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Words From Veterans
Words From Veterans
Da Vinci students met with Veterans in a series of interviews discussing the multiple wars that the US Military has been a part of. Veterans provided insight into their experiences of war, the effects of everyday life during wartime, and the struggles of integrating back into society after returning home. The following Veterans described the challenges of the training, combat, and survival as they shared their stories and took us through what it was like to be a US military member in Iraq.
Braden Cooper
(Cooper)
Braden Cooper
Braden Cooper
Braden Cooper was a part of the US Marine Corps for a total of twenty-four years. He chose the Marines "Because it was the toughest" (Cooper). When asked about the most difficult part of his experience he stated," The hardest part was in between Sere school and the martial arts course and the seven weeks of pure fighting." (Cooper).
When mentioned how coming home made him feel he noted "I don't think that I'd done enough and that the mission wasn't completed and that we lost too many men" (Cooper). When questioned about What comes to his mind when he is thanked for his service, Cooper simply answered "I prefer thank you for what you've done" (Cooper).
When Cooper was asked how war affected him, he responded honestly, " I didn't think it affected me at all. In combat didn’t have to worry about paying bills, and money. Just had to worry about my men and making sure they came home. But then I had all the things come back and it made me mad and [took] a toll on my family and friends" (Cooper).
Cooper is now living with his family and getting the help he needs to live his life to the fullest.
"Because it was the toughest" (Cooper).
"The hardest part was in between Sear school and the martial arts course and the seven weeks of pure fighting" (Cooper).
"I prefer thank you for what you've done" (Cooper).
" I didn't think it affected me at all. In combat didn’t have to worry about paying bills, and money. Just had to worry about my men and making sure they came home. But then I had all the things come back and it made me mad and [took] a toll on my family and friends" (Cooper).
Robert Larsen
(Larsen)
Robert Larsen
Robert Larsen
Robert Larsen was a part of the US Air Force for forty years. He originally wanted to become a baseball player but soon changed his mind and chose to serve his country.
When asked what the hardest part of service had been, Larsen mentioned, "The hardest part was the three consecutive deployments. The eighteen months at K2 changed my life" (Larsen). When talking more about K2 he adds, "Place was a pit, it was hard, got shot at on a C-130 aircraft. As soon I landed on K2 it changed my whole life" (Larsen).
In discussing the effects that Iraq had on him individually Larsen responded "I am one hundred percent disabled, my hearing was affected, and I have lung nodules that if they grow anymore I can die" (Larsen). During the interview, Robert also mentioned that they would have to shower in water contaminated with toxic chemicals like Arsenic.
When Larsen gave his opinion on what "Thank you for your service" meant to him he simply said, "It depends on who is saying it. But it's important to know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Veterans Day is a good way to just say thank you. And I'll say "you're welcome" it was a team effort". But Memorial Day is giving thanks to those who didn't come back. It's important to know the difference between the two days" (Larsen)
Larsen along with Cooper had a hard time adjusting to life after his time in Iraq. "I too divorced my wife. I came home to another man living there [in my house]. All that time I was gone, and had come back to that? Hardest day of my life" (Larsen)
Larsen expressed that "It takes a while to adjust" (Larsen). He is happily married and is getting the help that he needs.
"The hardest part was the three consecutive deployments. The eighteen months at K2 changed my life" (Larsen).
"Place was a pit, it was hard, got shot at on a C-130 aircraft. As soon I landed on K2 it changed my whole life" (Larsen).
"It depends on who is saying it. But it's important to know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Veterans Day is a good way to just say thank you. And I'll say 'You're welcome' it was a team effort'. But Memorial Day is giving thanks to those who didn't come back. It's important to know the difference between the two days" (Larsen).
Key Quotes
Key Quotes
More important and key quotes from the other Veterans that attended the interview.
Question: What was the hardest part of it all?
Chris Stover: "Time away from home" (Stover).
Terry Lucas: "Anytime we went on a combat mission" (Lucas).
Chris Archusla: "Someone you know or worked with you would see the bracelets each one is a service member that had passed on the combat" (Archusla).
Erin Reed: "Initial training is hard. You come home and you're gone again" (Reed).
Question: What comes to your mind when you hear "Thank you for your service"?
Chris Stover: "Yeah don’t sweat it if I like them, if I don’t like them I just say I didn’t do it for you" (Stover).
Terry Lucas: "Sometimes it rubs me the wrong way, kinda like a gray area" (Lucas).
Chris Archusla: "Say thank you for your service and welcome home" (Archusla).
Erin Reed: "I just say thanks" (Reed).
The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell
The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell
By John Crawford
Novel Summary
Novel Summary
The book opens with the main character, John Crawford just one semester away from graduating collage when he's suddenly deployed to Iraq, something he never thought would happen to a member of the national guard. Once in Iraq, him an his unit are passed around, joining various platoons and being given various tasks with no agency of their own. John's unit get extended multiple times, always just before the time they believed they would get to go home. John's unit ends up occupying Bagdad for months, facing snipers and insurgents trying to take them out. After seemingly forever, they unit is re assigned to protect some Iraqi civilians, after doing so, they get on a plane home. Before going home, John imagines coming home to his loving wife and living an idyllic, happy life. When he returns, he finds a wife who quickly divorces him and falls into a depressions spending months couch surfing.
Key Quotes
"...heard the door chime and gave me a broad smile. I walked out. I never wanted to hate anyone; it just sort of happens that way in a war" (Crawford 157).
"Anything worth anything had been stolen, and what wasn't had been destroyed..." (Crawford 31).
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