With the Asia Pacific rim a popular tourist destination these days, especially Vietnam, it’s hard to imagine the emotions and sheer fear that that far off land conjured for a whole generation. American students once rioted in the streets to end the Vietnam War.

It was a particularly nasty war, fought in tropical jungle-like terrain, with experimental chemical weapons and artillery against an often ghostly enemy — the difference between friend and foe was often indistinguishable.

This week, dozens of Suffern High School freshmen sat quietly among displays of memorabilia from the Vietnam War, as veteran Bill Winder, a former U.S. Marine “tunnel rat” posed a series of questions.

“Who here plays ‘Call of Duty’?” he asked. A few students responded. Winder paused.

“Video games are entertainment; it’s OK to have fun,” he said. “But when you spend long hours playing these kinds of games—when you lose yourself in them—you become desensitized to the reality of what they represent.”

Winder held up an x-ray depicting some of the 49 pieces of shrapnel that remain in his body.

“Shrapnel propelled by a land mine is heated to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and travels at 2,700 feet per second. It tears through your flesh, your organs and your bones,” he said.

Winder is among the eight veterans speaking with students this month as part of the Vietnam Veterans of America’s “Memories, Stories Left at the Wall” program at Suffern High School.

The program kicked off with a series of grade-level assemblies and will continue through April 12, with class presentations delivered within the traveling museum. Artifacts on display include a replica of a young soldier’s bedroom back home and letters, as well as photographs, notes and other mementos left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

The veterans also spoke frankly about returning home and the adult-onset diabetes and skin cancers linked to Agent Orange exposure, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other health consequences they have faced in the decades following their service.

“The program was extremely enlightening,” said social studies teacher Matthew Biggar. “It’s one thing to discuss the Vietnam era in a history class, but it’s a completely different experience for students to interact with our brave soldiers who were actually there.

Thursday, April 11, the Vietnam Veterans of America’s “Memories, Stories Left at the Wall” program will speak and give an evening presentation for parents and community members at Suffern High School at 7 p.m.

Photo caption 1 (Top): Vietnam veteran Bill Winder holds up an x-ray showing some of the 49 pieces of shrapnel that remain in his body.

Photos and information courtesy of Jennifer Citrolo.