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Vietnam Vet Visits School
By Linda Breanux, Erin Clasen and Hollie Kelly
[Printer-Friendly Version] Recently classes in the Alternative School have been studying about war and the effect that it has on people's lives. We have bene especially concentrating on the Vietnam War. In English classes we are currently reading Born on the Fourth of July, by Ron Kovic. Kovic is a Vietnam veteran who was shot and is not paralyzed from the waist down. Kovic devoted much of his life to protesting against the war in an organization called Vietnam Veterans Against the War ( VVAW).
Veteran Dave Cline Visits A-School
In our Social Studies classes, we have also been studying about Vietnam, as well as learning about current situations in Somalia and Haiti. As a follow-up to all this, we had a Vietnam veterans by the name of Mr. Dave cline (who is a member of VVAW) visit the A-School to discuss his experience in Vietnam. Mr. Cline is very dedicated to his cause, and has spoken to large audiences across the country. He spoke of his opinions toward War and answered some of our questions about Vietnam. Overall, we had a very interesting discussion and we appreciated that he took the time to come and speak with us. Here are some of our reactions to his visit.
Danielle Leamy... I think Mr. Cline gave us a better outlook on how it really was in Vietnam, and what the vets really like for the soldiers, and how some movies like Platoon can glorify things at times. I think I understand more about what happened and I felt horrible that our soldiers had to go there and live the way they did. I also think that most wars are not necessary and everyone has to work more to try and get along. There are much better ways to handle things and our government needs to realize that and stop sending young people to foreign countries to die.
Michelle Gatto... I was very interest in what Dave cline had to say about the Vietnam War. He told us his feelings about the War and how he was wounded over there. I think that he and the other soldiers must have been very brave because some of them, like Dave, were only 19 when they went to war. I don't know if I could talk about a war like that if I were in one; it would probably be too painful and I would try to block it out of my mind. I don't' thing there should be any more wars; we have to try to get along.
Joe Pentaleri... I had very little reaction to most of what Davie Cline said. Of course, I respect him, and a lot of things he said were true. Although he also said a lot of things I didn't relate to and that I disagreed with. I am sure most people who volunteer feel differently than people who were drafted.
Tommy Davis... Vietnam Veterans Dave Cline visited our class on October 21, 1993. He was a very interesting speakers and he helped me to understand what kind of things happened during the Vietnam War. Also it was interesting to hear what type of emotions he experience when he was wounded by a gunshot. Also, it seemed that he was very concerned with why the government sends people to war, when sometimes it's not work it. He thought the government was just using soldiers as bait, which is why he joined VAW when he returned from the war. I guess I would say thank you to him for helping me understand more about Vietnam and getting to meet a veterans.
From Our Way. An Alternative School Publication (Westbury, NY), November 1, 1993. Reprinted with permission.
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