Linda Sova's 12th-grade English class has been learning a lot about the Vietnam War these days.

Recently her students read the book "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, a story about a 17-year-old man from Harlem who finds himself on active duty in Vietnam during the heart of the war. The class then saw the 1986 film "Platoon," which is about a platoon of American soldiers fighting in the jungles of Vietnam.

After the book and the film, Sova said her students still had questions about the war. So Sova called the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), and asked if a veteran of the Vietnam War could come and speak to her class.

So on March 30, Dave Countryman of Gloversville came to Fonda-Fultonville High School.

"He talked about how in his squad, men from different backgrounds got along," Sova said. "He talked about how he saw death, and the hardships."

Countryman served in Vietnam for one year after being drafted into the U.S. military, and told the students stories about Vietnamese children stealing ammunition, answered questions about drug and alcohol abuse among the soldiers, and explained the feelings he had when he returned home.

"He made it clear that it was his duty [to serve in the war]," Sova said about Countryman's presentation. "It was his responsibility as an American to go there and do the best job he could."

Sova said her students wrote Countryman a thank-you notes, telling him how glad they were he came. The students even thanked her for bringing Countryman into their classroom.

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Posted: April 5, 2005