Vietnam vets talk to Hersey students about their experiences

High school students learn about the Vietnam War in history class, but to hear eyewitness accounts from soldiers who were there gives them a better understanding of what the war was really like.

The desire to teach this generation about the war is what inspires members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 311 made up of more than 100 Vietnam vets from the Northwest suburbs and Northwest side of Chicago to give presentations each year at area high schools.

Since member Brian Mulcrone initiated the program several years ago, it's become an annual event at Hersey, Maine West, West Chicago, York, Willowbrook and other local high schools.

Many history teachers coordinate the presentation so it happens when the students are reading the famous book about the Vietnam War, “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O'Brien.

“The war was a black spot in our history. A lot of people thought of it like that. I didn't. Most of our dads served in World War II. We were expected to go,” said Mike Zenisek, of Wheaton, the chapter's vice president and school coordinator. “It's interesting to tell the kids what went on, and important to let them know what it was like.”

But the veterans don't just talk, they also show the students using some of their gear. Among the activities, students get to try on the fatigues and compete in a “P38 Drill,” where they try to open a can of food using the tool the soldiers used to open their food rations. It was named P38 because it took 38 punctures to open the can.

Anyone interested in having the Vietnam veterans do a presentation at their school can contact Zenisek at m.zenisek@att.net

To raise money for veterans charities, the veterans chapter will hold a fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5-7, at the Sam's Club, at Mount Prospect Road and Oakton Street, in Des Plaines.

They'll be collecting donations, and giving out military baseball hats for donations of $10 or more, and small flags with any other donation.