Nov. 9 Issue - Veterans Day Special Edition

Nov 9, 2009 • Volume 90 • Celebrating Veteran’s Day

Dodge City High School • 2201 Ross Blvd. • Dodge City, KS 67801

theSpecialEdition

DODGER 11.09.09 Contents

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The Dodger is a publication produced by the Dodge City High School journalism department. The newspaper attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair, and accurate manner on all subjects that affect the readers. The publication seeks also to provide a forum for the opinion of students, the staff of the paper, and the faculty to encourage an exchange of ideas on all issues of prominence to readers. The Dodger staff encourages letters to the editor, as they constitute avenue for student opinion. Due to space limitations, not all letters can be published. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters for appropriate placement as long as the meaning and intent remain unchanged. The letter must be signed to be considered for publication. The opinions expressed throughout the publication are not necessarily those of the faculty, the administration, or USD #443. Unsigned articles are a general consensus of the staff, while signed articles are the personal forum of the writer. All letters, columns, stories, photos and art become legal property of The Dodger at the time they are submitted.

Codi Ehrlich .....................Co-EditorAnthony Reardon .............Co-EditorTrevor Otterstein .................OpinionLuke Bunker ........................OpinionKristi South ......................LifestylesJordan Stevens .................LifestylesMeghan Lee ............................NewsEthan Hutchcraft ....................SportsHunter Edwards .....................SportsCristina Yeverino................ReporterAlysia Garvalena ................ReporterJean-Damien Bouyer ..........ReporterErin Finley .........................ReporterKristine Rusinova ...............ReporterEthan Hutchcraft ........ PhotographerCindy Moore ....................... Adviser

the Dodger staff

Editorial Policy

LineupDodger

The Navy Experience pg. 4

It Wasn’t Easy pg. 5 Back at Home pg. 6-7

Air Force pg. 8

Dear Mother, Dad, & Sis pg. 9 WWII: Answering a call... pg. 10-11

I Knew.... pg. 12

Making the most of it… pg. 13 The Decision... pg. 14

Two Journeys... pg. 15

Making the adjustment... pg. 16-17

Making Her Mark... pg. 17 The Story of a Marine pg. 18-19

Becoming Army Strong pg. 20

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Bullets ripping through soldiers’ skin, and shots firing one after another, we’ve all seen Hollywood’s rendition of war. Watching these movies, we often feel like it is us on the front lines as we shed tears when the war hero dies. But do you know the stories of any of the men and women who actually fought in these wars?

This summer as I was thinking of a theme for our Special Edition Issue, Veterans Day popped into my head. I thought of all of the veterans I knew, but after wracking my brain, I couldn’t think of a single one of their stories, or even which war they fought in.

After realizing my lack of knowledge, I was disappointed in myself. How could I not have asked a single one of these people what it was like to serve in the military? These people put our country in front of their own priorities, and took an oath to protect and serve the United States. That is a tremendously honorable act if you ask me.

A lot of veterans enlisted when they were around the same age as I am. Being 18 for two weeks I have come across many new opportuni-ties as an adult. I can register to vote, buy sharp-ies, paint, and white-out, serve on a jury, get a tattoo, and enlist in the military. I haven’t given much thought to the last option.

Graduating high school and heading off to a grueling basic training is not something that I have imagined for my future. It’s something that I know I am not meant to do. But for some people, that is their future.

And it is these people that we owe our grat-itude and thanks. It takes a lot of courage to leave your family, friends, and the comforts of home to serve your country.

After talking to Stan Sutton, a veteran from WWII, I realized that the experiences that vet-erans go through during war stick with them for the rest of their lives. Here Stan is, 89 years old, and he can recall events from almost 70 years ago.

After hearing about his brother’s death in the war, it also made death more of a reality to me. If you lose someone in war, it is something that never leaves you.

Almost everyday there is a death count from the war in Iraq on the radio or the local news, but I never really thought about those soldiers giving up their lives for our country un-til I heard the story of Stan losing his brother.

Not only do the soldiers who give their lives deserve our thanks and gratitude, but those who barely hang on to life as they come back home also deserve honor. They leave the war, differ-ent people than they began and are faced every-day with disabilities reminding them of the time they spent serving their country.

As a senior, I am also realizing the reality of the war in which we are currently engaged. People my age, even some of my friends, are enlisting in the military. It’s weird to think that people I went to school with from kindergarten

until now are going to be putting on a uniform and protecting my rights as an American citizen.

It’s also a weird feeling to think that of all of these people that I know serving in the military, it’s possible that I will never see them again. I can’t imagine what their mothers feel when they walk out the door.

All this talk about death and war, we often forget about the soldiers who served, but never fought in wars. Just because they didn’t expe-rience combat, doesn’t meant that they do not deserve just as much of our respect as those who did. They took the same oath to protect and serve our country, and they did accomplish that, only in a different manner.

We also can’t forget to think about the men and women who are currently serving our country. I am not sure how I feel about the war, but one thing I do know is that I am thankful that these men and women are standing up for what they believe in to protect our country. They de-serve our thanks whether we support this war or not.

Driving by the cemetery on Wednesday, one of the most beautiful sights in Dodge City can be seen. There will be American flags flying on every flagpole commemorating the veterans who served our country.

Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, celebrates those who unselfishly gave up their time and, for many, their lives to give us a better future, more free-dom, and the American way of life.

So take the time to read the stories of the vet-erans in this issue. Think about the sacrifices they made for our futures and if you know any veterans, thank them for honorably serving our country.

Remembering our Veterans

“It takes a lot of cour-age to leave your family, friends, and the comforts

of home to serve your country.”

-Codi Ehrlich

Another good part of being intheNavywasthefood.Theyhad“goodfoodforeachmeal.” “Thanksgiving dinner wasoutstandingandhadturkeyandalltrimmings,”Bradleysaid. However,notallthefoodswerequiteastasty. “I didn’t like the baked beansforbreakfast.Thepowderedmilk,eggs,andicecreamwerenotverygoodeither.” Thecoffeewasreallystrongandafter eachmeal “they drained thepotonthefloorandcleanedallthegrease and debris from the massdecks.” The ship’s main job was tobringhomemenfromthewar. Itcouldgetverycrowded,withabout

DODGER 11.09.09 Special Edition

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InSeptember1939,Germanyinvaded Poland and thusstartedWorldWar II. KeithBradley was 12. He was

notyetoldenough toenlistorbedrafted for themilitary. Howeverhedidmakeanagreementwithhisolderbrother,William, thathe would bethe one toserve for thefamily if thetimecame. “Becauseof ana g r e em e n twith myolderbrother,I said that Iwould go toKUafterhighschool andthen enlist ifthe war wasstill goingon when Ireached 18,”Bradleysaid. D u r i n gthat period inhistory, families were permittedto justhaveonememberdeferredso that others could stay home toworkonthefarmtokeepitgoing. BradleyenlistedinApril,1945,beforehis18thbirthday.Hehadtoenlist before he turned 18 or elsehis name would be placed in thedraft.OnMay16,heturned18andhewas inducted into theNavyonJune8,1945. “I chose the Navy because Iwanted to have a clean bed eachnight and not be confinedmuddyfoxhole,” Bradley said. “Also, IknewthefoodwouldbebetterthanKrations.” Bradley held the position ofElectrician’sMate 3rd Class. Heworked with sound-poweredphones and when the ship wasin dock, he was the switchboardoperator.

World War II ended on Aug.15, 1945, just two months afterBradley was inducted. Althoughthewarwasover,therewasstillalottobedone. “I was Master ofArms of thebarracks in Boot Camp and at

barely 18, thiswas a realc h a l l e n g e .Many of themenwereover30 years oldfrom the draftat this pointin the war,”Bradleysaid.Bradley alsot r a v e l e doverseas fromOct. 31, 1945,tomid-January1946.“’TheFightingLady’ madetwotripstothePacific areato return U.S.soldiers to the

Alameda Air Station from Guamand Manila,” Bradley said. “Wethensailed toBremerton,WA, tothe dry dock in February, 1946,to put in ‘moth balls’ ( seal gunturretsandequipmentandpaintedallareasoftheship.) “The Fighting Lady” wasdecommissionedonJune21,1946and docked in Puget Sound untilit was later reactivated for theKoreanWar. Life was pretty good onBradley’s aircraft carrier, “TheFightingLady”whichwasaCV10Yorktown. “I had a clean place to sleep,and the sea was beautiful withporpoises and flying fish,” saidBradley. Movies were shown ontheforwardelevatorsotheycouldbe watched from the flight orhangardesks.”

