Vets & Soldiers

Oak Forest High School students in Mrs. Jennifer Schanz’s American Literature class read Tim O’Brien’s, The Things They Carried. Without giving too much away, the book is about the Vietnam War and the emotions soldiers felt after returning home.

The book is wrote loosely based on O’Brien’s own experiences in the 23rd Infantry Division. While the book is a work of fiction, it is written in a memoir style making it especially gripping for its readers.

In an effort to bring the historical nature of the book to the reality of Oak Forest High School students, Schanz decided she would have her students talk to men who actually fought in the war. This way, students could compare the experiences of real-life Veterans to the ones they were reading about in O’Brien’s novel.

Full story available in the Midlothian-Bremen Messenger

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Ronald Hensler, from Midlothian, operates a band saw aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Ike is underway conducting carrier qualifications. 

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers

(StatePoint) Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at a higher rate per capita than any other population group and have done so since the American Revolution. Yet there is no monument or memorial in the Nation’s capital that commemorates the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This is finally changing, as the first memorial to their service is being built.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian recently broke ground on the National Native American Veterans Memorial, which will be dedicated on November 11, 2020, Veteran’s Day, in a public ceremony at the museum.

“Throughout history, Native Americans have answered the call to serve in our nation’s armed forces,” says Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the National Museum of the American Indian. “This memorial will remind everyone who visits it of the service and patriotism of Native veterans and their families.”

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers