Nov. 9 Issue - Veterans Day Special Edition

Special Edition

the

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

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

Contents

DODGER 11.09.09

Dodger the

Dodger staff

Codi Ehrlich......................Co-Editor Anthony Reardon..............Co-Editor Trevor Otterstein..................Opinion

Lineup

Luke Bunker.........................Opinion

Kristi South....................... Lifestyles Jordan Stevens.................. Lifestyles Meghan Lee.............................News

Ethan Hutchcraft.....................Sports Hunter Edwards......................Sports

Cristina Yeverino................Reporter Alysia Garvalena.................Reporter

The Navy Experience

pg. 4

It Wasn’t Easy

pg. 5

Back at Home

pg. 6-7

Jean-Damien Bouyer...........Reporter Erin Finley..........................Reporter Kristine Rusinova................Reporter Ethan Hutchcraft......... Photographer Cindy Moore........................ Adviser

Editorial Policy 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.

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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

The Decision...

pg. 13

Two Journeys...

pg. 15

pg. 14

Making the adjustment... pg. 16-17 Making Her Mark...

The Story of a Marine

pg. 17

Becoming Army Strong

pg. 20

pg. 18-19

Column

11.09.09 DODGER

Remembering our Veterans

-Codi Ehrlich

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 opportunities as an adult. I can register to vote, buy sharpies, 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 until now are going to be putting on a uniform a grueling basic training is not something that and protecting my rights as an American citizen.

I have imagined for my future. It’s something It’s also a weird feeling to think that of all of that I know I am not meant to do. But for some these people that I know serving in the military, it’s possible that I will never see them again. I people, that is their future.

And it is these people that we owe our grat- can’t imagine what their mothers feel when they itude and thanks. It takes a lot of courage to walk out the door. leave your family, friends, and the comforts of All this talk about death and war, we often forget about the soldiers who served, but never home to serve your country.

After talking to Stan Sutton, a veteran from fought in wars. Just because they didn’t expeWWII, I realized that the experiences that vet- rience combat, doesn’t meant that they do not erans go through during war stick with them for deserve just as much of our respect as those the rest of their lives. Here Stan is, 89 years old, who did. They took the same oath to protect and he can recall events from almost 70 years and serve our country, and they did accomplish that, only in a different manner. ago.

We also can’t forget to think about the men After hearing about his brother’s death in the and women who are currently war, it also made death more of a reality to me. If “It takes a lot of cour- serving our country. I am not sure how I feel about the war, you lose someone in war, it is something that never age to leave your family, but one thing I do know is I am thankful that these leaves you. friends, and the comforts that men and women are standing Almost everyday there of home to serve your up for what they believe in to is a death count from the protect our country. They dewar in Iraq on the radio or country.” serve our thanks whether we the local news, but I never support this war or not. really thought about those Driving by the cemetery on Wednesday, one soldiers giving up their lives for our country unof the most beautiful sights in Dodge City can til I heard the story of Stan losing his brother.

Not only do the soldiers who give their lives be seen. There will be American flags flying deserve our thanks and gratitude, but those who on every flagpole commemorating the veterans barely hang on to life as they come back home who served our country.

Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, celebrates those who also deserve honor. They leave the war, different people than they began and are faced every- unselfishly gave up their time and, for many, day with disabilities reminding them of the time their lives to give us a better future, more freedom, and the American way of life. they spent serving their country.

So take the time to read the stories of the vetAs a senior, I am also realizing the reality of the war in which we are currently engaged. erans in this issue. Think about the sacrifices People my age, even some of my friends, are they made for our futures and if you know any enlisting in the military. It’s weird to think that veterans, thank them for honorably serving our people I went to school with from kindergarten country.

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Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

The Navy Experience Keith Bradley and “The Fighting Lady” of WWII -Erin Finley

I

n September 1939, Germany World War II ended on Aug. invaded Poland and thus 15, 1945, just two months after started World War II. Keith Bradley was inducted. Although Bradley was 12. He was the war was over, there was still a not yet old enough to enlist or be lot to be done. drafted for the military. However “I was Master of Arms of the he did make an agreement with his barracks in Boot Camp and at older brother, barely 18, this William, that was a real he would be c h a l l e n g e . the one to Many of the serve for the men were over family if the 30 years old time came. from the draft “Because at this point of an in the war,” agreement Bradley said. with my

older brother, Bradley also I said that I traveled would go to overseas from KU after high Oct. 31, 1945, school and to mid-January then enlist if 1946. the war was

still going “’The Fighting on when I Lady’ made reached 18,” two trips to the Bradley said.

