Veterans Relate Vietnam Experiences to Oak Forest HS Students

Vietnam Veteran Gary Sieroslawski explains to Oak Forest High School Juniors Zack Lipine, John Williams, and Vita Olivo, who display clothing that soldiers wore during the Vietnam War and shows the differences between the uniform a soldier would wear at the beginning of the war to the uniform of a soldier at the end of the war, as well as showing students what a Viet Cong soldier would be dressed in.

Sieroslawski was part of the organization, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 311. He spoke to students about his first hand experience in the Vietnam War, along with other veterans Alan VanBladel, Jerry VanBladel, Fred Wilhelm, and Brian Mulcrone.

The men were invited to speak to American literature students by Oak Forest High School American literature teacher Jen Schanz. The students have been studying the novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, a story about a group of men who fought in the Vietnam War. She knew students would need a little help picturing what was going on in the novel. The experience the characters had with Vietnam was raw and intense. Many characters had problems with both acceptance and post traumatic stress when they returned to the United States after fighting in Vietnam and students could not understand that.

Each veteran talked about what life was like when they arrived in Vietnam. Gary Sieroslawski said, “We are talking to you because it is good therapy for us.” He was drafted and trained as an artillery man. He was responsible for firing the huge Howitzer guns, which could fire rounds up to 22 miles away. He said that because of the time spent firing those huge guns, he can’t hear so well today.

Alan VanBladel was not drafted as the other three speakers were. He voluntarily enlisted in the Navy. He said while he was in Vietnam, he was on a ship that was equivalent to three football fields long. His ship was responsible for providing “harassment” for enemy forces on the land by firing large guns. VanBladel actually visited South Vietnam along with his brother Jerry several years ago and was touched at the monuments they erected to the “Hero Comrades,” or the American soldiers who fought for them.

Jerry VanBladel, Alan’s brother, also entered Navy service. He had an added burden of being in a psychological tactical unit called the Beach Jumpers, of which things that they did were classified until 2000. Now, he enjoys talking freely about his experiences. “No one wanted to talk to the Vietnam veterans when we returned to the United States,” he said. “So that is why it is nice to talk to you all.” He told the students that the scariest moments during his time in Vietnam was the anxiety, not knowing about things.

Fred Wilhelm was drafted in 1968 to the Army. He was escort and security for a three star general. He told students that if you served in Vietnam over a year, you could take R and R, which he explained was a rest and relaxation vacation trip. He chose to go to Tokyo. The scariest thing he endured was flying a helicopter in complete darkness because any light would give them away to the enemy.

Brian Mulcrone was drafted and went into basic training in Georgia. He said, “The first time I was shot at was on May 19, 1970. You always remember the first time someone tries to hurt you!” He said that everyone was tested for drugs before leaving the service and coming home. He said that today’s Army wants to be there, as opposed to being drafted and he hopes that the students say thank you to the Veterans in their families.

The veterans explained the draft board, how they passed their time waiting until their next set of orders, snakes and other deadly creatures that they encountered in the jungles, and how heavy their clothing and day packs were. They used a special small can opener to open a couple of cans. These can openers were very important to soldiers because that is the only way they could open the food they had to eat, so many soldiers kept the small can opener hanging on the same chain as their dog tags. Students thought the rations were okay. They also explained that every boy must register for the selective service when they turn 18.