Real Heroes - Medal of Honor Recipients Write Students
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Letters Are
A History Project
History came alive recently as some Warsaw Community High School students got an education in the realities of war and an appreciation of the men who have fought in war.
As a Veterans Day project, David Hoffert's world history students wrote letters of appreciation to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the 140 living MOH recipients, the students wrote to about 90 men, and, Hoffert said, 70 have written back so far.
"This is the last generation of students to have contact with these men," said Hoffert, a WCHS graduate who is in his first year of teaching. "The response has been incredible - they're so grateful that somebody would notice."
To honor the veterans, Hoffert created a Heroes' Wall of Fame, where the students post pictures of the veterans they wrote to, along with copies of the Medal of Honor recipients' letters.
The students took the project seriously, he said, and wrote respectful letters asking questions about how the war changed the veterans' lives. "You can't help but be in awe of what these people did," he said.
"... These are the real-life heroes, the true role models you can look up to."
Jeremy Sharp, a freshman, said he wrote to a World War II fighter pilot who shot down nine Japanese planes.
"Lots of people see them portrayed in movies as superhuman, and some really are," Sharp said.
"These guys put Rambo to shame," said Blake Deaton, freshman.
Many of the students said the project made them more interested in veterans in general, and they would like to learn more about veterans in the community. Others said it made the history lessons more real, and one girl said her brother is in the service and is going to Kuwait soon.
"I wonder," she said, pointing to the Heroes' Wall of Fame, "if it will be like the people up there."
"These people are really very special," Hoffert said of the Medal of Honor recipients. "It just shows how fragile this whole generation is. (The World War II veterans have) been called the greatest generation so many times that if we're not careful, it'll be the lost generation."
Hoffert said the students in his classes read through the veterans' letters while they were learning about such events as D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, and the experience had a definite effect on the students.
"It's something that they'll walk away from and never forget," he said.
Excerpts from veterans' letters:
• Pat Brady: "There is no greater joy in life than saving lives, but you should know that teachers and parents are also lifesavers - and so are the police and firemen."
• Drew Dix, Pueblo, Colo.: "You should know that most of us who wear the Medal of Honor do so for all those brave souls that have performed in battle with no witnesses left to write about it."
• Richard E. Bush, Waukegan, Ill.: "... Regarding the million-dollar athletes who often do not make good role models. These jock strappers ... are allowed on TV day and night to let us know how great they are and how many millions they are raking in. ... It makes me sick when I see this and think of the several hundred brave young men I saw die in combat, receiving $50 per month, to make it possible for these jocks to run around on that field and kick that ball. I don't know of anyone who ever won a war dribbling."
• Alejandro R. Ruiz, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: "I never questioned my duty since I believe that as Americans we have a responsibility to serve our country and preserve our way of life and freedoms. Too many people take our freedom for granted and expect the benefits without giving back in service. But no community or country can survive or become great if our citizens take that attitude.
"... All I can say is that I did what I had to do. Someone had to take this action or the lives of my men and my own would have been sacrificed. When you are in battle, you have to rely on your men. You have to count on one another. So my only thought was to save my men.
"... During the White House ceremony, President Truman awarded me the medal and as Commander in Chief saluted me and told me that he would rather have the medal than be President. But upon my return to El Paso, Texas, where I was stationed at Fort Bliss, I was not allowed to eat in the restaurant when I took my wife out to eat to celebrate. They had segregation at the time and there was a sign that said, "No Mexicans or Dogs allowed." I had to eat in the kitchen since my parents were of Mexican descent. I did not let this experience bother me since I believe in the values of this country and that if we insist that all American live up to these values that this country will live up to its wonderful dream." [[In-content Ad]]
Letters Are
A History Project
History came alive recently as some Warsaw Community High School students got an education in the realities of war and an appreciation of the men who have fought in war.
As a Veterans Day project, David Hoffert's world history students wrote letters of appreciation to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the 140 living MOH recipients, the students wrote to about 90 men, and, Hoffert said, 70 have written back so far.
"This is the last generation of students to have contact with these men," said Hoffert, a WCHS graduate who is in his first year of teaching. "The response has been incredible - they're so grateful that somebody would notice."
To honor the veterans, Hoffert created a Heroes' Wall of Fame, where the students post pictures of the veterans they wrote to, along with copies of the Medal of Honor recipients' letters.
The students took the project seriously, he said, and wrote respectful letters asking questions about how the war changed the veterans' lives. "You can't help but be in awe of what these people did," he said.
"... These are the real-life heroes, the true role models you can look up to."
Jeremy Sharp, a freshman, said he wrote to a World War II fighter pilot who shot down nine Japanese planes.
"Lots of people see them portrayed in movies as superhuman, and some really are," Sharp said.
"These guys put Rambo to shame," said Blake Deaton, freshman.
Many of the students said the project made them more interested in veterans in general, and they would like to learn more about veterans in the community. Others said it made the history lessons more real, and one girl said her brother is in the service and is going to Kuwait soon.
"I wonder," she said, pointing to the Heroes' Wall of Fame, "if it will be like the people up there."
"These people are really very special," Hoffert said of the Medal of Honor recipients. "It just shows how fragile this whole generation is. (The World War II veterans have) been called the greatest generation so many times that if we're not careful, it'll be the lost generation."
Hoffert said the students in his classes read through the veterans' letters while they were learning about such events as D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, and the experience had a definite effect on the students.
"It's something that they'll walk away from and never forget," he said.
Excerpts from veterans' letters:
• Pat Brady: "There is no greater joy in life than saving lives, but you should know that teachers and parents are also lifesavers - and so are the police and firemen."
• Drew Dix, Pueblo, Colo.: "You should know that most of us who wear the Medal of Honor do so for all those brave souls that have performed in battle with no witnesses left to write about it."
• Richard E. Bush, Waukegan, Ill.: "... Regarding the million-dollar athletes who often do not make good role models. These jock strappers ... are allowed on TV day and night to let us know how great they are and how many millions they are raking in. ... It makes me sick when I see this and think of the several hundred brave young men I saw die in combat, receiving $50 per month, to make it possible for these jocks to run around on that field and kick that ball. I don't know of anyone who ever won a war dribbling."
• Alejandro R. Ruiz, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: "I never questioned my duty since I believe that as Americans we have a responsibility to serve our country and preserve our way of life and freedoms. Too many people take our freedom for granted and expect the benefits without giving back in service. But no community or country can survive or become great if our citizens take that attitude.
"... All I can say is that I did what I had to do. Someone had to take this action or the lives of my men and my own would have been sacrificed. When you are in battle, you have to rely on your men. You have to count on one another. So my only thought was to save my men.
"... During the White House ceremony, President Truman awarded me the medal and as Commander in Chief saluted me and told me that he would rather have the medal than be President. But upon my return to El Paso, Texas, where I was stationed at Fort Bliss, I was not allowed to eat in the restaurant when I took my wife out to eat to celebrate. They had segregation at the time and there was a sign that said, "No Mexicans or Dogs allowed." I had to eat in the kitchen since my parents were of Mexican descent. I did not let this experience bother me since I believe in the values of this country and that if we insist that all American live up to these values that this country will live up to its wonderful dream." [[In-content Ad]]