Sunday, April 05, 2015

Reflection due April 7th- All Classes Post Here



Please take a moment to comment on Dennis Mannion's presentation regarding his experiences in Vietnam.  Take the opportunity to ask questions and make connections between the presentation, The Things They Carried, and Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam.

61 comments:

  1. During Dennis Mannion's presentation I realized that his story has a connection with The Things They Carried, when he says that he always carried his graduation ring and his identification strings during war. Which is something that we found while we were reading The Things They Carried. Also his story has a connection with the book Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam, in which one of the soldier's letter says that a soldier didn't want to kill an innocent child and that he wanted to protect them. Like Dennis told us about a family that was living next to the combat field and that he wanted to protect them because they seem to be good people. I enjoyed his presentation, because he showed how it feels to be involved in war.

    Denisse E. Mercado (Period 7)

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  2. I thought it was interesting to have a view from someone who wasn't drafted into the war. Tim O'brien in TTTC was fighting with his draft notice and that seemed to be a big area of contention. While Dennis may have been drafted eventually, the fact that he choose to join the war was something that I hadn't seen yet. Obviously many other people choose to join the war rather than to wait getting drafted but it seems these are less told stories. Secondly, in TTTC Norman Bowker after coming home from the war was lost and directionless. He didn't know what to do or how to live his life anymore. Dennis, however, seemed to contradict this. He joined the war because he didn't know what else to do or where to go after getting kicked out of ND. I think this just shows the variety that comes with war stories. They come in every color and theme and cover almost all aspects of emotion and reactions.

    - Marshall Borus

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  3. I really enjoyed this presentation and found it very interesting to hear directly from a Vietnam veteran. The way he viewed and went about life at a young age reminds me of many teenagers today, and reminds me that many Vietnam soldiers were not yet 20. I thought it was very shocking that Denis choose to go to war. I know that I would be terrified if there was even a possibility I would be drafted, so its hard to comprehend making such a decision. But, Dennis shows that soldiers come from all different backgrounds and go to war for many different reasons. I wonder if he thought he'd be going to war when he was in high school or what he expected of Vietnam. Next, I felt my knowledgable after the presentation, as I had seen all of Dennis' pictures of the land, soldiers, and civilians. I found it very interesting when Dennis flipped through pictures from college, before the war, and during the war. He explained that he was almost a completely different person. In The Things They Carried, O'Brien talked about the effects of war and how it transforms you. All the stress and suffering that occurs in war, I'm surprised (but grateful) Dennis is willing to share his story to high schoolers.
    Isabel Bysiewicz

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  4. I thought the most interesting part of Dennis story was how he talked about how much the war had changed him, Tim O'Brian in The Things They Carried seems to talk about how he did not notice the change but it just gradually happened to him and that was always interesting to me and I guess a question i would have is if Dennis expected to change and when he got back home he had even known that he had changed and when did he notice.

    -Tyler Rubino

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  5. Well first, thank you to Dennis for giving up his time to come and see us, and for opening up about his life.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and getting an inside look into the war though the eyes of a soldier. The presentation, for myself anyway, pulled up so many questions or curiosities about how you feel in the war. It probably made people who are thinking of going to the military think about what it would be like, and the experiences you would possibly have. Overall, it was a great presentation that I will look back on. And thank you again to Dennis for sharing a big part of his life.

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  6. I found Mr. Mannion's story extremely humbling as he never considered himself a hero during the war. However, what was amazing about his presentation and story was the amount of change he experienced throughout the war. Something that bothered me about Tim O'Brien's book, The Things They Carried, was the changing veracity of his stories. Listening to Mr. Mannion and seeing his photos of the war made it far far more genuine that O'Brien's book. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Mannion for taking time to talk to our class.
    -Kevin J

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  7. I really liked Dennis's presentation. I thought it was interesting that, unlike many of those in the war, and like many of the character in TTTC, he chose to be there. The things he did before the war were funny to listen to, but it made me sad realizing that many of those men you saw out in the fields weren't even 20 yet. It was interesting hearing from a real veteran, hearing about their experiences and their points of view on how the war affected them. It was nice to hear that the war changed him in almost a positive way, in such that he was more grown up from the experience. When did you notice that you had changed? Was it during the war, when you first joined, or after you came home?

