By Mike DeNardo

DREXEL HILL, Pa. (CBS) — Some elementary school kids in Delaware County got a glimpse of what it’s like to be a Marine in Afghanistan Thursday.

“Can you see us?”

The Skype connection seemed to be down more than it was up, but kids at St. Andrew School in Drexel Hill managed to get in a few questions to a group of Marines at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan.

“How often do you get to talk to your family?”

“Do you ever meet friends in Afghanistan?”

“Are you guys safe there?”

And this one from a second grader.

“How do you learn battle strategies and what is your mission?”

“What? How old are you?!”

A Marine did explain to the kids why they were there.

“We can tell you that our mission out here is to help the Afghan people help themselves.”

Teacher Beth Zdinak says there was a lesson here.

“I hope that they learn that there are these soldiers that are risking their lives to protect them.”

When the Marines were asked when they were coming home, they told the kids, “very soon.”