Pacific area During to return U.S. Keith Bradley, 1944 that period in soldiers to the history, families were permitted Alameda Air Station from Guam to just have one member deferred and Manila,” Bradley said. “We so that others could stay home to then sailed to Bremerton, WA, to work on the farm to keep it going. the dry dock in February, 1946, Bradley enlisted in April, 1945, to put in ‘moth balls’ ( seal gun before his 18th birthday. He had to turrets and equipment and painted enlist before he turned 18 or else all areas of the ship.) his name would be placed in the “The Fighting Lady” was draft. On May 16, he turned 18 and decommissioned on June 21, 1946 he was inducted into the Navy on and docked in Puget Sound until June 8, 1945. it was later reactivated for the “I chose the Navy because I Korean War. wanted to have a clean bed each Life was pretty good on night and not be confined muddy Bradley’s aircraft carrier, “The foxhole,” Bradley said. “Also, I Fighting Lady” which was a CV10 knew the food would be better than Yorktown.

K rations.”

“I had a clean place to sleep, Bradley held the position of and the sea was beautiful with Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class. He porpoises and flying fish,” said worked with sound-powered Bradley. Movies were shown on phones and when the ship was the forward elevator so they could in dock, he was the switchboard be watched from the flight or operator. hangar desks.”

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Another good part of being in the Navy was the food. They had “good food for each meal.”

“Thanksgiving dinner was outstanding and had turkey and all trimmings,” Bradley said.

However, not all the foods were quite as tasty.

“I didn’t like the baked beans for breakfast. The powdered milk, eggs, and ice cream were not very good either.”

The coffee was really strong and after each meal “they drained the pot on the floor and cleaned all the grease and debris from the mass decks.”

The ship’s main job was to bring home men from the war. It could get very crowded, with about

Keith Bradley, 2006

10,000 men on it.

“The ship had about 2,000 people before we picked up servicemen and living on board was not too bad,” Bradley said.

When the crew of the ship were the only people on board, they chipped paint and repaired surfaces.

Although Bradley was away from home and had to delay his college education, the Navy helped with the cost of college.

“A benefit was the financial help I received from the G.I. Bill, which because of the time I served, paid some of my expenses to finish college,” Bradley said.

Although Bradley had to make sacrifices to be in the Navy, the time he spent there provided life lessons.

“I learned how to deal with old salts (hard-shelled navy people). I as in Boot Camp with people a lot older than me, and I had to give orders as Masters of Arms,” said Bradley.

The Navy was a real eye-opener for Bradley and he will never forget it.

“To see the damage in Manilla was very eye-opening,” said Bradley. “For a young kid coming out of a farm in Kansas, it was a real life experience.”

Susie Reardon 1712 Central • P.O. Box 176 Dodge City, KS 67801 620.225.2888 • 1.800.779.0753 Fax: 620.227.3970 susie@parkerhaskins.com

Special Edition

11.09.09 DODGER

It wasn’t easy... 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

Jose Garvalena

E

veryday one hears stories of soldiers who survived almost unbearable conditions 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

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 extended.

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

-Alysia Garvalena

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.

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Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

W

ith 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 26year-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.

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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

Special Edition 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

11.09.09 DODGER 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 sevenmonth 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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Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

Air Force develops discipline, leadership skills “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

8

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.

-Hunter 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.

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Special Edition

H

Pvt. John C. Stevens

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,

11.09.09 DODGER

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

- Jordan Stevens when her son was wounded during one of his missions.

“Mrs. Laura B. Stevens The 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.” Censored. To the left a letter that has been inspected and passed by a censorship 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

9

Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

WWll: Leaving Dodge City t -Codi Ehrlich

G 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

raduating 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 unlucky 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 local 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.”