    Kylee Dostie

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  8. I would first like to thank Dennis Mannion for taking time out of his day to come talk to us. I really enjoyed this presentation and found it unique to hear about the Vietnam war in a soldiers point of view. His story about his high school and college careers remind me of how teenagers in my class act and even myself. In The Things They Carried O'Brien actually tries to fight his draft notice while Dennis actually decided to join the war, which was an aspect I hadn't encountered first hand before. I wonder what Dennis's thoughts were about the Vietnam war before he joined. In The Things They Carried Norman Bowker after coming home from war was kind of purposeless but I have very happy to know that Dennis Mannion was able to use his experience to talk to a group of students, and for that I am grateful.

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  9. I would first like to thank Mr.Mannion for presenting to us. As for the presentation I thought Mr. Mannion’s presentation was very interesting, but what really put it over the top was his pictures. The pictures allowed me to visualize everything I've been reading about in The Things They Carried and Dear America and more importantly they let me connect what Tim O’Brien was saying in TTTC with real life. The pictures gave me a new perspective on just how dangerous the vietnam war was like when Mr.Mannion was cooking his breakfast a foot away from a grenade but didn’t notice because he became used to handling grenades so much that he forgot just how dangerous they really are. The pictures also gave me a better perspective on what Vietnam looked like because before I saw the pictures I just thought Vietnam was strictly 100% jungle but after the pictures I realized that even though Vietnam is mostly jungle it still has some beautiful spots in like the leopard village right next to the beach.

    Jake J 1st

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  10. I enjoyed listening to Dennis's story, it was really powerful seeing the huge change he went through just after those 3 years. It really shows how the was affects those fighting so greatly. The photo of him cooking next to grenades was also pretty powerful. It shows how those fighting were conditioned to have so little fear of having possession of these dangerous weapons that they didn't think twice about having an open flame right next to them. In the TTTC, you could tell how quickly boys changed into men because of the war. You can especially see this in the story Sweetheart of the Song Trabong where the girl changed from innocent to a killer in such a short time. The same can be seen with Dennis's pictures and the change that took him and made him mature much more so quickly.

    - Becca G period 1

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  11. I am very grateful to have been able to hear about the Vietnam War directly from someone fighting on the battlefields in Vietnam. The way Dennis told his story and shared his experiences opened my eyes to the reality of war. I also really appreciated the pictures and props he shared with us to go along with his stories. For example, when he held up the towel that had been shredded by shrapnel, it showed the danger and just how close you can come to death, just barely surviving. Dennis told us about how he made the decision to enter the war on his own because he didn't know what else to do, so I wonder if he was afraid of being drafted, and therefore forced himself to get over the initial fear to join the war on his own. TTTC tells the story of how war can affect and change different people, so I found it very eye-opening to see firsthand how the war changed Dennis Mannion. I also wonder how Dennis felt when he came face to face with the civilians in Vietnam.
    -Sam Coleman Period 1

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  12. I really enjoyed Dennis Mannion's presentation about his life as a Vietnam Solider. To me, the part of the presentation that I will remember the most, is when Dennis showed us the last picture off his slideshow. It was a picture of what looked to be three different men, when in reality it was the same person, just a few months older. That picture represented how much someone can change because of the war. The first picture of Dennis in his college dorm looked nothing like the last picture of the solider in Vietnam. It amazed me how a person can change so dramatically after only a few months. Overall, I really enjoyed the presentation. I really liked the way Dennis spoke about the war. He told us the truth instead of censoring the information. I think that aspect of the presentation really allowed students to try and get a better understanding of how people felt during this historic time. After the presentation, I really felt I had a stronger appreciation for everyone who had a part in the Vietnam War. I'm truly thankful for the time that Dennis took to speak with us and I will remember it forever.
    -Alyssa Sachs
    Class 1

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  13. I thought that this presentation was something that we could have never learned from reading a book or watching a movie. Dennis Mannion's background was really unique and something that as a highschooler, I could relate to. When he started talking about the war, I found parts that no textbook or teacher could ever have taught me. I'm really thankful for the time that he took, to tell us something that is deeply personal. It really means a lot to get a deeper meaning to the story, The Things They Carried, actually having been told first hand what it would be like in the war. Thank you to Dennis, the presentation was truly special
    -Thomas Shao

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  14. I found Mr. Mannion's presentation to be very intriguing, and I really enjoyed it. The ways he connected to The Things They Carried were really interesting and I found it cool how he carried his class ring and his dog tags. I didn't really understand how the book connected to people bringing things, but now I really see why O'Brien added everything he did. The pictures astounded me, seeing how much destruction the war caused and it allowed me to see how much the war could actually change someone. Listening to the stories from someone that was actually there really got to me and helped me realize how dangerous the war actually was. Looking at the mortar shell and the rag with the holes in it really showed me how powerful the weapons actually are. I would like to take Mr. Mannion for coming in and sharing his experiences with us. It gave me another point of view about the war and it is a once in a lifetime experience.