10,000menonit. “The ship had about 2,000people before we picked upservicemen and living on boardwas not too bad,” Bradley said.Whenthecrewoftheshipweretheonlypeopleonboard,theychippedpaintandrepairedsurfaces. Although Bradley was awayfrom home and had to delay hiscollegeeducation,theNavyhelpedwiththecostofcollege. “A benefit was the financialhelpI receivedfromtheG.I.Bill,whichbecauseofthetimeIserved,paidsomeofmyexpensestofinishcollege,”Bradleysaid. AlthoughBradley had tomakesacrifices to be in the Navy, thetime he spent there provided lifelessons. “Ilearnedhowtodealwitholdsalts(hard-shellednavypeople).IasinBootCampwithpeoplealotolder than me, and I had to giveorders as Masters ofArms,” saidBradley. TheNavywasarealeye-openerfor Bradley and he will neverforgetit. “To see the damage inManillawas very eye-opening,” saidBradley.“Forayoungkidcomingout of a farm inKansas, itwas areallifeexperience.”

The Navy ExperienceKeith Bradley and “The Fighting Lady” of WWII

-Erin Finley

Keith Bradley, 1944

Keith Bradley, 2006

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Everyday one hears stories of soldiers who survived almost unbearable con-ditions in Iraq and other

such wars, but you don’t hear much about the kids who had to watch their parents leave to go to another country and wonder if they would be okay.

Unfortunately for 22 months I had to live through that. When I was about 12, I found out my dad had to go to Iraq to fight in the war. It wasn’t easy.

I always knew there was a possibility he would have to be shipped overseas, but I never thought it would happen. It was not easy. Knowing that with every mission he went on there was a chance he wouldn’t come back.

When he left, my mom and I took it the hardest because we both understood exactly what was going on, where he was going, and what he would have to do. My little sister and brother didn’t completely understand what was happening except that Daddy was going to be gone for a while.

We were originally told that he would only be gone for about a year and hopefully no longer. Every day I had to listen to kids at school talk about how many people were getting blown up in the war.They didn’t realize my father was there, and I didn’t really feel like talking about it either.

Seeing my dad leave on the buses with the other soldiers wasn’t

easy. Tons of families filled the Pratt Armory late one night trying to get in their last minutes with their loved ones in the military.

My mom cried the whole day; I did a pretty good job of holding it in until we were giving our final hugs. That’s when I began to cry

and cry. My little brother who was only five at the time had absolutely no clue what was going on. My little sister knew what the war was but didn’t understand the dangers of where our father was going until months later.

We kept in contact as much as we could via web cam. I never wanted to talk to him because it always made it that much hard to say good-bye every time his Internet session was up. Getting an email from my dad was always the highlight in my week.

I couldn’t watch the news over the war while he was gone. With

every fatality, a small part of my mind worried that one of them was my dad. Anytime the news was on and I heard about a deadly car bomb that went off, I just wanted to cry. So to avoid it, I would just leave the room.

We were so prepared for him to come home, until about a week before he was due back in the states when we found out he had been e x t e n d e d . Then it seemed every month they added about six weeks to his tour. After a while ,I

started to think he may never come home.

The day he finally did come home, Pratt, Ks held a big parade led by the Patriot Riders. At the community college, speeches and awards were made to soldiers who had been injured or done extraordinary things.

Finally the last speech was being given. I couldn’t sit still. Across the gym floor all the soldiers were lined up and in uniform standing completely still and motionless waiting for

the dismissal orders. At last the commander speaking let out the words, “Soldiers, dismissed.”

Immediately I jumped from my seat and sprinted to the floor to find my father along with almost every other person in the auditorium. I found my dad but not before my uncle did. It seemed that this day would never come. It was so exciting to finally be able to see my dad knowing he was finally safe.

When we returned to Dodge City that evening, there was a big homecoming party held for my dad. That entire month was filled with stories, videos and pictures of his trip to Iraq.

I had so many questions. I asked him, “What was it like?” “Did you meet any interesting people?” “Was it really hot?”

But there was one question I secretly wanted to ask, but I already knew the answer to. “Did you have to kill anyone?” and the question I didn’t want to know the answer to was “Did you have to kill…kids?”

Unfortunately I’m pretty sure I knew the answer to that question

too. He was different when he

was back. He was very aware of his surroundings, and I found him using his army protocol in everything he did, and he expected us to use the

same thing. It was wasn’t easy to have to

deal with that but I was just glad to finally have him home.

It wasn’t easy...-Alysia Garvalena

Jose

Gar

valen

a

would love to go back. Jacob was born at the Naval base there.”

Jacob, her second son, is now four. And while he may not fully understand where his father is when he’s away, or why they live on a base, his older brother does, leading to many family discussions that Adrianne has had with her boys.

“It has gotten harder the older my boys have gotten, especially for my oldest son. He understands when I tell him how long his dad will be gone for and how long of a time that means. Both of the boys really love and enjoy having their dad around and it is hard when they

do not.” Regarding the family discussions, Hamilton

said, “I try to make sure to keep a very open and good relationship with my boys. I am, of course, first their parent, but I try to keep communication open so they can talk to me, and let me know how they are feeling. We have lots of family talks and discussions when I bring up the subject of daddy being gone, and I ask them how they are feeling about that.”

Hamilton went on to say that keeping her kids busy has helped in coping with their father being away. For her, “learning to balance everything the best I can” and “making the best environment for myself and my children” is a primary step in coping with her husband being gone often.

“We stay pretty busy, so that time does go a bit quicker,” said Hamilton. “We have our routines with sports and school, and I try to implement fun things to do on weekends so that they don’t have a lot of time to sit and think about dad not being home.”

One of those specific projects is making


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With every situation, people have their own accounts and stories to tell. This statement is perfectly demonstrated by the

heroic service man fighting abroad, as his wife at home is fighting a battle of her own. While the service man has his own accounts of his being away, his wife does too, regardless of the fact that she’s still home. This is the case for 26- year-old Dodge City native Adrianne (Martinez) Hamilton.

Hamilton graduated from DCHS in 2001, where she shortly after married Marine Travis Hamilton and had her now 8-year-old son Dylan; thus setting forth a future in the world as a military wife.

Over the past eight years, Hamilton’s budding family has been stationed in four places, ranging from three different bases in California, to one in Okinawa, Japan.

“So far they all have had good qualities as well as some difficult ones,” said Hamilton of the places she has lived. “I think no matter where you live, it depends on the people you have in your life that make a difference.”

Those people also play a role into what life on a base is like.

“Life on a base has its good and bad points. You can meet some really good people, and not so good people,” said Hamilton. “A really good thing about living on base is that most other spouses can relate to what you’re dealing with, and it can be really nice to have a good support system -especially when your husband is gone. If you just ask, there are so many helping hands from people willing to help you when you need it.”

People aside, Hamilton says there are other benefits to being on a base.

“It is nice having pretty much everything you need on base (as long as you don’t care that everyone else on the base has the same thing),” said Hamilton, jokingly. “It really is a town inside of a town, and it’s basically what you make of it.”

Taking “what you make of it” would also be the case when Hamilton’s husband was

stationed in Okinawa.“Japan was hard

for me to get used to for a while because of the cultural differences and being so far away from home,” said Hamilton. “But it ended up being a really great place with lots of wonderful beaches, and friendly Okinawans. It was a really kid friendly place to be and we

Back atHome

the years.Difficulties aside, Hamilton is doing her

best to move forward, balancing attending classes at San Diego Mesa College with caring for her children. She has been working towards an Elementary Education degree off and on for five years, during which time she has given birth to her youngest son and moved twice.

In addition to those delays, she is currently pregnant with her third son who will be born while her now Gy. Sgt husband is at sees during a seven-month tour where he will make several stops, including areas of the Middle East. Regardless, Hamilton rightfully maintains that her persistence towards her degree “will be well worth it in the end.”

No matter what Hamilton has faced for the good part of the last decade, she has managed to learn many things from them.

“[One thing I’ve learned] is that we all as Americans really are a very fortunate nation and should be grateful for everything that we do have, because it truly isn’t the same every place in the world. I think we can be a bit sheltered by the reality of how the world is, and just hearing about it or seeing it on the news is not always an accurate portrayal.”

Hamilton added to that saying that being a military wife has good and bad things associated with it.

