Instead of taking the day off, RB has made a tradition of hosting Veteran’s Day assembly each year. Many veterans come and are celebrated and thanked by students, teachers, and each other. Clarion interviewed Kevin Turk, a Western Civilization and Global Studies teacher here at RB, and William Sisson, an assistant wrestling coach and Special Ed teacher. Both are military veterans.
Kevin Turk
Q. What military branch did you serve in?
A. I started in the Navy, and then I switched to Army-National Guard.
Q. Why did you serve in that branch?
A. I wanted to be a pilot for the Navy, and it was convenient to go into the Army-National Guard when I couldn’t.
Q. How long did you serve in the military?
A. Eight years.
Q. Were you ever deployed or close to being deployed to a war or battle?
A. No.
Q. What was the hardest part of being in the military and why?
A. Being away from your family.
Q. What was the best thing about the military?
A. There were a lot of cool training activities.
Q. Did you use the GI Bill to pay for college?
A. Yes.
Q. What college did you go to?
A. University of Illinois.
Q. If you could do it again, would you still go into the military?
A. Yes.
William Sisson
Q. What military branch did you serve in?
A. The Army.
Q. Why did you serve in that branch?
A. I didn’t consider any other branches. I felt I needed to do it. I wasn’t doing as much where school was concerned. The educational benefits of the education after the military were appealing.
Q. How long did you serve in the military?
A. Almost 6 years.
Q. Were you ever deployed or close to being deployed to a war or battle?
A. No.
Q. What was the hardest part about being in the military and why?
A. I suppose the hardest part of being in the military was being far away from my family when my brother passed away.
Q. What was the best thing about the military?
A. Travel, you get to see a lot of different places. You also make lot of friends. There are men in my unit who I still talk to from time to once in a while.
Q. Did you use the GI Bill to go to college?
A. Yes, I am currently using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. It is another form of the GI Bill. It is a 3 year benefit that pays for all of your books and schooling.
Q. What college did you go to?
A. I am going to University of Phoenix.
Q. If you could do it again, would you still go into the military?
A. With the experience of my brother being killed in the military, I wouldn’t want to put my family through any worries.