    Chris Altavilla

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  15. I really enjoyed this presentation. Dennis really had my full attention the whole time i actually i wanted to stay longer. I loved all the pictures and stories he had to show and tell us. I know that I learned a lot more about the war and its effects on people and nature. At the end of the presentation when i shook his hand it made all the things we read about and learned about very real

    Brad Valalik

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  16. I thought the presentation was very good and educational. We got to learn a lot from the war and it was good to learn it from someone who lived in it. I think the all of the pictures he showed us made it seem more real and we got a better point of view. I thought it was amazing how he know where he was, what he was doing, and what kind of a day it was in every picture. Listening to the presentation made me think a lot about the other people who served in the war and their story. I think it was a great presentation and I think it’s great we got to hear it.

    Sarah Wirtz

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  17. I found Mr. Mannion's presentation to be very interesting and informative. I had learned a lot about the Vietnam War from Dear America and the Things They Carried and all of out discussions in class, but I felt we learned something different when we talked about the war with someone who actually fought in the war and could tell us about the war from real life experiences. I thought that the pictures in the presentation brought a lot to enhance the discussion, and I found it very interesting to listen to. Overall, I think that him coming in to speak to us was very beneficial.

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  18. I found Mr. Mannion's story was very interesting because he never considered himself a hero and I thought it was educational to hear directly from a Vietnam veteran. It was interesting hearing from a real veteran, hearing about their experiences and their points of view on how the war affected them. I'm really thankful for the time that he took, to tell us something that is so personal. I found it surprising that he chose to join the war, but once he explained that all different types of people join the war for all different reasons I understood better why he opted to join. Overall is was a great presentation and one that I will think back on every time I hear about the Vietnam war.

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  19. Dennis Mannion's presentation was very interesting and after listening I felt connected to his story. Although I have no real connection to the Vietnam war or Mr. Mannion, his presentation was very connectable. In the beginning of his presentation he mentioned the end of his high school career and the decisions he made that lead him to going to war. After the presentation I wondered if he had stayed at Notre Dame, kept his grades up, and didn't go to Vietnam how different his life would be. I'm sure as students we can relate to this seeing pretty soon we will have to make one of the biggest decision of our lives, where or if we're going to college. I also learned a great deal about the war and connected things I tried to visualize from The Things I Carried to his pictures. I would like to thank Dennis Mannion for coming and sharing with us his story.
    Abby Atkinson
    Period 5

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  20. I was extremely grateful that Mr. Mannion was willing to come share his story with us. He provided an extremely interesting and honest perspective, and I definitely learned a lot. I found his comments at the end extremely insightful and I wish he had had more time to speak. It was interesting and powerful to hear from a veteran, especially a veteran that went to war willingly, that frankly war is not worth it, not honorable, and not beneficial. Often this opinion can be met with opposition from people intent on imbuing war with some good. However, as someone who experienced so much of it firsthand, hearing his sentiments had added weight. It was also interesting to see how drastically Mr. Mannion was changed, both physically and mentally, into the person he is today.

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  21. I definitely enjoyed listening to Dennis’ firsthand account of what the Vietnam War was really like. I thought it was interesting that he chose to go to Vietnam, when in The Things They Carried, the soldiers were not happy about getting drafted, and none of them wanted to be there. However, I can almost understand why he enlisted, because after getting kicked out of college, it seemed as though the war was his best option. I also really enjoyed all of the war stories that he told us, because they were similar to those that Tim O’Brien had presented in TTTC. For example, he told us that he wore his class ring everywhere he went, and that he received a two week old slice of Pepe’s pizza. These two stories reminded me of Jimmy Cross’ love notes, and everything else that the soldiers carried to remind them of home. I also loved his story about the caucasian girl he waved to and took a picture of, and how he was eventually able to get in contact with her many years later. Overall, I thought that Dennis’ presentation was very interesting, and it offered me a new perspective on war.

    Gabby D Period 5

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  22. I really enjoyed Dennis's presentation and was so glad he was able to come and talk to us. It was very cool to hear his stories about war after we just read TTTC. Seeing the pictures of him and his friends was also really cool. I would enjoy getting to hear him speak again I think you can see new perspectives about the war each time you hear his stories
    -Lexie Period 5

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  23. My favorite part about Mr. Mannion's presentation was the fact that he had asked his mother to throw away his photos, but he was happy in the end to find out that she hadn't. Anyone could understand wanting to put those memories on a shelf, but looking at them again probably released those emotions in a healthier way than O'Brien's compulsive storytelling, and sharing them with students might give him a chance to validate his experiences. Mr. Mannion seemed like a very balanced, adjusted person, and I think that is because he has used his past to influence the future rather than dwelling on things he can't change. That's not to say that veterans aren't justified in being changed by the war in a negative way, but it was nice to see that he wasn't. I also appreciated that he was able to reflect on himself without editing or smoothing over his mistakes; he was very honest and it made him likeable and believable.

