MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ally Campbell had heard about war on the news and in her history classes, but the Central Middle School eighth-grader learned more about it Thursday morning.

Campbell and her fellow students met with Muscatine-area veterans to hear their personal stories and question them about their experiences.

“When you’re in the war, you can’t go back,” said Campbell after listening to the veterans speak. “When you sign up for the military, you have to be really dedicated. You can’t just leave.”

The activity was arranged by Central Middle School counselor Troy Kulland, a National Guard veteran who was involved in peacekeeping missions from 1993-2005.

“I wanted to do something for a long time,” said Kulland. “I wanted the kids to understand what Veterans Day meant and a lot of these veterans have a lot of information.”

Pam Ramer of Muscatine, coordinator of the World War II Honor Flights from Muscatine, helped coordinate the activity by working with the veterans.

The veterans’ impressions included their feelings about the everyday events that occurred between the bombing and gunfire.

Vietnam veteran Bill Behrend said some of his most poignant memories are of the Vietnamese children he met while stationed there.

“I blew a bubble with bubble gum once and a little Vietnamese boy who had never seen that before came up and watched me,” Behrend said.

That moment was the beginning of an acquaintance between Behrend and the child.

The children of Vietnam were growing up in a war zone, Behrend told the students, and some of them had lost arms and legs in land mine explosions.

But he described children who,  just like any others, liked to play and  appreciated the attention of an adult.

World War II nurse Iris Hetzler traveled to France and England with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

“Medical personnel were not drafted into the war,” said Hetzler. “But we all felt a need that something had to be done, so we volunteered.”

After each veteran spoke, the students had an opportunity to ask questions.

One student asked Hetzler if it was difficult to return to civilian life.

“At first, I think I just wanted to be put in a corner by myself,” said Hetzler. “But everyone at home had been through it too because of rationing and because the war went on so long. In a sense, they were kind of fighting the war here, too.”

World War II veteran Richard Stammer was stationed in Italy for his tour of duty and recalled going there by way of the Mediterranean Ocean, which was filled with military ships.

After enduring several wounds, Stammer said he asked if he could get an assignment that would take him out of the line of fire. But he soon changed his mind.

As he was recovering in the hospital, many of the soldiers who served in Stammer’s unit were being brought there.

“I said, ‘How soon can I go back?’” recalled Stammer.

Eighth-grader Seth Burton has read books and watched movies about the war, but hearing from the veterans was different.

“People from my generation might be the next ones to go to war,” said Burton. “When we hear these veterans speak, it shows us what to expect.”

DetailsArea veterans who met with Central Middle School students Thursday, Nov. 12 also included:

Raymond Dietrich, World War II, U.S. Army

Sandy Lee, Vietnam, Marines

Robert Lowe, WWII, U.S. Army

Dick Salemink, WWII and Korean War, U.S. Army

Matt Fox, WWII and Korean War  U.S., Navy

Johnnie Beason, WWII, U.S. Army

Otto Parker, WWII, U.S. Army