“It is cool to be able to go to different places, and to experience new things and cultures. But it’s not always fun to leave what you have finally gotten used to and now like. I love knowing that my husband has an important job that truly does make a difference to so many people in the entire world, and I am very proud of him and what he does. I think it’s great he can set such a good example to our children.”

Overall, Hamilton continues to learn, saying that a large

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things to send to their father.“We do projects as well when we make

stuff to send to him,” said Hamilton. “The boys usually pick out their favorite items they are proud of from school to send their dad. Sometime it will be a good test they took, or an art project, but something that is special to them.”

“The biggest hardship without a doubt is deployments,” said Hamilton of her husband being away. “It is hard being married to someone that is pretty much gone a good amount of the time, and then learning that you are going to have to be independent regardless of if you want to or not. It is difficult not having that person around when you need or want them, and can only communicate by phone or email. I have gotten pretty good with doing a lot of the “guy work” around the house as well. It is even worse when you have children because not only do I have to deal with how I feel about not having my husband home, but so do the boys with not having their dad around.”

“I don’t know that if my husband were always home, I would know so much about spark plugs going bad in a car, or any maintenance that is required to keep cars running smoothly,” said Hamilton concerning those difficulties.

“Mowing and yard work, as well as dealing with the trash days, or knowing how to get decorations up on our house for different holidays, or how to put together electrical items” are all tasks Hamilton has had to learn.

“Constantly moving is not fun either, especially the packing and unpacking,” said Hamilton. “Leaving all the good friends and people we have met, and starting over again is another difficulty,” she added. “We do still try to keep in touch with our friends, but the longer, and further away, you get, the harder it can be. Good thing for email and Facebook,” she laughs.

“Something that is hard for all of us is not seeing extended family from back home. We all enjoy getting to spend time with them, and when you live far away, or in another country, it’s not such an easy thing to do. The boys, of course, know their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, but unfortunately do not have he same type of relationship with them, which they would get if we lived closer [and were] able to see them more. Being from such a large family, and being a close family, makes me realize how different my relationships with my loved ones are from the ones my boys get to have with all of their loved ones back home.”

“How to have talks with boys (which a dad may have instead); giving birth to a child with no husband or family being around, and still being fine; and basically knowing that things in life are not normally handed to you, and to be thankful for everything we have,” are all things that Hamilton has come to know over

Pictured:(Middle Left) Travis and Adrianne Hamilton(Upper Right) Jacob and Dylan Hamilton•Photos Courtesy of Adrianne Hamilton


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Air Force develops discipline, leadership skills-Hunter Edwards

“I was seventeen and I wanted to be in the service. I basically had the idea of leaving home and being on my own with no limits,” said Siah Edwards.

My grandfather, Siah Edwards, joined the Air Force immediately after he graduated out of high school. His first day of service in the Air Force, he was sent away to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. As Edwards looked back on that hot summer day, he remembers how everyone who just joined was either scared or nervous.

“The first couple weeks were really rough. The officers at the base treated us like we weren’t anything at all, to teach us discipline and develop maturity,” he said.

As they went on with their time at Lackland, Edwards was taught self-defense, leadership skills, other languages, depending on where they were going to be stationed, and the education needed for that branch of service.

After spending his required to time in Lackland, he was then transferred From San Antonio, Texas, to another base in Mississippi to go to school to learn Morse Code. After Mississippi, Edwards was then again transferred to Ona Point in Okinawa. Here he was stationed to intercept Morse Code from China and convert to English for the head officers.

“I stayed in Okinawa for almost three years. During my time there, I studied Judo and earned my black belt for my hard work,” said Edwards.

“One night a little squadron of us were just relaxing in our barracks. During the night the alarms started sounding, and I find out that the Chinese have raided our base. We rushed to the weapons supply

house, and they handed every one of us guns to guard our areas with. The bad part about this is that our officers forgot to give us shells. So I sat outside of our building in the dark thinking to myself, ‘What can I do?’ I couldn’t smoke, I couldn’t do anything except use my Judo,” he said.

About a year into his service,

Edwards forgot one important thing, family. Edwards said that while you’re in the service and on your own, you forget about what you left behind. He never wrote to his parents or tried to contact them in any way. Edwards’ parents soon joined the Red Cross just so they could find their son and know that he was okay.

“One day I was called into my commander’s office. He asked me if I had made contact with my family recently or any time while I was on the island. I told him that I haven’t and that I was sorry. Well, sorry didn’t work. The commander made me write a letter to my parents telling them that I’m doing alright, how my stay is, and apologizing to them for not writing or staying in contact.”

During his stay at Ona Point, Edwards and his very close friend, Peter Hess, traveled into town on their days off and raised havoc.

They were only allowed to go into town if they had what is called a Liberty Pass. If they received this pass, they could travel to the nearest city whenever they wanted.

Anyways, these two young men did everything together. While they were in town, Edwards and Hess rented an apartment for three days and stayed there. They enjoyed going to the local bar to play pool or poker, attend church, or start fights.

After about three years at Okinawa, Edwards shipped back to San Francisco, where his parents picked him up. On his ride home back to Missouri, Edwards felt awkward and out of place. He told me that during his time, he learned Japanese. He became so accustomed to this language that he almost forgot how to speak English. He still spoke English, but since Okinawa was located a couple hundred miles from Japan, the native language on the island was Japanese. In the car ride back, he recalled that there was dead silence the whole way home. The reason why Edwards felt ‘weird’ was because in his opinion it was strange to leave home for a couple of years, then come back.

One month after he left the Navy in January, he met the love of his life, Helen. They started dating in March and three months later Edwards proposed to her and in June they became Mr. and Mrs. Siah Edwards.

Ten years after he left the service, he tried to contact his ole fighting buddy, Hess. Edwards made contact with him and the two caught up with each other. Hess lived in Minnesota and had four kids, minister of a church, and was also in love.

“I think it’s great how the two of us broke away from our dreams and settled down and got married. We are both pastors of churches and are still kicking butt,” he said.

I later asked him if his experience in the Navy influenced his thinking about war or the military in general. He said that he now understands the need for men in all big and small wars. If you keep sending men or women over to fight, this will keep the enemy from invading the home country.

My grandfather told me that, in his opinion, every young man or woman should join any military service. In the military branch that you chose, you learn discipline, maturity, and leadership. Any branch will teach you these things.You just have to decide which one you would enjoy more as well as which one will give you what you need in terms of education.

Siah Edwards is currently living in Dodge City, Kansas. He is still happily married to Helen Edwards and is living life like there is no tomorrow.


9

ero. This term can be defined in different ways. A hero is not just

someone who is faster than the speed of sound, who can stop bullets, or who wears tights and prances around in a cape.

A hero is something more. It can be someone who helps an old lady across a street, or someone who stops to help a stranded motorist. One of the biggest heroes I’ve known would have been my grandpa, John C. Stevens or “JC” as his platoon called him.

My grandfather was a veteran who served in World War II. Not only was he a hero in this sense, but he was also a hero by putting his family and friends first. He had no intention of leaving his family for the war until one fateful day on Dec. 7, 1941. That was the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. He, like many other Americans, was outraged and shocked. So age 17, with his parents consent, he enlisted in the United States Army.

My grandpa never spoke much to me about the war; in fact, I never knew most of what he went through until after he passed away March 31, 2009. Along with his other assets, our family came into possession of many letters he wrote to his family during those years.

These letters reveal his struggle, his heartbreak, and the concern he had for his family during his time of service. For him, letters were an escape from the war. Receiving one would brightened his whole day. To him family came first,

which was evident in the following excerpts of his letters.

“Netherlands, East Indies, Nov. 16, 1944.

Dear Mother, Dad, and Sis,I received three letters from you

today and was really glad to hear from you. I figured there would be letters coming to me in a few days. I really hit the jack pot tonite.

We had a censorship lecture on what we can and cannot write. There is not much I can tell you don’t already know except I have seen some air raids and been on some beach landings if that interests you any.”

Censorship was a big thing during the war. All of the letters were read by examiners, and only were sent through with their stamp of approval. My grandfather was also involved in many air raids and beach landings, but his primary job was to drive the army vehicles.

“Mother, I am really glad you are finally consenting to getting glasses. You needed them long enough and should have done so a long time ago. I sure hope your

back is better now, you shouldn’t work as hard. I want you to pay for your specks (glasses) out of my pocket and get Sis a watch for my present to her for Christmas. And you and Dad get yourselves something you want too. Please don’t write excuses....”

