Dear John,
Thank you again for coming to visit with my classes. We learned much from your visit and have been drawing from the information to help us process the novel we are reading, as well as other issues dealing with the Vietnam experience.

Thank you again,
Rob and the Gifted Students at North High
 

My story actually began in 1992, when I was first diagnosed with PTSD.  This was just one year after completing my Master's degree in sociology from the Wichita State University.  At the same time I was working full time as program director for the Mid-America All-Indian Center, Inc. (MAAIC) here in Wichita, Ks.

Up until that time I really wasn't that active in Veteran affairs except for participation in a Native American Veterans organization called, The Warriors Society. Although I am not Native American Indian, I was admitted to the organization by elders of the local Indian community.  This is an honor that doesn't occur often within this group.

I suffered a series of severe panic and anxiety attacks beginning in February of 1992 and began a very slow and extremely difficult process of recovery.  Actually, it took some four years to return to a manageable state of mine.  But, I continue to manage my disorder very diligently to this day. ( Approximately three years ago I was rated with a service connected disability from the VA.)

During this period I was able to continue working and in fact  attained the position of Executive Director of the MAAIC.  Little strange since I was very ill during this entire period and not even Indian. This situation did eventually take it's toll on me and I resigned for health reasons after fourteen years of employment.

During my employment with MAAIC, I was called upon to give many speeches as part of my position there.  It was during one of these requests that I was asked to be part of the Minority Veterans PTSD conference and speak about my own experience with the disorder and of course my Vietnam experience.

In later years my youngest daughter who was in a "gifted" student program in high school suggested to one of her teachers that I speak about Vietnam since they were covering the subject at that time.

I agreed to speak and from that point one thing just led to another. I have been asked to return on several occasions to speak to other classed even though my daughter has graduated from that school and now attends college here.

I have also spoken at other functions regarding my Vietnam experiences including one that I am particularly proud of.  In 1999 I was asked to be the key note speaker for an Hispanic Veterans organization at their annual Veterans Day event.  It was an extremely special honor for me since I was addressing not only other Vietnam Veterans but also, WWII and Korean Veterans as well.  Many of these veterans were men I grew up around as a child in Wichita and it was a tremendously humbling experience to share my experiences and thoughts of being a Veteran and especially a Vietnam Vet.

Some things I share with my audiences include taking artifacts in a kind of show and tell manner.  I am fortunate to have numerous letters I sent home from Vietnam to my parents and family.  My father saved these and local newspaper clippings associated with the Tet Offensive and other stories of the time.  I have assembled these into a binder which I pass around for the students to read.

I also have some personal articles such as my jungle hat, wrist watch, dog tags and a couple Vietnamese language books I received when I studied at the Presidio of Monterey just before going to Vietnam. I was one of the interpreters who interviewed two different North Vietnamese Solders who were captured or turned themselves over to us on Hill 881.  Possibly some of the 881 Warriors remember them.

As you can see Frank I have a lot to talk about to my audiences and plenty of things to show them as well.  On the very last talk, I incorporated the 881 Warriors site.  The class had a large monitor that was connected to the internet and I had the teacher operate it while I spoke. It was a great visual aid and it not only helped to keep the students attention, but provided an excellent way for the students to "See" exactly what I was referring too when I spoke of resupply missions to the hill as well as the trench lines and most importantly to put a "face" in their minds when I spoke of the Vets.

Something I begin every talk with is to ask for a volunteer or two and emphasize to the students that the Vietnam veteran "looked" like themselves,  teenagers and not 54 year old gentleman standing before them.  This really gets their attention and helps them to relate to the fact that wars are mostly fought by young men and women like themselves.  I think it is an important point to make since they then can better relate to war as something they may be part of someday rather than just something "older" people talk about.