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I feel it is very important that veterans are acknowledged and appreciated in ways such as this, to show our support for their work.
I learned a great deal of information from this project and I am glad I was able to take part in this. These veterans’ stories are special
and need to be preserved so that everyone today, and years from now, are able to look back and appreciate all the brave men and
women that have fought for our country. SE
This project has let me understand a piece of history that most people won’t ever hear first-hand again. The overall project has really
stuck with me and I feel it will stay with me for the rest of my life…What I learned from this wise veteran is one thing, but knowing that
I preserved his story and what he went through is a gift. CL
While in Vietnam, during his free time, Dave would take the opportunity to learn Philippine and Vietnamese languages. Now Dave
is almost trilingual and has encountered many situations in his life where he’s found his background knowledge in those languages
very helpful. Something I’ve really grasped from doing this project is that you gain many valuable lifelong skills from enlisting in the service. SM
Uncomfortable was something that came up in my life a lot in school. I would always exaggerate an assignment and overestimate its difficulties. This project is going to make me be more prepared and comfortable with school assignments. This project was a starting
point for all upcoming projects and taught me many lessons. For instance, to be organized is a great one. I learned both history and preparation. WM
It wasn’t just another project. It put an actual face to war and shows you that people have experienced life-changing moments during wartime. This project is worth all the time and effort because when you finish the interview and the transcript you feel good, and feel
like you learned something. The project is very time consuming, but every part of it is worth it. LK
This interview made the history real to me, both the horrors and the heroism of American veteran survivors…It has been years since
he has experienced a combat flashback, but the struggles of many veterans are not over. He has friends dying from cancers due to
their exposure to Agent Orange. It has taken too long for our government to recognize all the effects of the Vietnam War on its
veterans and do all it can to help them. WR
Having to view the deaths of comrades, innocent people, and even your enemies is painful to watch and remains with you for eternity.
One of the things that stood out to me was how cruel people are to each other. EG
I really enjoyed doing this project and hope that you keep doing it in the future, because I feel like it’s something everyone should
experience at least once in their life. BF
In the Navy he was able to make a name for himself, but back home he was just another “baby killer.” The tone of his voice when he
said this was pure anger, as if he had relieved his worst memory and couldn’t stop thinking about it for the rest of the interview. Just
from this, I could begin to understand the hatred from the American people towards the men who were forced to fight in Vietnam, and it made sense for them to end up with all the psychological problems you hear about. HK
During the interview, [my partner] and I became so fascinated by Mr. Tyldesley’s stories, that we went over the allotted time by about
fifteen minutes. The way he talked almost seemed to bring you back with him into that submarine… JM
Bill explained to me that when he went into the war he thought that he could win the war and nothing bad would happen to him.
He was wrong. MC
It amazes me that Dave, along with many other soldiers, were so happy by just getting orange juice and coffee, when every morning
most of us wake up and can just go get it in our kitchen with no problem at all. AB
Before this project [my partner] and I never talked outside of western civilization class. Over the four-month process of completing this project, we became close friends. Working on this project together gave us the chance to get to know each other. I would have never guessed that I was going to get a best friend out of this experience, but I’m glad I did. SB
The Witness to War project taught me many new things including the terrors of war, to always finish what you start, and the importance
of family. This project was a long, frustrating (at times), and difficult process. I was able to experience what it’s like to work with a
partner and friend, and get a taste of what the real world is like. I have learned about the Persian Gulf War and its heroes, but maybe
more than anything, I learned about myself. I now appreciate more than ever the morals and values my parents have passed on to me.
