Top: Richard Hoegh of Frazier Park told of his World War II experiences. Bottom (l-r): Christian Gomez went to Gorman School for five years, where his mother works. He graduated from high school, then served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 until just last Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Kindergartners and first graders learning about World War II.
Veterans Day Events
By Gary Meyer
To help Gorman School honor Veterans Day, U.S. Army veteran Richard Hoegh, 88 told them the story of his experiences during World War II in France and Germany—including his arrival at the Nazis’ Dachau death camp in 1945.
Students listened as Hoegh described his service. Then younger students returned to their classrooms while the older students heard the more difficult parts of the story.
Students had questions such as: ‘Have you ever been shot?’ ‘Did you ever shoot anyone?’ and ‘Did you ever shoot a machine gun?’
Hoegh answered that he had never been shot, and although he had never shot anyone at close range himself, he and his fellow soldiers knew people were dying miles away when his artillery battalion fired its cannons.
He told the students that he has no regrets about having fought in World War II. Students thanked him for his service as they said good-bye.
On November 11, as we go to press, a ceremony is being held at the Cody Prosser Veterans Memorial in Frazier Mountain Park to honor our veterans.
This is part of the November 13, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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