Guterba urges students to remember veterans
Neighbors | Grace Wyler .Vietnam War veteran Jim Guterba discussed his experience in Vietnam and showed his collection of photographs, artifacts and memorabilia to eighth-grade students at Poland Middle School Mar. 10. The discussion was part of the class' preparation for their trip to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., this spring.
By GRACE WYLER
gwyler@vindy.com
When Jim Guterba looks at the names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., he remembers the sounds of the soldiers’ voices. He recalls the names of the girlfriends, parents and hometowns of those who served beside him.
Guterba, a veteran of the Vietnam War, recounted his memories of serving in Vietnam and discussed what the Vietnam War memorial means to him in a presentation to eighth-grade students at Poland Middle School Mar. 10.
The presentation is part of the school’s preparation for the eighth grade’s annual trip to Washington, D.C., this spring. The students will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.
Guterba, who served from 1964-66, discussed his experience with the army in Vietnam, touching on both the friendships he made and the hardships that he and his fellow soldiers endured.
Guterba illustrated his presentation with his extensive and well-archived collection of photos and memorabilia.
Guterba has returned to Vietnam three times. He was inspired to go back after seeing a group of World War II veterans return to Normandy in 1995.
He showed students wartime artifacts he collected on his return trips, including boot soles and a pair of Vietnamese sandals made out of tires.
“I wanted to show them what it was like not only fighting the enemy, but fighting the elements,” he said. “I want them to understand that many of the things they have and take for granted, we had to learn the hard way.”
Guterba emphasized that his presentation was just one point of view.
“I am just giving students the perspective of one infantry veteran,” Guterba said. “I would say that my experience was about average, there were some who had it a lot worse off.”
The best way for students to thank veterans is to remember them and honor their sacrifice by doing well in school, Guterba said. He complimented students on their effort to remember U.S. troops by visiting the veterans’ memorials in Washington, D.C.