Community Corner

Five Things We Learned From Local Veterans

Eight men share their stories, answer questions at public forum.

A small crowd gathered Thursday at the ’s Netzley-Yender House for the second annual . Eight local men recounted their experiences in war times, deployment and return to peace times. What did Patch learn?

  1. Vietnam soldiers weren’t partial to soap, and rarely used toothpaste. Instead, Dennis Lovich said said they were more effectively camouflaged when they smelled like their jungle surroundings (read: decay).
  2. Former Marine Wayne Fischer said pilots were told, “Never get tied down on a ship.” Why? According to Lisle resident and VFW member Steve Wandtke, planes had to be ready for takeoff within two to three minute’s time (while they were loaded with 500- and 2,000-pound bombs).
  3. Some terrains are ideal for skiing or farming, so what constitutes ‘beautiful tank country?’ Hills, mountains and woods, said Jim Vahle, who spent time on the western border of the Berlin Wall in the late 1960s.
  4. Larry Gervais said Vietnam soldiers sometimes couldn’t cover a mile in a single day.  Much like the opening of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, he recounted the typical daily burden. Gervais passed out a list of typical rations that included ponchos, mosquito net, an M-16 rifle, first aid supplies and sometimes radio equipment.
    Gervais said they helped new soldiers carry their burdens for about a week before encouraging them to scale it down to the necessities.
  5. Many veterans still keep in touch with those they met during their time of service. A few of the participating veterans mentioned annual reunions, while Naperville resident Bill Abermethy said he’s part of an “active Internet group.”

 

Other speakers included Downers Grove resident Bret Nila and George Strejcek.

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