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

1941

1939 Sept. 1 Nazis invade poland as WWII begins 10

Sept. 5 US announces its neutrality towards the war

Dec. 7 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

On June 5, Sutton received a telegram to report 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 Ensign, 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 daytime 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 airplane. His training was completed on tandem seat planes. The TBF, a torpedo plane, carried a pilot, a turret gunner 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 Republic 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 prevailing winds were in a southerly direction. If we had not qualified, 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 a needles un the air. Th cool, calm a

WWII Ti

1942 Dec. 8 US and Britain declare war on Japan

Dec. 11 Germany declares war on US

June 4-5 US wins battle of Midway

194

June Jews are murdered at Auschwitz

Jan Soviet libe Ausc

Special Edition

11.09.09 DODGER

to answer the call of duty 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 Schunke 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 disappeared 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 stomach 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 collected. 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 divebomber. Sutton learned that his aircraft carrier had just docked.

They met up and spent the evening together.

“We had a day of liberty together 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

all on pins and ntil we’d get in hen we were 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, Sutton was assigned to instruct combat in torpedo planes in Jacksonville and Miami. As the war ended, he went to Michigan to form a combat 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 managed 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 instructors 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 Defense 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 estate agent and is currently living in Dodge City.

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

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

Smile. Stan Sutton is pictured with wife, Delores.

• Courtesy Photo

Cheating the system 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 accident).

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

airport 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.

imeline

45

n. 26 t troops erate chwitz

May 7 German troops surrender to Allies

May 8 V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

Aug. 6 Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima

Aug. 9 Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki

Aug. 14 Japanese surrender

Aug. 15 V-J Day (Victory in Japan)

Sept. 2 WWII Ends

11

Special Edition

11.09.09

-Cristina Yeverino

M

any of the previous wars have exact 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 beginning 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 ordered to go...”

Burke was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, when he was sent to the Vietnam War. He was 27 years old and was married 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 continued to be so throughout the phase of American 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 carry 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 Vietcong base as we were. Explosions and booby traps and things of that nature went off, injuring many soldiers. My company made it out on time, but men from the other company were severely 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 another 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 continuous service since its organization 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 Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who receive retirement pay on the basis of their active duty and/or Reserve service; all Reserve officers and enlisted members who are otherwise eligible 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 professor 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-

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 history professor at Dodge City Community College.

“The war is worth fighting. It was difficult and I’m glad I served,” Burke said.

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

12

“It’s A Pleasure!”

Dodge City, Greensburg, Minneola, Satanta, Sublette “Member FDIC”

We support the Dodge City High School

Go Demons!

Special Edition

11.09.09 DODGER

Making the most of it…

M -Meghan Lee

y father was never interested in go- tion Medal for Commendations Service in Deing to college and after turning down cember 1976-1980, for outstanding services Annapolis Naval Academy for gym- which you normally can’t receive in a non-war nastics, he found himself on his way for Wichita time period.”

Falls, TX, for boot camp at age 19.

Lee was also a member of the Prime Beef Leon was at Military Air Force Boot Camp Mobilization and also participated in the Comfor eight long weeks starting August 4, 1976. munity College of the Air Force.

After his boot camp, he went to Civil EngineerWhile in the military, Lee and his wife had ing Tech school for another two children. Chansix weeks. After finishing tell, born in Februabout 14 weeks of training, ary 1978, and Jerhe was assigned to the 82nd emy born May 1980.

Civil Engineering SquadSoon after Leon was ron stationed at Williams discharged in July, Air Force Base in Phoenix, he and his family AZ. He was enlisted during moved back to Kanone of the longest non consas. flicted peace time eras.

“Being in the serWhile at boot camp, vice taught me how newlywed Leon Lee didn’t to be a leader and to find it hard to maintain his run projects, which marriage to Brenda Lee. is what I went into They were married in July after the military.

1976 right before he was to I think everyone go in to boot camp. should have to do “We both had to grow at least 12 months up fast, learn how to live to get some kind of on our own and leave the training. It will teach family behind,” Leon said. them to be responWhile stationed in Arisible and help them zona, he became the NCO later go on to colfor the structural mainlege.” tenance and repair team Lee is now livLeon Lee, 19 (SMART) at the Air Force ing in Dodge City, base. He was in charge of KS, working in the all maintenance on government buildings. Each construction business. (L R Lee Contracting). spring he was also assigned to TDY-Temporary He isstill married with four children and three Duty at Roosevelt Lake to do maintenance on grandchildren. He has no plans to retire any the cabins that were available for families. time soon and gives his thanks to the military.

