On March 4th, Ms. Fitzsimmons’ English 11 classes had the honor of sitting down with Carl Johnson, a Vietnam War Veteran and Sewanhaka alumnus. Students came with questions for the veteran who laid out his life story and experience fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. Ms. Fitzsimmons felt inspired to bring Mr. Johnson to talk about his personal experiences because they could give real life perspective on what students read about in The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. When asked about what she hoped students would gain from the visit, she said “We’re reading a book right now about the Vietnam War, and I think it’s one thing to read about it, and for me to tell them what it used to be like. And I think it’s a completely unique first person account to actually hear it from the mouth of somebody who was there and lived it. So, I was hoping that they could get a real experience, hear real stories, and just get a little bit closer to the story that we’re reading in class.”
Like the students listening to him, Johnson once sat in the classrooms of Sewanhaka as a teenager thinking of his future. That future quickly changed when the Vietnam War draft reached him. In Vietnam, he was a part of the 1st Cavalry Division. He recalled navigating through a triple canopy jungle crawling with leeches, snakes, and insects with nothing but his M-16 rifle and the supplies in his rucksack. Students heard his stories of both friendship and hardship, as Johnson described experiencing brotherhood within the army as well as the pain of seeing his close friends lose their lives in battle. After several months in Vietnam, Johnson believed he “was the loneliest man in the world.” When Johnson’s service ended in 1971, he didn’t get the hero’s welcome you’d expect veterans to receive. Unfortunately, many of the criticism towards the Vietnam war got directed towards the veterans themselves. However, remaining resilient, Johnson reentered society and attended Nassau Community College and continued his studies at Adelphi University where he met his wife.
Students were also able to ask Johnson questions at the end of the period as well. Questions ranged from asking if he had any positive experiences while serving in the army to whether or not he had killed anyone during his service. Johnson recalled drinking and relaxing with his buddies during certain moments and the harrowing moments that led him to develop PTSD from the war during questions. Matthew Guy, a junior that attended the event, “appreciated that [students] got to ask the veteran questions and get to know him and his experiences on a deeper level.” Despite his hardships, Veteran Carl Johnson imparted valuable advice. He told the students that “In your life, you’re going to come to these crossroads”, he said, and encouraged them to choose the path they take with no regrets. By sharing his experiences, Johnson gave Sewanhaka students more than just a history lesson. His story offered a deeply personal perspective on sacrifice, resilience, and difficult choices people face in times of war.
