, I'm leaving, I'm going back and I'm going to tell the truth about it. " "Falklands story", I said "you're crazy, your wife is five months pregnant, not Julio" but she did not listen to me "remember, Delmira.

In the corner of his house in La Tablada, they have a park where he had planted a small one. "When he went to the Malvinas, he told me:" Mom, I planted the tree, I'm going to have a son, and I just have to write the book, I'm going to Will write when I come back and tell my students the true story of the Falklands. " says the mother and today, companion of the ex-combatants.

Without wanting, or wanting, with a pen, Julio in third grade has already written his destiny: "What a pleasure to teach, to learn to read and write, to teach students"he writes in his clbad notebook.

Julio Rubén Cao was 21 years old when he announced to his family that he would voluntarily fight against the Malvinas Islands. Party April 12, 1982 in Puerto Argentino next to the Regiment of Mechanized Infantry No. 3 of the Army. But he was sure he would come back.

He died finally at the battle of June 14, 1982. He did not know his daughter, born on August 28, a little more than two months after the end of the war. They named it Julia María in the honor of his father.

Cao did not return, the pages of his book were empty, but they were written in the hearts of all his students. Before his death. The teacher and the hero of today sent them a letter, with clear writing, and a message that they will never forget:

"To my dear students of 3rd D:

We did not have time to say goodbye and it worried me many nights here in Malvinas, where I find myself doing my job as a soldier: Defend the Flag.

I hope you do not worry much for me because very soon we will be together again, we will close our eyes and we will go up to our huge Condor and we will tell him to take us all to the country stories that, like you, they know that it's very close to the Falklands.

And now, as the teacher knows the islands very well, we will not get lost.

Guys, I want you to know that in the evening when I go to bed, I close my eyes and see their faces laugh and play; When I go to sleep I dream that I am with you.

I want you to be very happy because your teacher is a soldier who loves you and misses you. Now, I only ask God to come back soon with you. A lot of affection from your teacher who never forgets about you. Julio. "

The pine tree he has planted in the corner of his house now exceeds four storeys, like his flag, which he deployed during the war and will be forever, among the 649, "That of the teacher Julio Rubén Cao who culminated for all the teachers of the Republic".