Mrs. Lemmon's 9th-grade history classes learned about the experiences of a local Vietnam Veteran, Wilbert Powell on Friday, November 8th in honor of Veterans Day. Mr. Powell, a 1965 Knoch graduate, was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam from November 1969-August 1970. He recounted how some of his high school classmates were drafted too, but sadly never made it home. He shared stories and pictures from his time in the 458th Sea-Tigers "renegade" outfit, detailing several stories. However, a crowd favorite included how his then-girlfriend sent him 4-5 letters a day. He wrote her back and asked her to stop sending him so many letters as he was starting to get annoyed. After a few months, he received another letter from her, this time with a piece of her wedding dress in it, signifying she had not only moved on but had gotten married! He went on to explain his location and job in Vietnam and how he was treated when he arrived home. He explained that due to the stigma of serving in Vietnam, he had a very difficult time securing a decent job. Overall, Mr. Powell's visit offered valuable insight to our students about the sacrifices that service men and women have made and continue to make every day so that we may enjoy our freedoms.
