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STUDENT JOURNALISTS LISTEN TO AND LEARN FROM

VETERANS -- "We have to take advantage of the

living, breathing history here."

 

 

Story here... http://www.recordnet.com/apps/
pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/A_
NEWS/702020318/-1/A_NEWS

Story below:

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Student journalists listen to, learn from veterans

By Jennifer Torres
Record Staff Writer

STOCKTON - A teenage girl, Lisette Saldana, listened to an 84-year-old man, and she learned these things: that more than 60 years ago he became a Navy air gunman; that he had been in charge of guns and ammunition aboard a plane that could land on water; that once, in the Philippines, the chief of an indigenous tribe presented him with a sword in recognition of his helping an injured child.

What most surprised Saldana, 17, after listening to the World War II veteran's stories, she said, was "that despite all the hardships that Max Peter had, he was able to have fun."

In the fall, about 20 student journalists from Stagg High School - many of them staffers at the school's Stagg Line newspaper - visited north Stockton's O'Connor Woods retirement community to interview veterans there.

Their conversations yielded stories and photographs published in the Jan. 19 edition of the Stagg Line and in a 32-page commemorative book. On Thursday, the veterans visited Stagg High, where students presented their efforts and offered their gratitude.

"We have to take advantage of the living, breathing history here," said Saldana, a high school senior and photo editor of the Stagg Line.

In her story, Saldana wrote, "To describe his aerial adventures, Peter referred to the battles experienced by the famous Peanuts character Snoopy."

On Thursday, the veterans nodded and smiled as students described their efforts.

"As journalists, we are constantly putting out issues and writing stories, but we sometimes lose sight of why we do it," Stagg Line co-Editor in Chief Ted Nishimura said. "You guys definitely inspired us. ... We just want to thank you so much for opening up your lives."

Peter said the students impressed him and that he enjoyed his conversations with Saldana and her peers.

"They're on the right track," he said. "I told some of them, their challenge in journalism is to really tell the truth. I was so pleased."

Contact reporter Jennifer Torres at (209) 546-8252 or jtorres@recordnet.com.

 

The voices of veterans

Stories and interviews from The Voices of Veterans project completed recently by student journalists at Stagg High School are available at http://staggline.org.

Story excerpts:

"With his eyes exaggerating every word and a smirk on his face, (Frank) Bertram still remembers the details about how he wore 'an electric blue flying suit' that 'stuck out like a sore thumb.' He tried his best to be invisible so the Germans wouldn't catch him, but with the bright suit and a broken back, it didn't work."

-- Student Tiffany Jamison on Frank Bertram

"At 15 years old, Alex Christian was forced to grow up too soon. After the death of her grandmother, she was left alone. She dropped out of high school and began working right away to support herself.

" 'They were looking for women to volunteer, and you could continue your education, travel, and I would have a roof over my head,' Christian said.

"She never knew that the decision to join the Navy would change her life."

-- Student Sarah Gloria on Alex Christian

"John Coykendall remembers spending New Year's Eve on the front lines. He remembers opposing forces shooting mortar rounds. He remembers heading directly into the Battle of the Bulge.

"But for Coykendall, a happier memory sticks out above the rest."

-- Student Chris Quibol on John Coykendall

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Larry Scott  --