Korean War Vets Teach History Lessons at Lindbergh High School

Lindbergh High School students had a chance to experience “The Forgotten War” when more than 50 local Korean War veterans their stories of war life and service.

Learn more about the History Alive program, from the Lindbergh School District:

Air Force veteran Wayne Fick told students about infantrymen who had to dig holes in the ground and huddle under blankets to keep warm in sub-zero temperatures.

“How would you like to spend the night … or two, or five, or 10, inside the freezer of your home?” he asked them, painting a vivid mental picture. “Marines in the Chosin Reservoir had to live through 25-to-35 below zero temperatures. That’s cold!”

Fick was part of a tactical reconnaissance wing that flew missions to collect weather information and enemy activity. He shared photos of what his unit saw and reported to Air Force headquarters.

A model C119 airplane was displayed on Cliff Wildeisen’s table. It was a scaled down representation of the “flying boxcar” he flew during 39 trips to Korea, and four combat drops.

“It was a workhorse,” he said. “They called it a ‘flying boxcar’ because of its size.”

Wildeisen received his draft notice to the Army in June 1951, but instead enlisted in the Air Force because “I was plane crazy,” he told the kids with a smile.

In March, students visited with veterans who served in World War II, and later this month they will interview servicemen and women from the Vietnam and Middle East wars on May 6 and May 10, respectively.

“I like this program,” said WWII Army veteran Bill Pelger. “We live for it.”

“This is a rewarding experience not only for the students, who get to talk face to face with a person who lived through the history we study, but also for the veterans, who have the opportunity to work with the next generation and share their stories,” said Brad Durnell, LHS history teacher. “The goal of History Alive is to instigate conversations between veterans and students and begin to truly breathe life back into the history that we study.”

If you are a veteran or know someone who would be interested in sharing his or her story, please contact Brad Durnell at bdurnell@lindberghschools.ws. Include the veteran’s name, phone number and/or e-mail address.