I understand and treasure the value of my family that loves me. EG
He did not go into vivid detail about his actual combat experiences, but he did mention the brotherhood he and his platoon had formed… David also mentioned how he was proud of his service and would not hesitate to do the same exact thing over again if he had the chance. CD
Mr. Hempel was very descriptive when we asked him questions about his tours and many other things. He told us specifically where
exactly he went on tours and named each place around the world. To me that was surprising, for him to remember all the places
he went to. LF
I learned that war was not all about fighting and that not everyone who went to war necessarily wanted to be there... Lawrence worked
as a dental tech during the Vietnam War, and also served as a conscientious objector, meaning he chose not to kill or fight. His story
taught the importance of standing up for what you believe in even in the most uncomfortable situations such as war. NR
Francis, my grandpa enjoyed doing this as much as I did. We got to see each other more than we usually do and spend more time
together. WM
However, through my chagrin I notice that I have in fact learned something from what I might otherwise call a dreadful time-wasting experience. I have learned more about my grandfather, a man who was already dear to me. I have learned things that we would have
never talked about, in particular his life in the military. Had it not been for this project I feel that this topic may have never come up
and all his wonderful stories would simply disappear with him. That of course did not happen due to the fact that this project cued us
to talk about it. In this project, I feel that as well as warfare, I have also come to know my grandfather better and because of that,
no matter how much I rant, I still believe the project can be seen as an overall good one. EP
He told us a story of how he had to bail out of his plane in the middle of the night over an unknown area. I didn’t know circumstances
like this had existed in the first place. It sounded like something from a movie, but it was an important and fearful part of his life…
I went into this project knowing only what we had learned in school about the war. I left understanding how war is interpreted differently depending on who is experiencing it. LH
The Witness to War project was the best and most fun school project I have ever done. MC
I have enjoyed working on the Witness to War project. It was something different, and I liked that. I enjoyed sharing what we learned
with the class. This project is something that I wish every history student could get to do, because it can really change your perspective
on some war situations and your perspective of veterans. CS
From the moment I laid eyes on [my veteran], I had my doubts. I thought that we might have to go back to the drawing board and find another willing veteran. When he began to talk my fears subsided when I heard the depth and feeling he put into describing his
experiences in the war. He had a paper to refer to that was literally covered front and back with notes on his time in the military.
While he talked, he was constantly emphasizing his speech with his hands, so much so it looked as if he was a concert pianist tickling the keys of a grand piano. BS
I wish that my project had gone better and I wish it had gone as planned, but it didn’t. Now I know what I need to do in the future to do a successful project. SV
In short, this project gives people the realization that war is not all fun and games and that some people will sacrifice everything for
the safety of their country. I believe that this should be a standard in any sophomore’s curriculum because of what it teaches a person
and how they lived their life, and that is a very rare occurrence. BR
At one point during the interview, Ron said, “They just don’t understand, there’s no way to explain it.” This quote really spoke to me.
I never realized before conducting this interview that veterans feel as though other people could not understand their experiences
during the war, and that they don’t listen, and that there’s no way for a veteran to really explain what they have experienced while fighting for their country. LF
After we stopped the camera, the stories went on. We talked for forty-five more minutes after the interview. [We] were just so fascinated with everything he had to say. CL
Ever since the day the project was assigned, I was dreading the presentation. Before this project, my presentation skills were terrible. I used to not be able to keep eye contact with the audience, get nervous, and talk quietly… Now that I did the presentation in front of the
class, I feel a lot more confident…I felt acceptingly comfortable speaking in front of the history class for ten minutes. I believe being prepared and practicing is the key to having an outstanding presentation. SB
Overall, this project taught me a great amount. Even though it took a lot of time out of my day and caused me GREAT stress, it was a fantastic learning experience and I do not regret doing it…I learned more than I thought and the things I did learn will stay with me throughout the years. I will always remember this project because it changed the way I think about veterans and greatly increased my respect for them. TS
The Witness to War project has opened my eyes to new areas of war I had never understood before. At the beginning of the project I had stuck to the idea of action and fighting as the best focus for an interview, but little did I realize an interview with someone who never experienced action during the war and even refused to carry a weapon, would be as fascinating as the man we interviewed had proven to be. He has become an inspiration to me as a human being and as an individual,…I was proud to interview my father and share his story with the class. MB
I would also like to thank you for assigning this project. My grandfather has never shared his whole story with anybody before, so it was very humbling to hear his story. I will never be able to look at my grandfather the same again. I now know his story about his life in the Navy, and how much he loved it. SL
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