“I was awarded the Air Force Commenda-

Bailey’s Body Shop Robert Bailey Owner 319 Maple Dodge City, KS 67801 620-225-2869 Fax 620-225-2070

Go Red Demons!

Steve Pfannenstiel Manager 503 Second Avenue • Dodge City, KS 67801 620-227-8833 • Fax 620-227-8844

13

The decision that changed his life.

Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

&

14

The events remembered for a lifetime

-Kristi South 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

Hard at work. Esquibel at his workplace of 10 years.

•photo courtesy of Esquibel

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.

“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.”

Special Edition

One Story

Two journeys.

Many Memories.

-Kristi South

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 selfconfident 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.

11.09.09 DODGER

“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

“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

“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.” 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 rerouted 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.

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

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.

15

Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

Trevor Otterstein

V

eterans 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 wellbeing 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-yearold 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

Making the adjustment 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 experiences 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.”

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

“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.”

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

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Special Edition

11.09.09 DODGER

Naval Intelligence

to military life 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.

Making her mark in the Navy -Jean-Damien Bouyer

W

ednesday, 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.

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Special Edition

DODGER 11.09.09

The Story of a Marine His “experience of a lifetime”

& -Luke Bunker

In the news and in most general conversations, we often hear only of the veterans who have seen war.

Those who have seen and fought in war have given a lot for their country, and so have those who have trained for fighting in war, but fortunately missed the action. My father is one of those individuals who never saw war, but was ready and willing to fight for his country.

Howard Gene Bunker was born at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, on Nov. 25, 1953. Approximately 18 years later, Bunker left Wichita, signed up to be a Marine, and was on his way to California to train for the possibility of fighting and defending his country overseas.

“I just thought it was my obligation to serve,” said Bunker.

“My biological father had served in the Navy for 22 years, and I thought it was just part of me to carry on the tradition. So that’s what I did.”

According to Bunker, his leaving for the military didn’t have a major effect on his family (except for them possibly questioning his sanity), mostly due to his age.

“The day I turned 18, I went down and took the exam, passed the exam, and went up to Kansas City to say the oath that you’re going to protect the country and what it stands for,” said Bunker.

“And when I did all this, my folks couldn’t believe it; they thought I was nuts.”

Bunker chose to join the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for several reasons.

“I always watched a lot of John Wayne movies, and he was always in the Marines,” said Bunker. “And so I just decided that’s what I wanted to do – join the Marine Corps. They say ‘the few, the proud, the Marines,’ and the Marines have always been the way to go for me.”

During his two-year tour of 18 duty in the military (June 20,

1972, to June 19, 1974), Bunker learned several skills that would help prepare him for combat and fighting.

“I was a combat engineer,” said Bunker. “I learned how to basically use explosives, plastic explosives, Bangalore torpedoes, and TNT.”

gear rounded up. Then, we waited until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, when they called it down and called it off. The whole company was out there. Whatever it was, we were getting ready to go.”

According to Bunker, he and his fellow Marines were “on alert, 24-7.” In order to prepare for war,

“It was a real growing-up experience for me, coming from a teenager into the time of war.”

Training. Bunker, second from right, training with fellow Marines in the desert.

Bunker underwent three months of training while in the USMC to become a combat engineer. • Photo Unknown

In addition to technical skills, Bunker learned a number of lessons during this period in his life, many of which have stuck with him to this day.

“It was a real growing-up experience for me, coming from a teenager into the time of war,” said Bunker. “You learned how to stand on your own two feet. When you say something, do it; don’t just hem-haw around.”

Although he was never sent to fight overseas (he was in the USMC during the Vietnam Era), one morning, he came very close.

“The whole company was called to get on the parade deck (a parking lot) one morning,” said Bunker. “We got the notice to get on the parade deck at around midnight and to get all of our war

they played war games and training intensively.

“We trained for three months for being a combat engineer,” said Bunker.

“[For one part of the training] they put mines out for destroying tanks,” said Bunker. “So, we had to disarm them. They weren’t live ones, but they had a blasting cap on them, so it was a pretty loud sound if you didn’t disable them correctly.

