Students get a chance to appreciate vets - firsthand

As Robert Stack sat in an Italian cafe in 1993, he heard word that two U.S. military helicopters had gone down in Somalia. He knew immediately his time in the Marines was about to change.

Not long thereafter, he was on a ship heading to the war-torn country.

"You are driving up and down the streets just waiting to get shot at," Stack told Glenbard West students on Tuesday. "That was the war-time experience for me. About 90 days just trying to get shot at."

Many DuPage County schools conducted programs to honor veterans on Tuesday. Roy DeShane Elementary School in Carol Stream held an assembly honoring veterans and then gave students a change to meet them in person. At Glenbard West, Stack was one of several veterans to speak to students.

Despite Stack's experience in Somalia, he said he did not regret joining the service. After high school, he spent an unproductive year in college and lost a scholarship.

Then, in 1991, he made the decision to enlist. Ever since then, he said, he has met people he considers brothers.

"The guys I sat in that vehicle with, those are my true friends," he said. "You'll never know the closeness of having been back to base after slugging it out and trying to keep each other alive."

The first-year program was organized by social studies teacher Jim Fornaciari and department chair Kristin Brandt. After reaching out to Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations in the area, Fornaciari said they looked at other connections, such as parents and former teachers.

"It's important for the kids to understand how much the veterans have done for our country," he said. "It's to show some appreciation for the vets."

The diverse mix of veterans - which included veterans from Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia - served to show the students that anybody they come into contact with might be a veteran.

"It might be the guy next door, the mailman, the pizza guy," he said. "They might not realize it, but it's a lot of people in the local community."

Students filled the chairs in the school library as many teachers brought their classes to the presentation.

Sophomore Catherine Larrabee said she did not realize the anger many Vietnam War veterans faced when they returned home.

"It was eye-opening," said Catherine, 15. "I've always been thankful but I never really thought about how much they sacrificed."

John Baker served in Vietnam and faced the anger when he returned after the war. The former Glenbard West teacher and coach, who retired in May after 32 years, talked about his experiences, which included watching friends die in combat and dealing with snakes and leeches and hoping for a meal.

"It was horrible," he said. "I pray to God none of you ever have to experience that. This was 40 years ago and there is not a moment I don't think about it."

A student asked Baker what inspired him to keep going. Baker said it was simple.

"You want to get out of there," he said. "You want to go home."