28.04.2011, 00:16
I have already shared this with others at M4T in a reply to a thread, so i guess I'll share it with you guys too
My woodworking teacher is a Vietnam vet Mr.Gregory, a Marine, (also his dad flew for Navy in WWII (flying the Corsair), he also flew the F4 Phantom during later wars.) my woodworking teacher has told some awesome stories about back when he was in Vietnam, some funny, some tragic, some about how lucky he was in a lot of situations. earlier this school year my friend, Marcos, comes in to our classroom of only 4 people (including myself), he was doing an assignment for a class (about war vets or something) and he starts asking the usual questions like: "what did you do before the war""where did you train" "etc etc etc", and right about at the 5th question "what was your first experience in war like?" the whole room went way down in mood. excluding Marcos and answers given, the room was already silent before that question, but somehow it felt like it was even quieter. so he reluctantly answers voice gets lower and less cheery, i can't remember what all he said, it was a little bit lengthy, but the biggest keywords were "A lot of good men died for nothing." Marcos asked a few more questions, one being "what was the most terrifying weapon used against them," Gregory replied "just put what everyone know, AK-47," which I already knew wasn't true because he had said in some of his stories that the traps were, so i knew he just wanted to get that question over with. Marcos leaves. after getting his questions answered. now it was for sure dead silent, Mr.Gregory looking down putting his hands over his eyes, as though he was shading his eyes from the sun, yellow highlighter in his other hand. I can see him cry silently, gripping the highlighter so tight i swear it was gonna explode. then, one of the staff comes in asking if Mr.Gregory could help with something, he gains his posture quickly, getting up to walk out the door smiling while talking to the guy, but i could see his eyes were red. right when the door to classroom closes, the four of us look at each other with eyebrows raised. about 3 minutes later, the bell rings to go to next class, i'm walking to the next class, which Marcos happened to be in, i was still in the "whoa" state. when i sit down it starts to set in, i try to shake it off, but my throat tightens, I try to shake that off, but l could feel my lip quiver a bit, then the hot tears start going. i wipe it off and get up from my desk and tell Marcos "I'm gonna be late for class today," and i walk all the way down to the hall to get to the bathroom trying to hide my face on the way, which i had failed because I still got a few "what's wrong?" questions, when i get there i stand over the sink, and let the tears drop into it, i couldn't control my breathing, it was erratic. it just so happens to be that my other friends, Tommy, was in the stall behind me, so there was an extra "what's wrong?" question, this one i had to answer. after finishing up I went back to class, sat right at my desk, then Marcos gets up right away and he's gone for a few minutes, I think he went to cry too, but i dont think he wants to admit that, after all, it was some powerful stuff
My woodworking teacher is a Vietnam vet Mr.Gregory, a Marine, (also his dad flew for Navy in WWII (flying the Corsair), he also flew the F4 Phantom during later wars.) my woodworking teacher has told some awesome stories about back when he was in Vietnam, some funny, some tragic, some about how lucky he was in a lot of situations. earlier this school year my friend, Marcos, comes in to our classroom of only 4 people (including myself), he was doing an assignment for a class (about war vets or something) and he starts asking the usual questions like: "what did you do before the war""where did you train" "etc etc etc", and right about at the 5th question "what was your first experience in war like?" the whole room went way down in mood. excluding Marcos and answers given, the room was already silent before that question, but somehow it felt like it was even quieter. so he reluctantly answers voice gets lower and less cheery, i can't remember what all he said, it was a little bit lengthy, but the biggest keywords were "A lot of good men died for nothing." Marcos asked a few more questions, one being "what was the most terrifying weapon used against them," Gregory replied "just put what everyone know, AK-47," which I already knew wasn't true because he had said in some of his stories that the traps were, so i knew he just wanted to get that question over with. Marcos leaves. after getting his questions answered. now it was for sure dead silent, Mr.Gregory looking down putting his hands over his eyes, as though he was shading his eyes from the sun, yellow highlighter in his other hand. I can see him cry silently, gripping the highlighter so tight i swear it was gonna explode. then, one of the staff comes in asking if Mr.Gregory could help with something, he gains his posture quickly, getting up to walk out the door smiling while talking to the guy, but i could see his eyes were red. right when the door to classroom closes, the four of us look at each other with eyebrows raised. about 3 minutes later, the bell rings to go to next class, i'm walking to the next class, which Marcos happened to be in, i was still in the "whoa" state. when i sit down it starts to set in, i try to shake it off, but my throat tightens, I try to shake that off, but l could feel my lip quiver a bit, then the hot tears start going. i wipe it off and get up from my desk and tell Marcos "I'm gonna be late for class today," and i walk all the way down to the hall to get to the bathroom trying to hide my face on the way, which i had failed because I still got a few "what's wrong?" questions, when i get there i stand over the sink, and let the tears drop into it, i couldn't control my breathing, it was erratic. it just so happens to be that my other friends, Tommy, was in the stall behind me, so there was an extra "what's wrong?" question, this one i had to answer. after finishing up I went back to class, sat right at my desk, then Marcos gets up right away and he's gone for a few minutes, I think he went to cry too, but i dont think he wants to admit that, after all, it was some powerful stuff