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  24. I really enjoyed looking at all his photos from the war because they had a story to tell with them. It gives another layer to understanding the feelings and experiences. His story seemed a bit different from O’Brien’s in The Things They Carried because O’Brien was forced into the war from the draft. Mannion however, was willing to go because he had been kicked out of college. I think that Mannion’s view was more interesting. We hear about how many young adults had been drafted, but we don’t hear about the people who willingly joined the war, so I’m curious to know how Mannion felt after the war; all soldiers who went to Vietnam were scorned by the public, even the ones who didn’t agree with it and were drafted.
    Meredith J. Period 5

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  25. It was so kind of Dennis to take time out of his day to share his stories with us. It was truly an eye opening experience to have someone who had fought in the war come and share their experiences with us. As students, we got an inside look at what it was like to fight in the war through the eyes of a soldier. As we read, "The Things They Carried," we got a general idea of the soldier's lives at war, but hearing Dennis speak about war gave life to those stories. On the last slide of the presentation, we saw three contrasting pictures of the stages of Dennis at war. I found that this image stayed with me even after the presentation was over. It was a perfect example of how war changes you. I'm very thankful that we were given the opportunity to hear from Dennis, and I am so grateful to have heard about his experiences.
    -Ellie B Period 5

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  26. Listening to Dennis’ firsthand experience of the war in Vietnam was very eye opening. Particularly, I found it informational to see his photographs. The images provided solidified proof that his stories were truthful, and they allowed me to visualize the events in which he was describing. By viewing those pictures of combat, I was able to envision the stress, worry, and fear the troops felt. In fact, Dennis explained that as time went on, his jungle pants, that were originally dark green and untouched, eventually faded, ripped and looked increasingly worn. Similar to his clothing that deteriorated, his physical appearance altered drastically as well. At first, he was an unaware college student who lived a life of adventure and fun. Next, he was one of the many young men who attended training camp. And finally, he was a soldier. After months of fighting, he witnessed and committed actions that could not be undone, and that he had to live with the rest of his life. When Dennis showed the collage of self-pictures progressing chronologically, I truly began to understand that war changes an individual forever. Even Dennis himself elaborated this, saying that he often becomes distant to his wife on the anniversaries of the deaths of his friends. He said if he did not enlist, he definitely would not be the man he is today; the war adjusted his mentality permanently.
    Carolyn C Period 5

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  27. Listening to Denis Mannion speak was extremely beneficial. His stories verified many of the themes present in The Things They Carried. He reiterated the contrast between beauty and tragedy in war, and how some of the most gruesome points were often accompanied by an overwhelming appreciation and lust for life. Additionally, he repeatedly stated that "I am not a hero", thus upholding O'Brien's belief that perhaps no one is a true hero. Furthermore, the presentation allowed us to further our knowledge of the emotional and psychological burdens carried by these men. The physical trauma was often times underscored by guilt, grief, and mourning over old friends. They lived in a state of constant alarm, unsure of what the future might held. Mannion admitted that the war was exceptionally powerful and that he had undergone unquestionable transformations during his time in combat. Photos of his prior self were almost unrecognizable to those of him at war. Overall, I was extremely impressed by Manion's speech. His ability to relive such horrific memories in detail was truly inspirational, and brought new meanings to O'Brien's novel and the stories within it.

    Raissi B

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  28. Frank F.

    I'm sorry that I didn't attend the event with you. I was at my other classes since I had to do some important stuff for them but I did hear a lot from my classmates from the class discussion. I heard about some of the stories you told, one that I remember is the truck story and how you were sick while riding it. Again sorry for not attending, I don't have exactly an affinity for this kind of stuff. I hope you have a great day!

