Once ashamed, Vietnam vet proudly shares heroism with students
By Chris Bavender
While most people look forward to fireworks lighting up the sky on July Fourth, it’s one of the toughest days of the year for Steve White.
A Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star recipient, White is reminded of the terrors of war when he hears pyrotechnics burst through the air. But most days, the 68-year-old takes pride in his wartime accomplishments – although that wasn’t always the case.
“Now people say ‘Thank you’ to the military – it’s the thing to do now. But when I came home it wasn’t that easy,” said White, who returned home in 1970 after two tours of duty in the Army. “We were told (military) people were getting spit on or called names. All I wanted to do was get on a plane and out of my uniform and not talk about it.”
These days White is happy to share about his experiences to students at Zionsville Community High School. After retiring two years ago from a job selling restaurant equipment, White was hired as a cafeteria monitor at the school. He also speaks to history classes about his time in Vietnam.
“It helps them understand what war is all about – that it’s not a game,” White said. “Today kids are into war games in videos and you can hit the reset button and start all over again. But there is no reset button in real war.”
White dropped out of college the second semester of his junior year and joined the military. He knew he’d likely end up going to Vietnam and wanted to “get it over with.”
“I grew up a lot while I was there. It taught me about life and death,” White said. “Every day I saw someone die – be it our people or the enemy.”
White tells the students how he lived for 10 months in a six by three foot hole in the ground. How he used C4 to cook his food. That a shower meant standing in your uniform in the pouring rain to get clean.
In turn, they had a lot of questions for him.
“Most all want to know if I killed anyone,” White said. “For a long time I tried to avoid that question but lately I have started telling them ‘Yes’ because it’s something I have to live with. There again, that’s war.”
ZCHS history teacher David Rodgers said White brings history to life for the students.
“To be able to put a name and a face to the things they read about, and to make the connection that the people who lived these events walk among them every day is really powerful learning,” Rogers said. “He wasn’t much older than them when he went to Vietnam, and it impacted the rest of his life.”
White’s story inspired the ZCHS students to form a club called Letters for Soldiers. Students gathered together before school to write notes for veterans and current members of the military to express their appreciation.
“That’s a pretty big impact Steve continues to have,” Rodgers said.
So much so that students nominated him for the Crystal Apple award, which recognizes those dedicated to the success of children and their education.
“I just smile now when I think about the time I didn’t want anyone to know I’d been in Vietnam,” he said. “Now I let everyone know it – I’m not ashamed. I did what I was told to do and that was my job – and I did it.”
MEET STEVE WHITE
Favorite pastime: I love all sports. I bowl two times a week. I had four perfect 300 games in bowling!
Favorite restaurant: Outback Steakhouse
Favorite vacation location: Cancun
Favorite quote: “If you don’t try, the answer will always be no”
Early morning riser or night owl? Both, I get up around 5:30 a.m. every morning and I go to bed whenever!
