by Rick Wirt
Following the Attacks of 9/11, former President Bush promised to hunt down and punish those responsible. Ever since, America has been immersed in horrific war. We removed a violent dictator and purged the land of terrorists, but the wars not over and the military is swelling. Education incentives offered by all branches of the armed forces mean more soldiers in the classroom, soldiers who are either preparing for, or returning from active duty. This unpredictable and stressful lifestyle creates obstacles for soldiers trying to succeed in school. For this reason, MCC-Longview and other campuses across the country have established the Student Veterans of America, a student run organization designed to help active soldiers and veterans manage their hectic lifestyles.
You never know what experiences the person sitting next to you in class has had. If they’re a veteran, or have spent any time in the war torn Middle East, it can be especially startling.
“For me it was my last trip that was the most dangerous. We didn’t even hear the explosion [when hitting an IED]. The explosion lifted the truck 25 feet in the air and pushed it 60 feet forward,” said Longview student Don Breese, a former contractor for KBR incorporated in Iraq, who has had an honorary involvement with SVA.
“I can’t do the things I used to do, I have a metal plate in my back, I can’t lift more than 20 pounds, and I can’t bend over or climb without hurting myself.”
Breese was forced to return home after sustaining the injury, but it wasn’t the first dangerous incident he had been exposed to.
“Somebody threw a cinderblock at my vehicle once while I was driving 50 miles per hour,” Breese said. “The impact broke the passenger window and caused it to fall on the steering wheel. My arm was pinned between the wheel and the broken window, but it was too dangerous for our convoy to stop. This was the stuff that you lived with. If you couldn’t handle it you went home, and there’s no shame in that.”
Breese was In Iraq from June 2004 to August 2007. In that time he traveled the width and breadth of the country delivering fuel to all branches of the military, primarily the marines.
“I was only responsible for getting the product and my team to and from the location. The army would escort us and keep us safe along the way,” Breese said.
Breese said that in the beginning he and his team didn’t have any trouble, but when the IED’s started showing up they had to take control of the roads. “We called the enemy dumb, but never stupid. They came up with some nice little toys,” he said.
Although support for US troops has always remained strong, many question the value of the war’s objectives. Chardanee Harvey is one Longview alumni who decided to join the service despite her dislike of the conditions of the present war. She joined the Army Reserves in June of 2007 and has served in Italy, maintaining an American base there.
“I’m really not sure why we’re still in the war,” Harvey said. “I feel like at this point we are wasting time, money, and lives. They keep saying were going to bring people home, yet they’re shipping more people out.”
Breese said that our confrontation with Saddam was inevitable, and points out that Iraq needs a new infrastructure, but is a relatively secular country with a lot of potential.
“We have done a lot of good for them, building schools, hospitals, and restoring electrical power throughout the country. If we up and abandon them they’re going to end up in civil war,” he said.
Counselor Jim McGraw is the faculty advisor for SVA at Longview. He provides administrative support and helps student leaders of the organization find the resources necessary for its success. Noting that he has not served in the military himself, McGraw said, “To let down your guard and relax, I think that takes a period of time. The incredible stress soldiers have been exposed to can pose some challenges.”
In addition to providing support for student veterans, SVA conducts service projects, such as collecting care packages for active duty soldiers in the Middle East. Members can look forward to hearing from guest speakers and attending benefits seminars, as well as meeting others with similar experiences.
Those interested in joining SVA should contact McGraw, whose office is in the Business building, room 201R, phone number is (816)-672-2313.
