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East Detroit High School students found out first-hand Monday that the Vietnam War of the 1960s and the current war in Iraq may be similar.
Many people think United States soldiers are fighting a winless war in Iraq -- just like in Vietnam. But four military veterans explained to the students in uncanny detail that they fought the Communist Vietnamese because they wanted to preserve the freedoms Americans enjoy.
Vietnam War veterans Tim Burke of Chesterfield Township, left, and Dave Brevic of Clinton Township, second from right, discuss the Veteran's History Project with East Detroit High School teacher Lincoln Stocks, second from left, and state Rep. Frank Accavitti, D-Eastpointe
Macomb Daily staff photo by David Dalton
The veterans also said that as soldiers they did exactly what the government told them to do.
"If we don't fight this war over there, the enemy will be here on the shores of the United States fighting for our freedom," said Tim Burke of Chesterfield Township, who won a Purple Heart while serving in Vietnam.
Others speaking at the event were Dave Brevic of Clinton Township, William Burnett, who served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, and Gerald Order, who also served in Vietnam and currently is commander of the Michigan Chapter of the Jewish War veterans.
They were introduced by state Rep. Frank Accavitti of Eastpointe. The event, which is part of the Veterans Day program, was organized by East Detroit High School history teacher Lincoln Stocks. The event was taped as part of the Veterans History Project. The video will be sent to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The veterans discussed the events that led to their serving in the military and the training they received before they were shipped across the Pacific Ocean to Vietnam.
Burnett said he joined the Army as an alternative to fighting with his mother's husband.
"One day he told me I had three days to get out of his house so I walked 17 miles from the country to town and saw this sign with Uncle Sam pointing at me," said Burnett. "I then joined the military."
He said he joined the military in January and in June was in Vietnam.
"I never considered myself a hero. I just went there and did my job," he said.
Order was a clerk-typist in Korea, serving in the 71st Artillery Division.
Burke graduated from high school in June 1966 and received his draft notice a year and a half later. He was a point man -- the first guy in line -- on reconnaissance missions.
"There is nothing like it when you step off that plane in Vietnam and Uncle Sam puts a rifle in your hand," said Burke.
When Brevic finished his advanced individual training he was shipped to German for six months. He thought he had it made.
But then he got orders to ship of to Vietnam where he served in the dangerous and historic Mekong Delta. Brevic, who works for South Lake Public Schools, received an honorable discharge in 1971.
In response to a student's question, Brevic said from the time he landed on Cameron Bay, he was scared. He said as a 19-year-old soldier, though, most guys felt they were invincible.
"You always think the other guy is going to get it, not me," said Brevic.
Burnett talked about his first jump from a helicopter.
"When you are on that Huey (helicopter) and are 10 feet off the ground and you have to jump out, you're in the hands of God," said Burnett. "You're scared."
Students asked the veterans if they ever considered turning back. All four soldiers said no.
"It's nothing like John Wayne or Rambo," said Burnett. "Combat does some terrible things to you but running away was not an option."
When asked to comment on the popularity of America's current wars, Order, who now lives in Novi, said soldiers follow their orders, whether they like them or not. He said he fought in the war so that Americans can enjoy freedom.
Burke also said it was a big mistake to do away with the draft. He said it wouldn't hurt anybody to give up two years of their life in service of their country. He said he was discharged from the Army three days before the Woodstock festival was held in upstate New York. Brevic said in the 1960s it was popular to oppose the government.
East Detroit High School senior Russell Marchant said he enjoyed Monday's program and listening to the veterans.
"I learned one thing -- it takes a lot of training before a soldier is ready to go fight the enemy," said Marchant.
Student George Andary agreed.
"It's important to have a first-hand account of what we are learning in our history books," said Andary.
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