In real life, you would have been history if you didn’t do it right. I got mine done right (laughs).”

“We’d play war games and go out on the ship two to three weeks at a time, and they’d drop us off in amphibious vehicles,” said Bunker.

“We’d hit the beach, and they would map out locations for us, and we’d pretend the enemy was there, and we would basically try to get to that position.”

“Also, every three months we’d have to run three miles for a physical training,” said Bunker.

“You had to not only run three miles, but you also had to do as many sit-ups as you could in two minutes, with a maximum of 80, which I did with no problem.”

Outside of his core training, Bunker and several of his friends trained together.

“We would always go out and run,” said Bunker. “We’d go out and run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and we’d run between three and eight miles. And then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we would lift weights.”

The training, as one can expect, was grueling and, in some cases,

Special Edition seemingly cruel.

“In the Marine Corps, everybody does everything together,” said Bunker. “It’s like one unit. If somebody screw up, and starts talking in formation, the drill instructor would have everybody, which was about 40 people in the platoon, do jumping jacks or bends and thrusts. We did 1500 one time because somebody was talking. They didn’t get it, so we did 500, then 1000, then 1500.”

“We went on a raid one time, getting ready for what they called ‘Raid X,’ at San Clemente Island,” said Bunker. “We were going to invade San Clemente Island, and there was absolutely nothing on it. It’s basically a big rock off of San Clemente, and that’s basically where we did our thing.”

“We were doing a practice run getting ready for the Raid X, and all the boats were in the water,” said Bunker. “We were getting ready to hit the shore, and the first of three waves went in, and we could hear everybody hollering from the beach. What had happened was a riptide had come in and overturned several boats, and they were

11.09.09 DODGER looking for one individual, and we couldn’t find him, so we searched the beaches all night long looking for this person, and we never found him. They found him two days later; he had drowned.”

Despite some of the more grueling and heartbreaking events and tasks presented before him, Bunker made several friends and

“I had two good friends; one in Missouri and one in Montana,” said Bunker. “We went through basic boot camp through school and then got stationed together and got out at the same time.”

“I had really a good memory with them,” said Bunker. “We went to desert training between Arizona and California, and were

many memories in the USMC, a couple of friends with whom he is still in contact with today.

on the Colorado River. We built a pontoon bridge halfway across it and would swim in the Colorado

(food), so half a dozen of us would make a raid on the kitchens and bring back food for the rest of the platoon,” said Bunker, chuckling.

Although Bunker enjoyed his time in the military, he said that he understands it’s not for everyone.

“It’s like I’ve always told my kids,” said Bunker. “It’s OK to join, but I’ve never forced them, and I wouldn’t force anybody to, or get in their face about it. It’s up to the individual whether it’s for them or not, because once you sign on the dotted line, you’re basically Uncle Sam’s now.”

Reflecting on the events of his past in the military, Bunker had nothing negative to say about his experience. Leaving the Marines as an E-4 Corporal, Bunker said that he would “never regret going into the military, and would definitely do it all over again.”

“To me, it’s just the experience of a lifetime,” said Bunker. “I wish I were young enough to go [fight in the current war], to participate in the fight for freedom. I wouldn’t trade [the experience] for anything.

The other thing is that the drill instructors are there to save your

Friendship (top). Bunker, middle, with several friends he met while training in the USMC. He still corresponds with some of them to this day. In uniform (bottom).

Bunker, wearing his everyday uniform for the USMC. • Photos Unknown

River, which is kind of a rapid river. It was over our heads when we jumped in, but we had a great time.”

“We’d also do raids. We didn’t think we were getting enough chow

life; they make you do things that might seem cruel, or not right, or unjust, but they are there to save your life. They are there to make you a Marine.”

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Special Edition

DODGER 11.11.09

-Ethan Hutchcraft

Motor Transportation System

L

Becoming Army Strong

ots 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.

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 veterans, including my uncle, a hero.

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

10 Steps To Join The Military

1. Learn About the Military 2. Decide if you’re ready 3. Choose the Right Path 4. Meet the Recruiter 5. Ace the ASVAB 6. Get the Best Job 7. Complete the Process 8. Raise Your Right Hand 9. Get Ready for Boot Camp 10. You’re in! Make the most of It!

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

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