Coach trades classroom for combat

By Jaqueline Sit, NEWS 9

Physical Education Coach Jared Meget wasn't wearing his usual shorts and sneakers for class Friday.

Instead, he said goodbye to his students while wearing his starched uniform and laced up boots.

"I'm sad for him," first grader Makia Maxey said.

The 400 children of the rural school in Burns Flat, Oklahoma were not the only one in tears.

Capt. Meget said was also sad about leaving the classroom for combat.

"These kids are pretty special to me," Meget said. "It means everything, this right here is why I put this uniform on, for these people right here."

The children, from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, were sad to see their teacher go, but were praising their hometown hero.

Meget is on his way to his first combat tour, and is the first in his family to join a combat tour in the last 50 years.

The children said they hope their coach comes home safe.