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  29. I really enjoyed listening to Dennis and his stories. I especially found it interesting that Dennis rather waiting to be drafted he just enlisted into the marines. We don't really hear of many people who did that during Vietnam because of it being an unpopular war. So i found that very cool that he told us about how he had done that. But what i really enjoyed was the stories and pictures that we were shown. I almost felt like I was there from the detail he gave us. I also liked how he told us how war had changed him and that when he came back he wasn't the same person that went off to Vietnam. Thank you Dennis for coming in and talking to us. And thank you for your service
    MIchael G
    P7

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  30. I enjoyed listening to Denis Mannion and his war stories. he seemed like the type of person to look at the brighter sides of a horrific experience for people in that time period. Normally when you would listen to a veteran you would hear him talk about all of the death that was going around him. I found the before and after pictures were some of the greater parts of his story shoing a picture of him in high school to college, to boot cam, and then too after war and seeing how much he changed. Looking at the devastation's of what war did to the landscape of the once beautiful land of Vietnam. You know it really puts your life into perspective of how good you have it then what you hear and listen about in one of the most sad moments in American history.
    Elliot S

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  31. I thought that the most interesting about Dennis Mannion's presentation for me is, How the war changed him. I remember the way he said war changed him. Also Dennis said everyone is changed by war. When he should the pictures of him in college and then the ones at war he looked a lot different. It made me think how war affects everyone that it involves
    - Anthony D
    P6

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  32. I enjoyed Dennis Mannion's presentation. It was very informative and interesting. It was interesting hearing himself say that he wasn't a hero. The before and after pictures of his time in Vietnam gave a good visual understanding of how war can change someone. Hearing directly from a Vietnam veteran gave me a better understanding of that war. I am very thankful for Dennis coming in and speaking to us about his experiences.
    Devin D.

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  33. It was nice of Denis Mannion to come and talk about his life and how he ended up in the war. I liked how there was a story for every picture that came up, he always had something to say about the picture and he knew where the picture was taken and what month and year he was in when it was taken. I was amazed how he can talk about an awful event that happen to him and share it among students.
    Mark 6

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  34. I am very grateful that I was able to listen to Dennis talk about his time in Vietnam and his life before he enlisted. The pictures were really an incredible part of the presentation. The before and after pictures of the war were totally Dennis looked like a totally different person. When I heard that Dennis enlisted voluntarily I was shocked, especially when he said he enlisted because he was bored and wanted to travel. Dennis kept emphasizing that he was not a hero and he didn’t go to war to be patriotic. I have some questions for Dennis. What was your motivation to get up and keep going day in and day out, if it wasn’t entirely for your country, who was it for? If you had the chance to go back in time, would you still enlist? Thank you very much
    -Mike Gogliettino

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  35. I’m very thankful to have been able to attend the presentation that Dennis Mannion did at the school. It helped me realize what the war was really like. It wasn’t all killing and fighting the whole time. The pictures he used showed how beautiful Vietnam could be at times. He also showed how you can create good friendships with other soldiers going through the same things that you were. One question I have is, are you still in touch with friends that you made during the war? Thank you for the presentation and your service.

    Nick E.

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  36. I really enjoyed hearing Dennis story and his experiences. I really feel like I have a better understanding of what went on in the war. What I think really made the presentation was all the nice photos he had and items from the war. I really enjoyed how he took you through every step in his life which made the whole thing come together. I wish he had more time to go into more detail ,this from me was a really good presentation it felt like we were in there for a few minutes. I would like to say thank you for your survice and the presentation. What he went through in the war could be related to both The Things They Carried and Dear America. I hope that you continue to share your store and your experiences.
    Mario (Class 6)

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  37. I really enjoyed the presentation. My favorite part of Mannion’s presentation was when he showed us the towel that he had from Vietnam and all of the shrapnel holes in it. That really put into perspective how serious and dangerous the war was. He did a very good job explaining thoroughly on what happened during the war, he also did a very good job explaining his thoughts on the war. With the slide show and his commentary it almost made you feel like you were in Vietnam. I know we will never know what it was like to be in Vietnam but by him explaining it definitely gave me a better understanding and appreciation for what the vets have done for us. One question that I have for Mr. Mannion is if he had the chance to take a shorter term in Vietnam would he have taken it?
    Zac DeGoursey

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  38. Dennis Mannion's presentation was a once in a lifetime experience that I know that I will never forget. He really showed us how dangerous and terrifying the war was, and how lucky we are that we don't have to be involved in something so scary. The way he explained certain aspects of his time spent in Vietnam, like when he was attacked and his towel was filled with holes because of the shrapnel, he makes it so much more real to us. We, as teenagers, have no idea what it was like to go over to Vietnam and fight in a war. Dennis gave us that experience with his story; it was heartbreaking, and beautiful, at the same time. Thank you for your service, Dennis.