My grandfather was paid $25 a month, which he sent home straight away to help his loved ones.

“I got two papers today, and one had a picture of a kid I took training with. Then Freddie and Pete, all of them real swell guys and to think I will never be able to talk to them anymore. This is the only picture I have of this kid, so please take care of it and save it for me. I guess there will be a lot of fellows I won’t be able to find when I get home.”

At his hardest times, my grandfather had the utmost respect for his friends, even after their deaths.

Not all the letters received by his mother were written by him, and some were even sent to express tragedy. This was all she received

when her son was wounded during one of his missions.

“Mrs. Laura B. StevensThe secretary of war desires

me to express his deep regret that your son PFC Stevens John C was wounded on Mindanao 10 March 45 continue. Address mail to him as formerly or until new address is recieved from him.”

My grandfather was wounded one more time in a truck explosion, which crushed his back and face.

After the war, my grandfather met Emogene Heiland through a friend. They continued to see each other and got married on April 8, 1947. She really helped my grandfather cope with the after effects of war, including many nightmares and flashbacks.

Although being a veteran and serving for his country made my grandfather an “official” hero, his love for his family, friends, and loved ones really showed his true heroism. I will never forget what he has sacrificed for me, and he will always be in my memory.

So next time you ask yourself what defines a hero, look in the mirror and your answer may be staring you in the face.

“Well I’m off for now. Write soon. Loads of love, your son and brother, JC.”

H

Censored. To the left a letter that has been inspected and passed by a censor-ship examiner. • Courtesy Photo

On the job. Pvt. John C. Stevens on his military vehicle. • Courtesy Photo

Post war. John and his wife prepare to square dance. • Courtesy Photo

Leisure time. John relaxes on his break. • Courtesy Photo

Pvt. John C. Stevens

- Jordan Stevens


10

Graduating from DCHS in 1938, 71 years ago, Stan Sutton had few opportunities living in a town plagued by The Great Depression. Needing jobs, and to “get the

heck out of Dodge,” Sutton and a few friends hit the road and headed to California. There they stayed for a few weeks but once again came up empty handed on job opportunities.

Sutton decided to stay behind for a while longer to test his luck, but it favored to be un-lucky as times were tough and jobs were few. So at 18 years old and with $20 to his name, he bought a pair of overalls and hitchhiked his way back to Dodge City. He only got 60 miles before he hopped on a train and rode halfway across the U.S. back home.

He then found a job wrapping bread at a lo-cal bakery where he made $10 dollars a week. The hours he worked corresponded well with his classes at the community college, allowing him to get his two years of college required to enlist in the Navy as an aviation cadet. He was 20 years old. Knowing that jobs were so few in such tough times, Sutton knew the Navy was his way out. He trained in Jacksonville, FL, and Corpus Christi, TX, as a dive bomber pilot.

“The battle of Midway Island was fought on June 4, 5, and 6 while I was still on leave. My fiancée, Delores Van Voorhis, and I were wondering whether to marry prior to my going overseas.”

On June 5, Sutton received a telegram to re-port to Com-air-pac in California. He and his fiancée decided to marry before he left. So at age 21, Sutton married Van Voorhis, 18, in En-sign, KS. His grandfather, a justice of the peace, performed the ceremony on June 5, 1942. The next day, newlywed Sutton headed once again to California.

“Our old car had two good tires and two that weren’t so good. It was impossible to buy new tires even though I was on orders. We were afraid to try to cross the desert at Needles, CA, in the day-time with tires that could blow at any time. I was able to locate a re-liner (a tire within a tire) and put it on. After crossing the dessert at night, in the morning we found it was flat so I went to the rationing board. They gave us two new tires, and we made it on to San Diego.”

After reaching his destination, Sutton joined Torpedo Squadron 10. It was one of the first squadrons to have the TBF, the Avenger air-plane. His training was completed on tandem seat planes. The TBF, a torpedo plane, carried a pilot, a turret gun-ner and a radioman. The planes would also carry a torpedo or four 500-lb bombs. This all added up to 2,000 lbs of detonating product.

“Within six weeks, orders came for us to leave but we didn’t know what our destination was. We thought we were headed to Alaska. Actually we were placed on a troop ship. The USS Repub-lic and sailed for Hawaii out of San Francisco.”

“We’d seldom seen an aircraft carrier up to that point, but now we had to qualify landing on one. We actually qualified on our way to the South Pacific since the pre-vailing winds were in a southerly direction. If we had not quali-fied, we would have returned to land and stayed there. About half our squadron were new aviators and we all qualified. Later some of the pilots brought down by ship didn’t qualify, but our squadron was on the way to combat.”

“We were all on pins and needles until we’d get in

the air. Then we were cool, calm and collected.”

-Codi Ehrlich

WWll: Leaving Dodge City to answer the call of duty

Hanging Out. Stan Sutton is pictured with friends in their camp at Hawaii. • Courtesy Photo

Ready for Takeoff. Stan Sutton prepares to takeoff in a helicopter. • Courtesy Photo

All hands on deck. Stan Sutton (second row, third from the left) and Torpedo Squadron 10 is pictured on deck. The squadron later made its way to Hawaii to carry out missions in WWII. • Courtesy Photo

Jan. 26

WWII Timeline

Sept. 1 Sept. 5 Dec. 7 Dec. 8 Dec. 11 June 4-5 June

1939 1941 1942 1945

Nazis invade poland as

WWII begins

US announces its neutrality

towards the war

Japanese attack Pearl

Harbor

US and Britain declare war on

Japan

Germany declares war

on US

US wins battle of Midway

Jews are murdered at Auschwitz

Soviet troops liberate

Auschwitz


11

Sutton’s squadron remained stationed in the Pacific bombing islands to lend relief to men fighting on land, shooting down search planes, and operating search parties.

“Seven out of 18 pilots were killed from our squadron alone. One of them, George Schun-ke from Michigan, was shot down and made a forced landing on a small island. He never got out of the airplane.”

“Dave Felsenthal was a nice Jewish kid from Shreveport, Louisiana, who I roomed with for a while. He was always asking, ‘How far is it to Shreveport?’ He dis-appeared on a mission and we never found out for sure what happened. He probably went down in the ocean.”

“Another kid named Keyes from Wichita ran out of fuel

when making an approach to the carrier and had to ditch in the ocean. A destroyer picked him up about 1,000 feet behind the carrier. His stom-ach had ruptured, and he died after they got him back to the carrier.”

“I had my closest call when we flew back from a nighttime mission and I ran out of fuel. I had to wave off because of a foul deck. I made it around and came back and landed with an empty fuel tank on the carrier. There wasn’t even enough fuel in my tank to taxi out of the gear.”

“We were all on pins and needles until we’d get in the air. Then we were cool, calm and col-lected. When the mission was over, we’d unwind and kind of fall apart a little bit.”

Later, Sutton returned to Pearl Harbor where his baby brother served as a gunner on a dive-bomber. Sutton learned that his aircraft carrier had just docked. They met up and spent the eve-ning together.

“We had a day of liberty to-gether before I was to come back

to the mainland. We stayed up all night over in one of the hangers. I was able to get a fifth of a booze ration and had a great visit. A short time

“We were all on pins and needles until we’d get in

the air. Then we were cool, calm and collected.”

later, I got word that he was killed in the South Pacific. He was declared missing in action and we never knew what exactly happened to him. It was December 1943. He died at age 19. I was 23.”

Once he returned to the United States, Sut-ton was assigned to instruct combat in torpedo planes in Jacksonville and Miami. As the war ended, he went to Michigan to form a com-bat squadron. He then stayed in the reserves where he was a commanding officer of an attack squadron.

After the war was over, Sutton flew for a construction company, a crop duster, and man-aged the Dodge City municipal airport.

In 1951, he was once again called upon by his country to serve in the Korean War. Only rather than flying, he trained pilots and instruc-tors in fighter tactics.

While in the armed forces, Sutton recieved many medals. His most prestigious medal was the Asian Pacific Medal with Three battle stars. He also received the American Defense Medal, the American Thehtre Medal, the National De-fense Service Medal, and the Reserve Medal.

“I loved the Naval Air Corps but could see I probably wasn’t really going anywhere in the Navy, so I decided to pack it in and return home to my family.”

Sutton flew for many years following the war and helped to build the Kansas Turnpike. In 1956 he purchased a Coca Cola franchise and ran it for 23 years. He now works as a real es-tate agent and is currently living in Dodge City.

