Soldiers speak at Providence service

Clark County

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Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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November 11, 2009

By BRADEN LAMMERS The News and Tribune Wed Nov 11, 2009, 10:41 PM EST

Recalling the day 35 years ago he learned of his brother’s death in Vietnam isn’t comfortable for Steve Gettelfinger, but on Wednesday it certainly was important.

Gettelfinger shared with Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School students parts of the letters his brother, Tom, a 1966 Providence graduate, wrote home while he was at war, and urged the Veterans Day audience to never discount or take for granted the service of members of the military.

“Anyone, like these gentleman here today, who risk their lives to serve our country deserve our respect, regardless of the public’s opinion of the conflict they are involved in,” he said. “So be sure to thank all veterans young and old and more especially, our current active military people.”

Providence brought in family members of two former students killed in action overseas, and two veterans of the current war in Iraq to share their experiences of being in the military.

“When those soldiers actually come [to the school] and [the students] see the ones that have died in that conflict and in other conflicts, it brings it home ... it becomes real,” said Joan Hurley, president of Providence.

Bringing those experiences to the students and showing the everyday sacrifices made by soldiers and their families was the goal of the program.

“It’s bringing that home and bringing home the value of our freedom in our students,” Hurley said. “To make them understand that is a lesson in itself.”

The “lesson” was led by Iraq veterans 1st Lt. Patrick Broderick and Cpl. Sam Goffinet and family members of the Gettelfinger brothers and J.R. Cartrette, who died in Saudi Arabia at an air base in 1996.

The experiences each veteran and family member shared were similar, from looking forward to letters and care packages from home, to relaying how good or bad the “chow” was overseas.

Goffinet — a 2006 graduate — said how important the letters he received from a Providence junior high class were to him. He also cracked jokes and talked about how a sense of humor was paramount in maintaining morale overseas.

“There are a lot funnier stories I could tell you ... but this is a Catholic high school and I would like to be invited back at some point,” he said jokingly.

However, the realities of war were not lost on Goffinet, and became very apparent early in his deployment. He received the Purple Heart during his first convoy in Iraq. After his own truck broke down, Goffinet jumped into another vehicle, which subsequently struck an anti-tank mine.

“It’s a scary feeling getting off of the plane [there], but it doesn’t hit you until something like that happens,” he said.

Army platoon leader and 2002 Providence graduate Broderick seconded Goffinet’s sentiment.

“Just getting off the plane in Iraq ... was a scary experience,” he said.

Broderick also shared a few stories about his time in Iraq, but stressed the purpose of the holiday to the students in the audience.

“On this holiday, I think it’s important that we consider these ongoing wars and consider the constant strain these wars have put on the American service member and his or her family,” he said. “It’s important that we actually think about the day-to-day sacrifices that these soldiers endure.

“It’s easy to not consider their daily sacrifices, because it seems so distant.”