By Harley Anderson
Staff Writer
On Thursday night, senior level cadets from Seneca Battalion ROTC went to the Cuba VFW to meet with veterans of the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq Wars and discuss leadership philosophy over the movie “We Were Soldiers.”
The movie depicts the battle of the Ia Drang Valley, a particularly bloody battle in 1965, when elements of the United States Army first engaged North Vietnamese forces in a major battle.
Along with the movie, the veterans shared stories and advice from their time of service. Several of the veterans served during the time “We Were Soldiers” took place, allowing them to compare the film to their experience.
Retired Brig. Gen. Arthur Austin, who is now in charge of the Cuba VFW and AMVETS, spoke on what it takes to excel as a soldier.
“You’re not doing this job to get paid. . . Keep yourself open for opportunities. . . You never know when opportunities are going to arrive, so you have to be prepared. . . Keep your nose to the grindstone,” said Austin.
Austin said that organizations such as the VFW, American Legion and AMVETS advocate for veterans and service members. Oftentimes, these organizations are seen as strictly for older veterans, but these places are important for all service members because they support veterans returning from war and give them a voice.
Lt. Col. Sean Coulter also spoke on the importance of building legions up and making them relative to younger generations.
This allowed cadets to analyze the decisions that shaped the Ia Drang Valley battle and have the opportunity to learn important lessons from the veterans.
Cadet Jacob McCollum, senior journalism and mass communication major, attended the event and felt that the lessons he learned were invaluable.
“Part of being a military leader is learning from the past. These lessons, while earned in blood and hardship, are key to future success as an Army Officer and must be passed from generation to generation of soldiers to ensure they are not forgotten,” he said.
While Seneca Battalion cadets spent only a few short hours at the Cuba VFW, the advice given to them will remain much longer.
“These lessons will prove invaluable to us in our time as Army Officers,” concluded McCollum.
andersvh16@bonaventure.edu