    Rowan (Period 7)

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  39. I enjoyed Dennis' presentation. I am thankful and appreciative, that we got to listen to his story. It was very informative and it also made me think deeper about the situation those soldiers are in. I liked seeing the pictures because it shows what their living conditions, surroundings and daily life is like in Vietnam. We will never have a true understanding of his experience without being there, but it helps you visualize and feel a little mire connected to it. I was also very shocked that he was a volunteer to serve in Vietnam. I was impressed and intrigued by his experience there and i greatly appreciated him taking the time to come and tell us about it.
    Kendall Period 7

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  40. I really enjoyed his presentation. I think it had a lot in common with The Things They Carried. Some new things I found out were that they wore shoes of people who died and also about the dog tags. He also connected to Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam for example when he talked about the deaths of innocent people and how they had to travel to get to the next base. Then he also talked about a family that lives there who owned a coffee plantation and how the husband dies and what happens to his wife and kids. I feel he connected with all of our hearts and taught us what war does and how it can change someones life just in a day. So it was my honor to be there and listen to his story and see his pictures from war.

    Romik Patel
    Pd:7

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  41. Listening to Dennis Mannions presentation was a really helpful learning experience, and i think it gave us a first hand example that would allow us to connect the literature we read to real life. His stories and pictures were really interesting, and it was nice to hear his own personal views on the war, and Vietnam. It is such a different thing to read a fictional story, or read letters, than to watch a presentation. Watching the slides, and seeing everything he had to show us, and to tell us about his experiences give you a different view on some things. You can appreciate the things you read, and the letters home from war more, because there is a face behind the name; when you know that there is a real person behind the words, and behind the stories it makes it better to read, and easier to relate to. I think its really important for people especially kids to listen to other people stories and experiences, and to appreciate what they went through
    Jessie Pantani

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  42. I really enjoyed listening to the presentation; I thought listening to Dennis helped me understand what war was really all about and it helped me understand what it’s actually like and how it’s completely different than what you read in books and what you see in movies. It’s a lot scarier and more challenging than you would think. What I enjoyed most about the presentation was the personal photos that were shown and how each picture had a story behind it. I liked how Dennis took his time explaining things and connected some of the things he would carry with him to the book The Things They Carry. Over all I would say the presentation was a real eye opener for me and it helped me realize that we shouldn’t take things for granted and we should respect the people and things we have in our lives because others don’t have it as easily and others fought for what we have today so we should be thankful. One question I have is if you could go back in time would you take the opportunity to do it all over again? Thank you
    Period 7
    Quochelle S.

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  43. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to listen to Dennis's story. I liked how even though he didn't excel in school he decided to try and figure out what he wanted to do with his life by enlisting in the army. Also it was very cool to see the photos of his time in Vietnam because of all the things I've heard over the years, Vietnam seemed like a horrible place, but after hearing Dennis's story of being over there it made it seem like besides the war going on it was really a beautiful place. I would like to thank Mr. Mannion for his service as well as his presentation. Lastly one question i have for Mr. Mannion is if you had the chance to erase your memories of Vietnam would you take it?
    Dan O'Neill

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  44. I really enjoyed Mr. Mannion's presentation on his experience in the Vietnam war. He was a very good speaker and had a lot of interesting things to say. I liked all the pictures he showed us and when he brought in the towel a showed the all the the holes that were in it. That really put things into perspective for me. Most of his stories that he told about his experience in Vietnam I could connect the The Things They Carried and Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam. Hearing him speak really brought everything that we read to life, and I really appreciate him coming in a speaking to us.
    Caroline Beatty Period 7

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  45. Dennis Mannion’s account of his experiences were really fascinating to me. To be honest, it opened my eyes to realize how many options are actually available to us after high school. At first, he tried school but that wasn’t the right fit for him so he went into the Marines. Also, the author of Outlaw Platoon, Sean Parnell’s interview that we watched in class was very intriguing. It gave me a different take of the idea of leadership. However, reading The Things They Carried and Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam made me want to stay clear from war. The way they talked about war and all the repercussions of it made the whole concept of war unstimulating. This entire unit on war has given me a great understanding that I didn’t have before because of the lack of information given to us in our past history classes.
    Adjhani period 7

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  46. I am very thankful to have been able to see Dennis Mannion's presentation on what it was like for him in Vietnam. It really showed how much the war can change someone. Seeing the before and after picture really shocked me because he looked like a completely different person. I also thought it was interesting how he didn't consider himself a hero at all even though he did such a great thing serving in the war. All of the other pictures and his stories also were truly amazing. I am thankful for his service and would have stayed longer if there was more time.

