Vietnam veteran shares his experiences

By Caroline Quinn ’19

Vietnam veteran Karl Danckwerth expressed to West Essex students his experience on war and Tim O’Brien’s novel “The Things They Carried” during a presentation on Feb.10 . Danckwerth, a former U.S. army medic, answered students’ questions and gave his insight on the reality of war and the soldiers who fight.

Danckwerth, who saw first hand the sacrifices of young men and women fighting in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967, shared his experiences with the students through personal photographs from the warfront. The pictures captured the soldier’s emotions and told their own powerful story.

“Everybody see that helmet?” Danckwerth said, “On that helmet it says war is hell. He would rather be at Seaside Heights or at a swimming pool, but he is at war.” Danckwerth told students one of the worst parts in his experience was having to watch a 19 year old die knowing that their family was going to get a telegram the next day saying that their child was gone.

Danckwerth also spoke about the lessons to be learned from “The Things They Carried”, Tim O’Brien’s novel about the experiences of the Vietnam War that is part of the English III curriculum. Although he said the book was mostly fiction, he asked the students to take from it that no war was ever started by a soldier and that his personal beliefs do not factor in.

“It’s totally irrelevant to anybody whether you’re a private or general and if you’re for or against the war; you go because it is your job,” Danckwerth said.

Students overall were pleased and responded positively to Danckwerth’s message.

“It was very insightful and I got to hear about what exactly a soldier had to endure throughout the war, which was really interesting,” junior Danielle Kohler said.

Danckwerth served in the Army as an Infantry Medic in Germany and a Helicopter Medic in Vietnam. His job was to take care of the wounded and bring them to the hospitals as quickly as possible to be treated. His team’s main focus was to make sure they saved lives despite all the risks.

“I hope that others may live and that is what we were all very proud of,” Danckwerth said. Along with his unit, Danckwerth conducted highly dangerous hoist operations, risking his life and others in his unit to save others.

Danckwerth said that he was proud of his time in the army, but he would not wish the experience of war upon anyone. “I hope not one American ever goes to war again,” Danckwerth said. He wants to visit Vietnam in the future.