WWll: Leaving Dodge City to answer the call of duty

Jan. 26

WWII Timeline1945

May 7 May 8 Aug. 6 Aug. 9 Aug. 14 Aug. 15 Sept. 2Soviet troops

liberate Auschwitz

German troops surrender to

Allies

V-E Day(Victory in Europe)

Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima

Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki

Japanese surrender

V-J Day(Victory in

Japan)

WWII Ends

Center. Stan Sutton is pictured in 1942 at age 22 shortly after he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps were he fought in WWII as a divebomber pilot. • Courtesy Photo

During the war, mail sent home to loved ones from service members was checked to make sure that top secret information wasn’t being leaked (whether on purpose or acci-dent).

Knowing this, Sutton and his wife came up with a secret code so she would know when to head out to California to pick him up from the

Cheating the systemairport as he returned home.

In the letter he sent to her, he would write: “I hope you will enjoy having your birthday on the 28th day of October.”

Although her birthday was nowhere near to this date, she would know that this was when he would be coming home, and she could make the trip to see her husband once again.

Congratulations. Stan Sutton congratulates a fellow pilot after receiving an award. • Courtesy Photo

Smile. Stan Sutton is pictured with wife, Delores. • Courtesy Photo

port the war,” Burke said. “I support the military and if you go in it, you need that support.” “It is an honorable profession. I respect those people who go in; I admire their courage. I am very proud of their service, and they will be too when they go in,” Burke said. Now, Burke has been married for 47 years. He and his wife have one son and two daughters and seven grandchildren. He is a part time his-tory professor at Dodge City Community Col-lege. “The war is worth fighting. It was difficult and I’m glad I served,” Burke said.

11.09.09 Special Edition

12

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Many of the previous wars have ex-act starting points, the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the capture of Fort Sumter in 1861,

the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950, for example. But there was no fixed be-ginning for the U.S. war in Vietnam. The United States entered that war incrementally, in a series of steps between 1950 and 1965. President John F. Kennedy rounded another turning point in early 1961, when he secretly sent 400 special operations forces to teach the South Vietnamese how to fight. For Veteran Larry Burke his beginning at the Vietnam War was on August 1966. “ I had been a regular officer for four years. I didn’t volunteer to go. I knew I was going to go, and then I was or-dered to go...” Burke was sta-tioned at Fort Knox, Kentucky, when he was sent to the Viet-nam War. He was 27 years old and was mar-ried and had a child of 21 months. “The average age of the man fighting in the Vietnam War was 19 years old. In World War II it was 26 years,” Burke said. “I was always interested in the army, since my father had fought in World War II,” Burke said. “My brother also served in the Vietnam War, and my nephew served for the Army.” He was in war zone b, war zone c, and the iron triangle, a notorious base in the jungle, which is a 60 square mile area in the Bing Duong province in Vietnam, so named because it was a stronghold of Viet Minh activity during the war. The region was under control of the Viet Minh throughout the French War in Vietnam and con-tinued to be so throughout the phase of Ameri-can involvement in the Vietnamese war, despite concerted efforts on the part of sponsored and directed South Vietnamese In surge movement. “ I saw combat. I was shot at; I had soldiers who were wounded and killed; and I had to car-ry them out of the jungle.” “My family was worried sick about me and kept updated with the news every night,” Burke said.

Though he recalls all of those memories, there is one date that is present in his mind. “There are many memorable moments, but one that I remember the most is Oct. 2, 1966. A rifle company commander ordered us to some jungle to set up a line of ambushes, though we were not the only company out in the jungle. We didn’t know we were as close to the Viet-cong base as we were. Explosions and booby traps and things of that nature went off, injur-ing many soldiers. My company made it out on time, but men from the other company were se-verely wounded. Some had blood exposed, and some killed, and it was all happening in front of my eyes,” Burke recalls. Burke went home to his family in August 1967, a year after being in the Vietnam War.

After he came back from the war, he served yet an-

other year, then he moved to Dodge City, Ks, where he became a captain in the first infantry division. “The Big Red One” is the oldest division in the United States Army and has seen continu-ous service since its orga-nization in 1917. Then he served in the reserves as a

major for three years, before going to Retired Reserves. The Retired Reserve is comprised of all Re-serve officers and enlisted personnel who re-ceive retirement pay on the basis of their active duty and/or Reserve service; all Reserve officers and enlisted members who are otherwise eligi-ble for retirement pay but have not reached age 60 and who have not elected discharge and are not voluntary members of the Ready or Standby Reserve. “The more I get older, the more I realize the affect it had on me when I came back.” He entered the family business (shoe stores) and worked there for 18 years in Dodge City and surrounding areas which included Great Bend, Hays, and Manhattan. In 1986 he became a full time history pro-fessor at Dodge City Community College, then received his Master’s degree in 1989 from Ft. Hays State University. “I enjoyed my time in the Army. I thought we were winning, and maybe we could have if we had gotten enough support. I had always been bitter toward the people who didn’t sup-

-Cristina Yeverino

“My family was worried sick about me and kept updated with the news every night.”


13

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Steve PfannenstielManager

My father was never interested in go-ing to college and after turning down Annapolis Naval Academy for gym-

nastics, he found himself on his way for Wichita Falls, TX, for boot camp at age 19.

Leon was at Military Air Force Boot Camp for eight long weeks starting August 4, 1976. After his boot camp, he went to Civil Engineer-ing Tech school for another six weeks. After finishing about 14 weeks of training, he was assigned to the 82nd Civil Engineering Squad-ron stationed at Williams Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ. He was enlisted during one of the longest non con-flicted peace time eras.

While at boot camp, newlywed Leon Lee didn’t find it hard to maintain his marriage to Brenda Lee. They were married in July 1976 right before he was to go in to boot camp.

“We both had to grow up fast, learn how to live on our own and leave the family behind,” Leon said.

While stationed in Ari-zona, he became the NCO for the structural main-tenance and repair team (SMART) at the Air Force base. He was in charge of all maintenance on government buildings. Each spring he was also assigned to TDY-Temporary Duty at Roosevelt Lake to do maintenance on the cabins that were available for families.

“I was awarded the Air Force Commenda-

tion Medal for Commendations Service in De-cember 1976-1980, for outstanding services which you normally can’t receive in a non-war time period.”

Lee was also a member of the Prime Beef Mobilization and also participated in the Com-munity College of the Air Force.

While in the military, Lee and his wife had two children. Chan-tell, born in Febru-ary 1978, and Jer-emy born May 1980. Soon after Leon was discharged in July, he and his family moved back to Kan-sas.

“Being in the ser-vice taught me how to be a leader and to run projects, which is what I went into after the military. I think everyone should have to do at least 12 months to get some kind of training. It will teach them to be respon-sible and help them later go on to col-lege.”

Lee is now liv-ing in Dodge City, KS, working in the

construction business. (L R Lee Contracting). He isstill married with four children and three grandchildren. He has no plans to retire any time soon and gives his thanks to the military.

Making the most of it…

Leon Lee, 19

-Meghan Lee


14

As a young man, Charlie Esquibel was faced with a decision that many young men have had to face, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Deciding whether or not to join the military is an immense moment in a young man’s life. The decision he makes then could later change this life. At the age of 19, Esquibel made that decision, and it had a considerable impact on the way he lives today.

“Serving in the Marine Corps. changed my life. It gave me more discipline, more courage, patience, and taught me to act quickly. Everything that is said about what you’ll learn in the service is completely true. It made me a better person,” said Esquibel, Persian Gulf Veteran.

To join the Marine Corps, Esquibel had to complete a multitude of tasks. All men and women were required to complete a written test as well as background checks and physical tests. The written test is called M.O.S. which is short for Military Occupational Specialty (which is similar to a career aptitude test for the military). The test was held in Oklahoma City at the military headquarters. Background checks were required for all who wanted to join any branch of the military. The applicants then had to undergo a physical test to see if they were in shape for what they would be doing in the service.

“My most memorable moment in the service was the traveling camaraderie, the people you meet you remember for a lifetime,” said Esquibel.

Esquibel did an excessive amount of traveling while in the service, from training in California to spending two weeks fighting in the Middle East.

Starting in California with training, Esquibel said, “We trained constantly, we never stopped because we never knew when we were going to be needed. This way we were always ready.”

He also traveled to Japan, training with the Japanese Army and learning about their culture and then to Hawaii where he was stationed in Kaneohe Bay. Hawaii was his home base where he got to enjoy the Hawaiian culture.