    Ryan Period 3

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  47. The presentation Dennis Mannion made about his experiences in Vietnam really reminded me of Dear America:Letters Home from Vietnam. He mentioned that only his father would write to him while he was in Vietnam even though his father had been mad at him before he joined the war. Many of the soldiers in the book mentioned similar things, that even if they were on bad terms with a relative, they would still write and that in some families, only the father (or the mother) would write to the soldier. I wonder if Dennis learned any Vietnamese while he served in Vietnam. In The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien did not mention the soldiers in his platoon learning any Vietnamese. However in Dear America, many of the soldiers learned phrases in Vietnamese and they would communicate with the natives. It was very kind of Dennis to share his story and pictures with us.

    Katey Yale
    Period 5

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  48. Mr.Mannion’s presentation was really interesting in my opinion. I’m sure everyone else is using that exact word to describe it but I just felt like hearing a personal story rather than reading from books was an amazing experience.I realized that he went to war for his own reasons and as he said it was not for patriotic reasons. It was purely out of not having things to do. This was different than what happened in TTTC and Dear America Letters. These soldiers were in Vietnam even after getting a degree and it was very good to see different perspectives. I enjoyed the pictures he shared with us. I have seen movies about Vietnam war but don’t really know anyone who is a Vietnam War veteran. I know he talked a lot about him being a different person. He matured during the war. I am very appreciative of him coming to our school every year and talking about a sensitive topic. Thank you for your story, Mr.Mannion.

    Shradha
    Period 1

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  49. I really enjoyed hearing stories about the Vietnam War firsthand, rather than reading it in a book or learning about it from a teacher. It was interesting to hear that he didn’t care about getting kicked out of school and wanted to join the war because many times we hear that people are dragged out of school to go. I also thought it was interesting that for each picture, he remembered exactly what was happening and exactly where he was. A story that surprised me was about the boy on the buffalo and how when he said something bad, one of the men wouldn’t be afraid to shoot the buffalo, even if that meant harming the boy. This is related to The Things They Carried because they shot the buffalo enough to injure it, but not kill it. Listening to the presentation showed how the war can change a person both mentally and physically. I am very glad Dennis could come in and share his experiences.
    Emma Dwyer Period 1

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  50. Dennis Mannion’s presentation was very interesting to me. I think that the most interesting part was that he wasn’t drafted into the war, he chose to be there because he wasn’t doing anything at home and figured he was going to be drafted anyways. That was a surprise to me because i went into the presentation thinking that it would be about him being drafted into the war like Tim O’brien in TTTC. He would have eventually have gotten drafted because he was kicked out of school and if you weren’t in school you were going to be drafted, so he just decided to make it his choice instead of the governments. That was a strong and hard choice to make because it is scary going into war, I’m sure. i wasn’t very familiar with people joining the war because they wanted to, from reading The Things They Carried, the characters were going to be drafted or move to Canada so they couldn’t be. Dennis knew that he had a choice and mentioned that he could either run off to Canada or join the war and he decided to join. It was cool to hear a different point of view on choosing to be there and from a Vietnam veteran himself.it was really cool to see all of his pictures from the war and the towel that he had with all of the holes in it. I think that also it was really moving to hear about how war changes a person and how it changed him, also about all of the people that you meet from around the US and the life long friends that he made from the war. It was really an powerful experience hearing Dennis speak about his time in Vietnam and i am really thankful that he took his time to talk to us about it and will never forget it.
    Shannon Finn Period 5

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  51. I am very grateful to have experienced Dennis Mannion's presentation. It was very educational and helpful to really get a feel of what the war was actually about for these young recruits. It is one thing to read a non-fiction version of the war but to actually hear the story of war from an actual veteran brought an extreme depth of realism and emotion to Vietnam. His presentation accompanied by his photos that he actually took helped to bring out the emotions felt by the soldiers during the time. What was very interesting and shocking was to see the transformation of Mannion from before the war and in the middle of it. It really showed how war changes you not owning physically but emotionally as well, from a very happy college student who played a lot of pranks to a straight face solider all muscled out. His true personal experiences brought an extra layer of emotion and realism not easily experienced reading the book to Vietnam. It showed the truth of how Vietnam was fought by young men and how it changed them talked about in TTTC. A lot the emotions and feelings talked about in the book were also mentioned by Dennis. My question is were you able to listen to any of the anti-war music made in the US during the war and if so how did it affect you ?
    Owen Boyle Period 5

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  52. Dennis mannion‘s speech was very moving and inspirational .I thought that it was great how he improved later on in his life. He didn't care about his grades or work in high school and it wasn't because of drugs or liquor it was simply because he wanted to have fun. He got kicked out of collage. So what he decide to do was sign up for the military which i thought was very interesting because he made that decision. I thought it was very creative of him to make his helmet different from the others. He put scrapes of stuff he found for his own protection of his head. Now there's more meaning to the novels we read in class.
    Thank you Dennis for taking up your own time to come speak to us

