War with an undefined cause and an invisible enemy is hard to fathom, but that is exactly how Vietnam has been repeatedly characterized for the last four decades.
In an effort to define this important but elusive time in American history, on Thursday, March 18th, CHS sophomores will participate in Vietnam Day, which will feature guest speakers and a wide variety of lectures and demonstrations, called breakout sessions.
“This is our 6th annual event,” CHS social studies teacher and Vietnam Day coordinator Josh Meyers said. “We did a World War II Day for two years and then realized that the kids really had a lot more knowledge about World War II than they did Vietnam. So we thought we would change our focus a little bit and make it a full blown program with breakout sessions.”
Social studies teacher Rick Kordenbrock, who has been involved with Vietnam Day since the beginning of his tenure at CHS in 2007, feels that the shift in focus was a logical and pertinent one.
“The Vietnam War politicized a generation of Americans, and was extremely divisive,” Kordenbrock said.
“Since the war our involvement in it has been repeatedly analyzed and agonized over, and it remains a very sore spot in our national psyche. So it makes sense that we would devote as much time and attention to it as we do.”
The day’s schedule will be formatted much like a typical school day with special presentations and breakout sessions taking the place of core classes and electives. Aside from an obligatory 1st period assembly showcasing the event’s keynote speaker and a collective viewing of a movie during periods 4 and 5, the students will be in control of which activities they will participate in throughout the day, as they will be able to choose four breakout sessions to attend during periods 2, 3, 7, and 8.
“By allowing for student choice we’re hoping that students really pick something they’re interested in and that they have a 46 minute period to be able to delve into something in a little more detail than they would otherwise be able to during the school year,” Meyers said.
Sophomore Freddy Barnes is eagerly anticipating the day’s slate of activities.
“I am very excited because I think that we will get an in depth, well thought out look at the Vietnam War,” Barnes said. “I would love to learn more about the military tactics that were used there.”
There will be no shortage of options to select from, making it easier for students like Barnes to home in on a specific subject of interest. Topics of discussion will include guerilla warfare tactics, Veterans’ viewpoints on the Vietnam War, a study of Ho Chi Minh the controversial leader of North Vietnam, American P.O.W.s in the Vietnam war, an analysis of protest music of the Vietnam War era, a session analyzing Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in the war and much more. Students will even get the unique opportunity to sample Vietnamese fare during lunch.
While the day is intended to be a fun and enjoyable experience, Vietnam War Veteran and Vietnam Day guest speaker John Pocsik hopes that students are reminded of the gravity of war.
“War is neither fun, nor a video game,” Pocsik said. “When you hold somebody who is dying in your arms, and there is blood all over, war is not fun. War, like any kind of physical confrontation, should be a last resort. “
The CHS social studies department, who collectively initiated this project, hope that while the students are immersing themselves in the Vietnam experience they will be able to contextualize their newfound knowledge of the Vietnam War and come to appreciate its significant place in American history.
“I think the Vietnam War was largely if not solely responsible for the presidential demise of Lyndon Johnson, and played a major role in the ultimate failure of the Nixon presidency,” Kordenbrock said. “Every President since has had to deal with the legacy of Vietnam, and I think every President since, including President Obama, has been acutely aware of the political danger of involving America in ‘another Vietnam.’“
Pocsik also wants the day to give students a way to gain a new perspective on Vietnam’s place in American history and hopes that with this much needed contextualization will come a realization that the rights all Americans enjoy are not free.
“I wish there were actually some kind of requirement that every kid, male and female alike, would have to serve [his or her country] for two years,” Pocsik said. “You would have a choice of working as a civilian in a hospital or a home or a school or in the military. Everybody talks about ‘my rights’ but how do you pay for them?”
Barnes echoes this sentiment.
“I think that service is one of the most important things that any person, in any country, anywhere in the world can do,” Barnes said.
However, despite this importance, beyond the zeal to serve Pocsik offers a cautionary warning.
“If you’re going to be called to do things that you would never have thought you would ever do, there should be a cause; it should be clearly defined, and it should be verified.”