“Who better than me to live in Hawaii at the Government expense,” jokes Esquibel

After those wonderful experiences he then flew to the Middle East where he fought in the

Persian Gulf War also known as Desert Strom/Shield. While in the Middle East the troops were commanded to get the Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. Esquibel joined the service at 19 on Dec. 5, 1989, and was partially finished on Aug 2, 1993. He came to the United States March 17, 1993, after the war.

“My unit actually landed in Bangor, Maine, on March 17, 1993, around midnight or so at the airport where hundreds of people congratulated us on our return home. Yet we still had a long flight to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii,” reminisced Esquibel

He fulfilled his obligation for the 8 years he signed up for on June 5, 1996 at which time he was Honorably Discharged, which at that time he was ranked a sergeant in the military.

“In the military I signed a contract to be four years active and four years inactive,” said Esquibel

Although he joined at 19, he didn’t just rush into the service. He went to college first, and decided that after experiencing the college life that it just wasn’t for him. After graduating from DCHS, he went to Highland Community College on a baseball scholarship.

“I went to college and just wanted an adventure. One thing lead to another, and I signed up for the Marines,” said Esquibel

After all that adventurous military action, Esquibel decided to go on another adventure, a family. Esquibel returned to Dodge City in 1993 and began his career in banking, working at the Dillon’s branch of Bank of the Southwest while getting his Associates of Arts Degree. While doing so he met his wife, Nikki, in biology class. Charlie and Nikki married in 1996 and now have two children, Lauren, 11, and Logan, 7.

“Everyone should experience a child like Logan! You just never know what Logan will say or do; he definitely keeps everyone on their toes,” said Esquibel

Charlie now works at Centera Bank as a

Loan Officer and has been happily working for them for 10 years now and plans to stay for quite a while.

“[My] plans are to revisit Hawaii with my family, to take a tour of the Hawaiian Islands and enjoy the beaches and to take in a few of the tourist attractions including a Luau,” he said

“[One thing I’m glad I did was] not be married when I was in the service. I saw my buddies who were married struggling with their relationship and their wives suffered financially,” he said

Not everyone knows what he or she wants when it comes to life and what to do after high school. The military could be a great option for many students, although not for all.

“The service is not for everyone, but it could change lives. You learn to respect [life

and people] more because of what you’ve learned, and done. Make sure you do something with your life after high school. College or the service. Everyone should look into them,” said Esquibel

If you’re interested in joining the service, Esquibel says the best thing to do is talk to a recruiter or veteran for information to make sure you are ready to make that commitment. He also says

that you need to go into it with an open-mind, get fit, be ready to learn, and travel.

-Kristi South

The decision that changed his life.The events remembered for a lifetime&

Hard at work. Esquibel at his workplace of 10 years. •photo courtesy of Esquibel

“Serving in the Marine Corps. changed my life. It gave me more discipline, more courage, patience, and taught me to act quickly. Everything that is said about what you’ll learn in the service is completely true. It made me a better person.”


15

Todd and Rachel South are a couple who both served in the United States military/ Todd served in the Marines from May 1998 to July 2003 and Rachel served in the Army starting March 1996 to August 1999. The couple met while Todd had two and a half years left in the Marines Rachel was going to college and the two met through mutual friends in North Carolina.

Rachel was almost 20 when she left for boot camp in March 1996.

“ I wasn’t ready for college, and I didn’t want to be a cashier for the rest of my life. I knew I would go to college one day and should do something productive in the meantime. The potential to travel, meet new people and learn new things all while getting a steady paycheck was very appealing. The GI Bill was also a plus,” said Rachel. Referring to the government program to assist the veterans in paying for education and more.

“Being a soldier helped me become a more mature and self-confident adult. It gave me the strength to make my own decisions and taught me to be self-sufficient,” she added.

“I wanted a challenge and to travel,” said Todd. “As a Marine I was able to see how few people really challenge themselves. Living in the military system taught me to value independent thinking and serious questioning, something not available to most in the service”

The service gave this couple plenty of memories. The Marines and Army had a lasting impression on them. Todd and Rachel both had the opportunity to travel overseas, Rachel to Panama and Todd to Iraq, Kuwait, Norway, and Japan. Todd was one of the many who had the courage to answer the call of the United States Marines and invade Iraq in 2003. Before that though, Todd travelled to Kuwait and drove his commanding officer’s vehicle and ran communications for his company as his fellow troops invaded and moved north into Iraq from Kuwait.

“After almost a week driving through Iraq, my company reached the edge of the city Nasriyah. Our convoy stopped and spread out alongside the road as tanks and armored vehicles rolled into the city. Jets screamed by and helicopters thumped overhead. I lay in the sand, my rifle pointing outward and felt artillery round pound the city.

Listening to the military radio traffic I heard body counts other Marines had been killed in an

ambush in the city. My company loaded up on anti-tank missiles and drove west of the city to guard a bridge as the rest of the brigade re-routed and drove north on our way to Baghdad,” reminisced Todd.

Before all the adventure of the Marines, Todd was a DCHS Demon, graduating in 1997. He then joined the service when he was 19 after completing one year at Dodge City Community College. He was in the Marines for five years on active duty, while he did radio repair and reconnaissance. When he got out of the Marines Corps. on July 1, 2003, he was ranked as a sergeant. He now lives in Tennessee as a newspaper reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

“[Before entering the Marines] I worked as a waiter, ranch hand, cell phone salesman and assistant manager of a gas station. I went to school at DCCC for one year before boot camp,” said Todd.

“Boot camp, Week 6. Everyone was exhausted and ready to be done with it. We were on a ruck march in sand, and I was among some other soldiers falling behind the group. One of the drill sergeants walked up next to me and started yelling at me to hurry up. Don’t be a quitter. He was trying to be motivating in an intimidating sort of way, but I just thought it was obnoxious because I wasn’t quitting. I was moving as fast as I could. In that moment it also occurred to me that

I only had two more weeks left to graduation, and I’d passed all the important tests. I started laughing and he looked at me like I was crazy. But he walked away and never bothered me again. I realized my inner strength and power that day,” said Rachel.

Rachel spent three and a half years in the military, but before joining she had to take a MOS test (Military Occupational Specialty).

“My MOS was 98G, that is a Spanish Linguist trained in Voice Interception for electronic Warfare with the Military Intelligence Corp.,” explained Rachel.

During her three and a half years of military service, she was promoted to Corporal in just three years. After which she was Honorably Discharged on August 15, 1999. She has had many jobs since that date, including Applebee’s trainer, owning her own business as a cosmetologist, and completing a Bachelor’s

Two journeys. -Kristi South

degree in Spanish. She now works as an administrative assistant in a law firm while working on a second Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders.

“My ultimate goal is to finish a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology,” said Rachel.

Before all her exciting experiences in the Army, Rachel grew up in Bergenfield, N.J. and graduated at the local high school in 1994. She then completed one year at Montclair State University in N.J. From there the Army career kicked off.

“[Before entering the Army] I worked several jobs, including cashier and stock person in local grocery store, sales rep in a men’s clothing store and women’s shoe store, waitress in a family owned restaurant and cashier at Home Depot,” said Rachel.

Students who want to join the military have many options Talking to recruiters or veterans even is a huge help, and knowing what branch and job you’d like to do in the service is also helpful.

“Be sure you really want to do it because it’s a big commitment, and be very specific on what job you pursue in the military. The job can make all the difference,” said Todd

“Military service is not glamorous. To get a true idea of what your life in the military will be like, speak to other people in the military or veterans, not just your recruiter. Your recruiter is a salesman and will tell you anything you want to hear just to get you to sign up.

Also, find out all of your job options and make sure they put the one you want in your contract before you leave for boot camp. If you want a specific duty station or area of the country, have them put that in your contract, too. Be prepared to do things without asking questions. The military can make you a more mature, productive member of society if you want it to,” Rachel added.

“Military service is not glamorous. To get a true idea of what your life in the military will be like, speak to other people

in the miltiary or veterans, not just your recruiter. Your recruiter is a salesman and will tell you anything you want to hear just

to get you to sign up.”

Many Memories.One Story


16

Veterans in the United States have good reason to be honored. They fought for our freedom, and put their lives at

risk for the advancement and well-being of our country. Personally, I know a veteran and I’ve had quite awhile to listen to his experiences and feelings about his time in the military. This man is my father, Mike Otterstein, and here is his story.

