BETTENDORF, Iowa -- Pleasant Valley High School students received a presentation about the Vietnam War from someone with firsthand experience, offering information and a perspective you won't find in the average history book.
Bob Matthys, associate director of Small Business Programs, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, visited PVHS, April 22, to talk about his experience as a Marine in Vietnam.
Matthys enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967 and served through 1970. He was sent to Vietnam in January 1968, and fought as a rifleman, company radio operator, squad leader, and platoon sergeant until his return home in February of 1969. He was stationed near Kason during that time, and received two combat promotions.
"I try to show them the Soldier experience from the everyday living aspect of the combat zone," he said. "I don't want to go into the gore. I want them to think about the normal things in their lives that they may take for granted."
Matthys spoke to Rusty VanWetzinga's ninth-grade history class. VanWetzinga is a social studies teacher and athletics coach.
"Anytime you can bring in a personal voice who has been through it, it's a huge advantage for students," said VanWetzinga. "It can be powerful for students, and I hope they get a better understanding of what servicemen experienced in that era.
"These were men who served their country, and did what they were asked to do. I want to make sure young people today understand that, and remember Vietnam vets' contribution to our nation and our history."
Matthys did not focus on gory battle stories, but rather talked about things like the climate and terrain, the importance of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the health issues Soldiers and Marines faced, and how he related to the people of Vietnam.
"When you saw the regular people there, working in the fields and simply living in their villages, you could see just how similar we all are," he said. "These people had the same aspirations and personal challenges we all had at home."
The students were visibly shocked by some of the stories Matthys told that didn't involve active combat.
"I had no idea about how much they had to go through from the environmental side of things," said Savannah Conway, a ninth-grade student at PVHS. "It's interesting to get a perspective on how much they risked, beyond the combat part of it, so we can live our lives the way we do."
Matthys brought a selection of weapons, ammunition, and equipment Marines used during the Vietnam War to show to the students. They were able to pass some of the items around to get an idea of how much weight American servicemen carried around the rugged terrain of Vietnam. He also showed personal pictures of himself and his platoon members to give the students a better perspective of how every Marine, no matter how big or small, had the same amount of gear to carry.
Carter Sergeant, a ninth-grade student who also plays football, said the human aspects of the presentation stood out to him.
"I was really taken by the different sizes of people in the military," he said. "All that gear is heavy, and the smallest guy still had the strength to carry it. It was also interesting to learn about the different paths people took to join the military, from being drafted to enlisting on their own, to being arrested and given the choice between jail and the military."
The majority of the class seemed genuinely interested and attentive during Matthys' presentation, which he said results in "genuine, heartfelt gratification."
"At the end of the day I hope they take away the importance of respecting people in the military and befriend the military brats," he said. "It's tough to move around and go to a new school every other year. They deserve to be welcomed into any community."
Social Sharing