‘A very personal fight’
Times West Virginian
November 13, 2008
Veterans share their experiences with EFHS students
PLEASANT VALLEY — East Fairmont High School honored our nation’s
veterans Wednesday by inviting five service people to the school.
It’s all part of the History Channel’s “Take a Veteran to School Day” outreach
program. EFHS’s event was sponsored locally by Time Warner Cable.
This year, the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (WVCTA)
facilitated the program statewide. Veterans attended 11 schools in Beckley,
Bluefield, Charleston, Huntington, Logan, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg,
Weirton, Wheeling and here in Fairmont.
The purpose is to invite veterans to share their experiences in the military
while making a video recording as part of the Library of Congress’ Veterans
History Project.
Wednesday, EFHS’s advance placement students crowded into the auditorium to hear
the stories of:
• Kenneth Waddell of Bridgeport, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1948
to 1952 during the Korean War.
• Clyde Judy of Fairmont, who was an Air Force bomber pilot during World War II
and flew 35 combat missions.
• Leatrice “Libby” Stout of Clarksburg, who served in the Women’s Army Corps
(WAC) during WWII.
• George L. (Lee) Fisher of Little Birch, who served in the Army during Vietnam.
• Patrick Farrell of Bridgeport, who served in the Air Force from 1996 to 2003
and flew missions over Iraq in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
Each of the veterans said the military affected their lives in some deep way.
“War is a deeply personal experience,” Farrell said. “War will always be fought
by people like those sitting here. It’s a very personal fight to sustain what we
have.”
“You’ve never had a buddy ’til you’ve had an Army buddy,” Stout said.
Waddell said serving in the Marine Corps changed the way he looked at the world.
When he entered the Corps, he had only traveled as far away as Pittsburgh.
“When I came home, I had visited 20 countries and met hundreds of people that
are like family to me,” he said.
Fisher talked about the differences between Vietnam and the other wars,
especially the unwelcome reception troops received when they returned.
“It made me angry,” he said. “It didn’t change me in the best way, but then I
channeled that into helping my community. I do the best in the community I can.”
Fisher explained there are a large number of veterans from all wars and those
who served in peacetime that are quietly proud of their service.
“There are people all around you that never acknowledge that they served,” he
said. “You’d never know who they are. They’re just as proud, but don’t talk
about it.”
Stout, Waddell and Judy all said they learned the importance of education and
attended college on the G.I. Bill.
All of the veterans said they had to live their life over again, they’d still
serve.
“I wouldn’t necessarily want to,” Judy said. “But it’s an experience I couldn’t
forget.”
Stout said she would re-enlist today, “but they’re not taking any 84-year-old
recruits.”
She strongly encouraged every young woman present to make the military a career.
“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Waddell said. “But I wouldn’t want to do boot
camp again.”
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