My dad entered the military when he was a 19-year-old with only one year of college. He had gone to college after high school and tried to find something that interested him, but he had trouble getting through the stresses of sports and school work as a business major. It was at this time that he decided he may want to choose another path for his future.

“I was disillusioned with my expectations for college, and I was influenced by two fellow classmates who told me of their boot camp experience. After that, I decided that’s where I wanted to go,” said Otterstein.

He stayed in the United States Marine Corps for two years before he was discharged. During the time

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he was enlisted, the Vietnam War was taking place, so there was a high risk of his going into active combat.

I asked him about his experiences while in the service. For this, I will use “T.O.” for my

questions and “M.O.” for his answers.

T.O. “What did you most enjoy about being in the military?”

M.O. “I probably most enjoyed seeing different places, but when asked about the top favorites I saw,

they would be Japan, Korea, and California.”

T.O. “What would you say was your most memorable moment while you were in the military?”

M.O. “I would have to say it was my first night in boot camp. I was lying in my bunk and it hit me. I was scared with the realization that I was the property of the U. S. military, and there was nothing I could do about it from that point on. It wasn’t my choice anymore.”

After my dad told me this, it made me think about the harsh realities of the military life. He used examples of the training and mental strain that was placed them

to demonstrate how important it was to keep a strong mind. Soldiers can’t break down, or become “weak,” because then they would not be considered strong enough to be a Marine.

T.O. “What combat ex-periences did you have in the Marines?”

M.O. “Well, I never got to participate in active combat. I trained constantly in preparation for fighting, and I was ready to go at any time. The closest I got to fighting was when I was in California, and I was on red alert. We expected to be shipped out to Viet Nam at anytime. It just never happened.”

T.O. “What did you miss most about civilian life while you were in the military?”

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Janet Smith, Owner620.225.6387705 1/2 2nd Ave.

Dodge City, KS 67801“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven,” -Luke 6:23

M.O. “I think I most missed looking like a normal citizen. Since I looked like a military official and constantly had to dress as such, I was likely to be slandered in public places because of the public attitude about the war at the time.

It was more likely that a fight would start because I was in the military and people saw me as a bad guy, even though I knew that wasn’t what I was about. You were almost immediately seen as a ‘baby killer’ or other stereotypical things that pertained to the 1970’s and their war attitudes.”

This fact seemed to bother my dad more than some of the other things he experienced while he

was in the military. He had a very positive attitude towards people, and he knew his morals were good and that he shouldn’t be judged by a uniform. Nonetheless, it still happened.

As you can tell, it’s a more strenuous job than most people can handle, which is why few actually go into the military.

It brings a lot of different aspects and stresses into life. It sometimes goes against the morals one may

Making the adjustment

“I don’t regret it, even though there were some tough times. All in all,

I realized that some people have to sacrifice

themselves for the good of our country. If no one did, we couldn’t be protected

the way we are.”

Trevor Otterstein


17

Wednesday, Nov. 11 marks the date of the end of World War I, giveing Americans the

opportunity to celebrate Veteran’s Day by honoring those who have served in the military as well as those who are currently serving. It is a time to honor those men and women who have defended American rights.

Thus, to mark the event, we have interviewed veterans who have served in the United States military, notably Beth Sonnevalle who enlisted in the Navy 20 years ago.

“My commitment in the Navy has been for me the most rewarding experience of my life,” said Sonnevalle.

When she graduated in 1978, she really didn’t know what do with her life.

Wanting to serve her country as well as to make a difference, she decided to enlist in the Navy just after graduating from high school. Since then the Navy has been for her a great opportunity.

“I didn’t feel like I was smart for other things. I also thought that I wasn’t made to be a housewife or to have children,” she said.

However, she underestimated herself. She served four years as an intelligence officer, working with top-secret files. She also earned two college degrees in food science and food processing.

Sonnevalle enlisted against the advice of her pacifist family. In fact, before she came back to the civilian life, she experienced difficult relations with her parents.

Sonnevalle served 20 years ago in the Navy, 15 years as a reservist. She had five years where she was on active duty. She served these five years in Washington, D.C.

However, the being in the Navy was not always easy for her. Sonnevalle was part of the 10% of women to enlist in the Navy. She admitted that sometimes discrimination occurred within her regiment. In spite of these acts, she holds fond memories of the Navy.

“Thanks to the Navy, I discovered different cultures and met many interesting people in the Navy,” she said.

She finished the interview advising those who want to find adventure and the discover new cultures to enlist in the Navy.

Making the adjustment have as well.

“I don’t regret it, even though there were some tough times. All in all, I realized that some people have to sacrifice themselves for the good of our country. If no one did, we couldn’t be protected the way we are.”

Listening to my father, I almost expected to get an answer such as “I probably wouldn’t do it again if I had the chance.”

But he seemed very grateful for his experience. And even though he was put through a lot of strain, he felt it made him grow as a person and he learned more about himself.

At the end of the interview, I asked him how he felt about the current situation with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the soldiers in today’s military.

“I think the soldiers now are fighting a battle as tough

or tougher than Vietnam, and I believe with the current situation we should withdraw as gracefully as possible.

I also think that the United States should stop trying to police the whole world. We put in a good effort, but it’s not our job to save everyone. We almost seem obnoxious to other countries, I’m sure.”

After this interview, I came out with a refreshed view of the military. I think that those in the military risk a great deal for us, and whether they go into combat or not, they are always ready to defend us. That’s a quality you don’t find often.

I think our veterans deserve great respect even if we disagree with the military situation.

Wouldn’t you like to know you’re protected? I know I would.

to military life Making her markin the Navy

Naval Intelligence

-Jean-Damien Bouyer

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-Luke Bunker Inthenewsandinmostgeneralconversations,we often hear onlyoftheveteranswhohaveseenwar.Those who have seen and foughtin war have given a lot for theircountry, and so have those whohavetrainedforfightinginwar,butfortunatelymissedtheaction.Myfather is one of those individualswhoneversawwar,butwasreadyandwillingtofightforhiscountry. Howard Gene Bunker wasbornatMcConnellAirForceBasein Wichita, Kansas, on Nov. 25,1953. Approximately 18 yearslater, Bunker leftWichita, signedup to be a Marine, and was onhis way to California to train forthe possibility of fighting anddefendinghiscountryoverseas. “I just thought it was myobligation to serve,” said Bunker.“My biological father had servedin the Navy for 22 years, and Ithought it was just part of me tocarry on the tradition. So that’swhatIdid.” According to Bunker, hisleavingforthemilitarydidn’thaveamajoreffectonhisfamily(exceptfor them possibly questioning hissanity),mostlyduetohisage. “The day I turned 18, I wentdown and took the exam, passedthe exam, andwent up toKansasCity to say the oath that you’regoing to protect the country andwhat it stands for,” said Bunker.“AndwhenIdidallthis,myfolkscouldn’t believe it; they thought Iwasnuts.” BunkerchosetojointheUnitedStatesMarine Corps (USMC) forseveralreasons. “I always watched a lot ofJohnWayne movies, and he wasalways in the Marines,” saidBunker. “And so I just decidedthat’s what I wanted to do – jointheMarineCorps. They say ‘thefew, the proud, theMarines,’ andtheMarineshavealwaysbeenthewaytogoforme.” During his two-year tour ofduty in the military (June 20,

1972, to June 19, 1974), Bunkerlearned several skills that wouldhelp prepare him for combat andfighting. “I was a combat engineer,”said Bunker. “I learned how tobasically use explosives, plasticexplosives, Bangalore torpedoes,andTNT.”

In addition to technical skills,Bunkerlearnedanumberoflessonsduringthisperiodinhislife,manyof which have stuck with him tothisday. “It was a real growing-upexperience for me, coming froma teenager into the time of war,”saidBunker.“Youlearnedhowtostandonyourowntwofeet.Whenyousaysomething,doit;don’tjusthem-hawaround.” Although he was never sentto fight overseas (he was in theUSMC during the Vietnam Era),onemorning,hecameveryclose. “The whole company wascalled to get on the parade deck(aparkinglot)onemorning,”saidBunker. “We got the notice toget on the parade deck at aroundmidnightandtogetallofourwar

gearroundedup.Then,wewaiteduntil4:00or5:00 in themorning,when they called it down andcalleditoff. Thewholecompanywasoutthere.Whateveritwas,weweregettingreadytogo.” According to Bunker, he andhisfellowMarineswere“onalert,24-7.”Inordertoprepareforwar,

theyplayedwargamesandtrainingintensively. “We trained for three monthsforbeingacombatengineer,”saidBunker.

