Larry Poffenbarger
Larry Poffenbarger
By Mia Olsen, Jess Wilson, and Adam Ross
On Thursday, May 5th , we had the opportunity to interview Larry Poffenbarger from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is a 73 year old US Navy veteran. He enlisted in the Navy and served from May of 1955 to July of 1990. During this time he achieved the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Larry served on a ship called USS Harold J. Ellison and in a Seabees Battalion.
He served in Beirut, Lebanon during the crisis of 1958 and said of that experience, “that’s the only place I’ve been shot at, and I don’t ever want to go back.” While military service could be dangerous, it was also an opportunity for America to reach out and help people in nations at war. One time, Larry helped paint a large orphanage with other military personnel while in Lebanon. They sometimes had picnics for the kids. Larry talked about how he had become attached to the children, because they were homeless and he felt bad for them.
There are still some Seabees in the Middle East with U.S. forces, some of whom are his friends and men he trained. The medical staff often spends more time treating the civilians than the troops. Larry was always aware of the danger, however, and said he carried a weapon quite often.
While Larry stated that he had received medals and awards he did not feel comfortable explaining for what. He also said that the most disrespectful question you can ask a veteran is “did you kill anyone?”
Through this interview we learned some basic facts. For example, a person does not have to be drafted, but can enlist voluntarily in the military. It was also clear that war is ugly and some people have difficulty talking about their experiences. On the other hand, medical personnel can be shared between the branches and they often treat civilians, such as children, who are injured during the fighting.
Finally, we wanted to let Mr. Poffenbarger know that we are grateful that he played a role in defending our nation. We also appreciate that he agreed to share his experiences with us so that we could better understand the role of individuals in the military protecting our nation.
On Thursday, May 5th , we had the opportunity to interview Larry Poffenbarger from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is a 73 year old US Navy veteran. He enlisted in the Navy and served from May of 1955 to July of 1990. During this time he achieved the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Larry served on a ship called USS Harold J. Ellison and in a Seabees Battalion.
He served in Beirut, Lebanon during the crisis of 1958 and said of that experience, “that’s the only place I’ve been shot at, and I don’t ever want to go back.” While military service could be dangerous, it was also an opportunity for America to reach out and help people in nations at war. One time, Larry helped paint a large orphanage with other military personnel while in Lebanon. They sometimes had picnics for the kids. Larry talked about how he had become attached to the children, because they were homeless and he felt bad for them.
There are still some Seabees in the Middle East with U.S. forces, some of whom are his friends and men he trained. The medical staff often spends more time treating the civilians than the troops. Larry was always aware of the danger, however, and said he carried a weapon quite often.
While Larry stated that he had received medals and awards he did not feel comfortable explaining for what. He also said that the most disrespectful question you can ask a veteran is “did you kill anyone?”
Through this interview we learned some basic facts. For example, a person does not have to be drafted, but can enlist voluntarily in the military. It was also clear that war is ugly and some people have difficulty talking about their experiences. On the other hand, medical personnel can be shared between the branches and they often treat civilians, such as children, who are injured during the fighting.
Finally, we wanted to let Mr. Poffenbarger know that we are grateful that he played a role in defending our nation. We also appreciate that he agreed to share his experiences with us so that we could better understand the role of individuals in the military protecting our nation.
Larry Poffenbarger, Jessica Wilson, Mia Olson
