thedrifter
02-16-07, 08:41 AM
Making Choices During War Posted 2007-02-15
By Dan Kipperman
WEYERS CAVE — Wilson Shepherd wants young people to think about the choices their government makes.
After the former Marine captain retired, he realized that Americans shouldn’t blindly follow their leaders into military conflicts.
"You have so many options today," he said. "You can watch TV and use the Web. You have more knowledge and you can make up your own mind now."
Shepherd, 78, made his plea as a guest speaker during "The American Experience in Vietnam" class at Blue Ridge Community College Thursday.
Korean Experience
A 1950 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute who fought in the Korean War, Shepherd told the students that he joined the Marines because it was "the right thing to do."
He was proud of what he did to serve his country, but he didn’t realize how serious wars were until he actually got on the battlefield.
"When they issued us live ammunition I realized that this was the real stuff," he said. "I learned real quickly that when they shoot at you, you better shoot right back at them."
During the Korean War, Shepherd was a platoon leader and executive officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. His father, Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., was the 20th commandant of the Marine Corps.
Lee Lawane, professor of the course, wanted Shepherd to describe what war conditions are like to his students.
"He didn’t fight in Vietnam, but he knows what the situation was like," Lawane said. "I think he did a good job linking Vietnam with what is going on now in Iraq."
Shepherd said it’s important to know who the enemy is during a fight and that’s not the case with Vietnam or Iraq.
"It was hard in Vietnam because you didn’t know who the good guys were," he said. "That’s the same situation we’re starting to face now in Iraq."
‘Make Your Own Choice’
Shepherd reminded students that there are opportunities for them to take a part in government.
"You can go and vote," he said. "You can make a difference. It’s important to make your voice heard.
A big difference from when Shepherd was young, he told the class, was the information available to everyone.
"You’re getting more of the questioning now than you ever did before," he told the students. "If you’ve got to march for your rights, the you march for it."
Contact Dan Kipperman at 574-6274 or dkipp@dnronline.com
Ellie
By Dan Kipperman
WEYERS CAVE — Wilson Shepherd wants young people to think about the choices their government makes.
After the former Marine captain retired, he realized that Americans shouldn’t blindly follow their leaders into military conflicts.
"You have so many options today," he said. "You can watch TV and use the Web. You have more knowledge and you can make up your own mind now."
Shepherd, 78, made his plea as a guest speaker during "The American Experience in Vietnam" class at Blue Ridge Community College Thursday.
Korean Experience
A 1950 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute who fought in the Korean War, Shepherd told the students that he joined the Marines because it was "the right thing to do."
He was proud of what he did to serve his country, but he didn’t realize how serious wars were until he actually got on the battlefield.
"When they issued us live ammunition I realized that this was the real stuff," he said. "I learned real quickly that when they shoot at you, you better shoot right back at them."
During the Korean War, Shepherd was a platoon leader and executive officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. His father, Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., was the 20th commandant of the Marine Corps.
Lee Lawane, professor of the course, wanted Shepherd to describe what war conditions are like to his students.
"He didn’t fight in Vietnam, but he knows what the situation was like," Lawane said. "I think he did a good job linking Vietnam with what is going on now in Iraq."
Shepherd said it’s important to know who the enemy is during a fight and that’s not the case with Vietnam or Iraq.
"It was hard in Vietnam because you didn’t know who the good guys were," he said. "That’s the same situation we’re starting to face now in Iraq."
‘Make Your Own Choice’
Shepherd reminded students that there are opportunities for them to take a part in government.
"You can go and vote," he said. "You can make a difference. It’s important to make your voice heard.
A big difference from when Shepherd was young, he told the class, was the information available to everyone.
"You’re getting more of the questioning now than you ever did before," he told the students. "If you’ve got to march for your rights, the you march for it."
Contact Dan Kipperman at 574-6274 or dkipp@dnronline.com
Ellie