“[For one part of the training]they putmines out for destroyingtanks,”saidBunker. “So,wehadtodisarmthem.Theyweren’tliveones,buttheyhadablastingcaponthem,soitwasaprettyloudsoundifyoudidn’tdisablethemcorrectly.In real life, youwould have beenhistoryifyoudidn’tdoitright. Igotminedoneright(laughs).” “We’dplaywargames andgooutontheshiptwotothreeweeksatatime,andthey’ddropusoffinamphibiousvehicles,”saidBunker.“We’d hit the beach, and theywould map out locations for us,and we’d pretend the enemy wasthere, andwewould basically trytogettothatposition.” “Also, every three monthswe’d have to run three miles fora physical training,” said Bunker.“You had to not only run threemiles, but you also had to do asmany sit-ups as you could in twominutes, with a maximum of 80,whichIdidwithnoproblem.” Outside of his core training,Bunker and several of his friendstrainedtogether. “Wewould always go out andrun,” saidBunker. “We’d go outandrunonMondays,Wednesdays,andFridays,andwe’drunbetweenthree and eight miles. And then,on Tuesdays and Thursdays, wewouldliftweights.” Thetraining,asonecanexpect,was grueling and, in some cases,

Training. Bunker,secondfromright, trainingwithfellowMarines in thedesert.BunkerunderwentthreemonthsoftrainingwhileintheUSMCtobecomeacombatengineer.• Photo Unknown

The Story of a MarineHis “experience of a lifetime”&

“It was a real growing-up experience for me, coming from a

teenager into the time of war.”


19

seeminglycruel. “In the Marine Corps,everybody does everythingtogether,” said Bunker. “It’s likeone unit. If somebody screw up,and starts talking in formation,the drill instructor would haveeverybody, which was about 40people in theplatoon,do jumpingjacksorbendsandthrusts.Wedid1500one timebecause somebodywastalking.Theydidn’tgetit,sowedid500,then1000,then1500.” “Wewent on a raid one time,getting ready forwhat theycalled‘RaidX,’atSanClementeIsland,”said Bunker. “Wewere going toinvade San Clemente Island, andthere was absolutely nothing onit. It’sbasicallyabig rockoffofSanClemente,andthat’sbasicallywherewedidourthing.” “Weweredoingapractice rungettingreadyfortheRaidX,andalltheboatswere in thewater,” saidBunker. “We were getting readyto hit the shore, and the first ofthreewaveswentin,andwecouldheareverybodyholleringfromthebeach.Whathadhappenedwasariptidehadcomeinandoverturnedseveral boats, and they were

lookingforoneindividual,andwecouldn’tfindhim,sowesearchedthebeachesallnight longlookingforthisperson,andweneverfoundhim. They found him two dayslater;hehaddrowned.” Despite some of the moregrueling and heartbreaking eventsand tasks presented before him,Bunker made several friends and

many memories in the USMC, acoupleoffriendswithwhomheisstillincontactwithtoday.

“I had two good friends; oneinMissouriandone inMontana,”said Bunker. “We went throughbasic boot camp through schoolandthengotstationedtogetherandgotoutatthesametime.” “I had really a good memorywith them,” said Bunker. “Wewent to desert training betweenArizona and California, andwere

on the Colorado River. We builta pontoon bridge halfway acrossitandwouldswimintheColorado

River, which is kind of a rapidriver.Itwasoverourheadswhenwe jumped in,butwehadagreattime.” “We’dalsodoraids.Wedidn’tthinkweweregettingenoughchow

(food),sohalfadozenofuswouldmake a raid on the kitchens andbringbackfoodfortherestoftheplatoon,”saidBunker,chuckling. Although Bunker enjoyed histimeinthemilitary,hesaidthatheunderstandsit’snotforeveryone. “It’s like I’ve always told mykids,” said Bunker. “It’s OK tojoin, but I’ve never forced them,and I wouldn’t force anybody to,orgetintheirfaceaboutit.It’supto the individual whether it’s forthemornot,becauseonceyousignonthedottedline,you’rebasicallyUncleSam’snow.” Reflectingon theeventsofhispast in the military, Bunker hadnothing negative to say about hisexperience. Leaving theMarinesas an E-4 Corporal, Bunker saidthathewould“never regretgoinginto the military, and woulddefinitelydoitalloveragain.” “Tome,it’sjusttheexperienceofalifetime,”saidBunker.“IwishIwere young enough to go [fightinthecurrentwar],toparticipateinthefight for freedom. Iwouldn’ttrade[theexperience]foranything.The other thing is that the drillinstructors are there to save your

life; theymakeyoudothings thatmight seemcruel, or not right, orunjust, but they are there to saveyour life. TheyaretheretomakeyouaMarine.”

Friendship (top). Bunker,middle,withseveralfriendshemetwhiletrainingintheUSMC.Hestillcorrespondswithsomeofthemtothisday.In uniform (bottom). Bunker,wearinghiseverydayuniformfortheUSMC.• Photos Unknown


20

Peg Vogel, ABR

620-227-2129 Business620-227-2408 Fax620-255-5853 Cell

Hancocks of Dodge City, Inc.2300 First AvenueDodge City, KS 67801

Becoming Army Strong Lots of children miss their

mother and father when they are gone for only a few days. Just imagine having them

gone for long periods of times like six months, one year, or even periods of up to two years. This is the life of most military children.

Most military children have to become adults very fast. The oldest child usually has the toughest job of filling in for their dad or mom while he or she is gone. The younger ones are there to help out where they can.

This is the life of my uncle’s family. My Uncle James Allen Cochran is part of the Army branch of the military service and has been for 23 years.

James is currently the First Sergeant of the 206th Transportation Company in Opelika, Alabama. Even though he works in Alabama, heand his family live on the base in Ft. Benning, Georgia, which means he has to go through a time change to work and back home.

His family includes his wife Christina, daughters Jami and Kati and sons Cole and Alex. Jami just finished high school this past year. Cole is a sophomore in high school, and Kati is in eighth grade and Alex is in fifth.

James Allen Cochran was born

in Fort Worth, TX, Oct.26, 1966. He is the oldest of four children. He moved to Salina, KS in seventh grade and attended school there until graduation. When he turned 19, he joined the Army.

“I was the only one in my family who enlisted in the service of any branch,” said Cochran. “I wanted to learn how to drive big trucks, and I wanted to serve my country.”

During his time in the military, Cochran has served overseas many times. He served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm from Sept. 27, 1990 to Jan. 20, 1991.

He has also served two terms in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first term was for 545 days starting on Jan. 17, 2004. The second term was also for 545 days and started on Aug. 5, 2005.

Cochran is part of the Motor Transportation system in the Army. This means he is in charge of the control of movement of personnel and cargo by air, railway, and motor and water transport. He also is in charge of the coordination and implementation of operations, training programs and communication activities. While overseas he must make a plan and layout maintenance shops and facilities.

The servicemen and women in the MOS otherwise known as the Motor Transportation system have to be in very good physical shape. These men and women have to pass a test known as a Physical Profile (PULHES). This test determines your stamina, how well you can hear and see, and how well you can move your body parts.

While serving in the military, most veterans’ have memorable moments. Some may be good and some they might want to forget. One of my uncle’s most memorable moments didn’t happen oversea. It happened right here on our own soil.

“Mentoring young soldiers and watching them come through the ranks from privates to sergeants and getting to promote soldiers is one of my most memorable moments,” said Cochran.

Some of Cochran’s awards during the service include the Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, German Troop Proficiency Badge and the Combat Action Badge along with many other ones.

10 StepS to Join the Military1. Learn About the Military2. Decide if you’re ready3. Choose the Right Path4. Meet the Recruiter5. Ace the ASVAB6. Get the Best Job7. Complete the Process8. Raise Your Right Hand9. Get Ready for Boot Camp10. You’re in! Make the most of It!

Go to military.com to find out more information about joining the military

In Uniform...First Sergeant James Al-len Cochran poses for a picture in his uniform. Photo Unknown.

-Ethan Hutchcraft

I am very glad for my Uncle James, and I am very appreciative for what he does. If it were not for him and other veterans, we may not live in a country where we can live and speak freely. This is why I consider all veter-ans, including my uncle, a hero.

Motor Transportation System

Nov. 9 Issue - Veterans Day Special Edition

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Transcript of Nov. 9 Issue - Veterans Day Special Edition