    Mary Tourangeau
    class:6

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  53. I found Dennis Mannion's presentation to be very informative and moving. Hearing about the events from someone who was there and seeing pictures along with the story was much more moving than a textbook could ever be. For me the most impactful parts of the presentation were when he showed the three different pictures of himself side by side, like before, during, and after pictures and when he said his reasons for choosing to go to war. Seeing the change that occurred over the course of a few months was astonishing. You know it happens from movies and books, but seeing it in real life had a different impact. The shredded towel was another moment that made me gasp. You see in the movies what shrapnel does, but having a towel that was shredded during actual combat was unnerving and astonishing. Thank you Dennis, I am grateful you took the time to come and speak to us.

    Chad C, Period 1

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  54. The presentation was informative and made both books a reality. Especially, when he described the field, did the chapter from "In The Field" from "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, come to life. He described how terrible it would be to drown and fall into the muck hole, directly relating to the death of Kiowa. Also, when he talked about pictures that he took t=and letters that he sent home reminded me of the letters read in "Dear America". It really stood out to me when Dennis ended the presentation with "I'm not a hero...[the war] is not [an act of heroism]." This directly related to the end of "The Things They Carried" and the humanism of war; they were not heroes, they were cowardice and/or brave men who were surviving life in and out of war.

    Remi S
    Period 5

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  55. Although i didn't make it to see your presentation i would have been interested to see what it was about. I did learn a lot about Vietnam from reading The Things They Carried. i would have asked you questions like what was life like in Vietnam ? was part of the military did you serve in ? There are many questions that I would have asked you. maybe next time I can see it. thank you.. Brandon Downing

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  56. Dennis Mannion's presentation was very moving and really brings reality to the situation. Reading about it or watching a movie about war doesn’t have the same effect as what Dennis’s presentation had. Especially when he showed us the towel with all the holes from shrapnel it really brings some realism to how real the war was and how close he was to dying or being servilely injured. Having someone actually speak to us who was there is an experience that no book, teacher, or movie can give us and I’m really thankful for the opportunity that I was given to listen to his story. Also it was nice to have pictures that he actually took himself to view during the presentation it made the reality of war feel even more real.
    Austin Miller

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  57. I found the presentation to be enlightening beyond what Tim O'Brien attempted to convey in The Things They Carried. Both Dennis and O'Brien used anecdotal stories to describe their experiences. However, I felt it was so much more real to hear the speaker rather than O'Brien's ambiguous descriptions. If I had the opportunity to ask Dennis any questions, I would ask him to elaborate on what he thought he was going to be had he not enlisted in the Marines. I would like to also know what he had thought he would do in high school. From that point, he obviously took a route few of us would never have dreamed about doing. I just wonder how much people can really change, especially while we are still growing. It was also shocking to see his transition and how he was able to recount his experiences with striking ease and detail. I don't know how much of the war he ended up forgetting, that's also something I'd appreciate knowing the answer to. Being in the war changed him as a person. Maybe in that change he became less affected by the horrors of war, or maybe it only amplified the degree to which he was changed. Regardless, I am both amazed and extremely grateful that he came to talk to us about something so personal, and I am happy to see a veteran also happy with the way his life ran after the war.
    Cleo Kyriakides Period 5

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  58. I found Dennis's presentation to be very interesting and posed a nice strike in our minds. We read books like TTTC or hear stories about these war stories, sounding so extreme, or so unreal. But, when Dennis showed us his pictures, it all began to show. These wars are real, and they are dangerous. No matter how crazy sounding or unreal, the pictures showed the real side of war, the nasty, and terrible things that could happen. The presentation opened up a new way of thinking in my head. I can now say I've seen some images, and know the harsh reality of war.
    One question I have is what would Dennis have done if not joining the army? (I'm not sure if he answered this already).
    - Scott Kelsey Period 1

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  59. The thing that I took away from Dennis' talk with us was how much a thing like war can change you. He talked about how his clothes got ruined and he grew a beard but I think he was trying to show that not only will war and things like it will change your appearance but it will change you as a person. In The Things They Carried Azar does some awful things from blowing up a puppy to making fun of Kiowa's death. I do not think he would have done these things before the war. I think the war made him a curler person. I guess you almost have to be that when when put into those kinds of situations. You're being forced to kill someone who you don't know, a person that might be insistent but you have to do this or you may cause the death of people you know and care about. If I went through something like that I know it would change me.
    Marissa S
    P5

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