The Vietnam War was one of the most controversial wars throughout the entirety of American history. A war that started in 1954 due to French tensions with communist rebels, turned into an Americanized quagmire that continued on till the Paris Peace Accords in 1973. The war made huge jumps in terms of technology, war-time strategy, and American culture, but it ultimately caused many "issues" for the industrial complex United States. The war not only left a nation divided in one of the most strenuous periods in American history, but it changed the way the United States handled foreign issues and future affairs. More importantly, the war had negative affects on the soldiers who fought it, both home and abroad, mentally and physically, and caused 58,315 Americans to make the ultimate sacrifice. The war is disputed to this day, in terms of the victor, its justification, and how it was handled by those who ran it, however populist opinion dictates the war poorly in American culture. With this being said, the only way for the people to truly make a conclusion about The Vietnam War, we must see it through the eyes of those who fought it.

Sergeant Carroll L. Six Jr. was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 1950, during a blizzard in a small West Virginia town. He is also known as the most interesting man in the world. After moving to Pennsylvania during High School, he enlisted in the United States Army under the impression that Uncle Sam would give him the usual draft notice. Originally planned on becoming an MP(Military Policeman), he instead went on to become a part of The 82nd Airborne Division, and take his post on a M551 Sheridan Tank in the jungles of Vietnam. Sergeant Six served a total of four years in the Army, 1969-1972, and from those years he served in Vietnam from 70'-71'. After the Army, he went on to work for the railroad industry, and began a family with his wife Darlene and children Rachel and Jeremy. From his tenure in Vietnam, Carroll Six had experienced a war that was controversial to many, heartbreaking for millions, and ultimately changed the United States for years to come. Through his experiences overseas, he has developed numerous conclusions on American politics, The Cold War, and the global political spectrum. Here is his story.

The Vietnam Vision

On September 11, 2001, two planes were hijacked by terrorists struck the twin towers. A third struck the pentagon. The fourth was set to hit the White House but passengers rose up against the hijackers and downed the plane in Pennsylvania. The event shocked people all over the world. The attack was committed by Al-Qaeda, a terrorist group based in the Middle East. The terrorist group was previously responsible for the bombing of the US embassy in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Al-Qaeda was formed by Islamic Extremists to fight back against the soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. The terrorist group continues to commit acts of terror all over the world today.

Cindy Schwanger was born August 19, 1969 at Harrisburg Hospital. When she got out of high school she started working at Highmark on July 6, 1987. She worked there for 24 years and was still employed there when the attack happened. Many people including Cindy were worried about the plane that was downed in PA as no one knew where it was. People thought that it was headed towards TMI. Cindy was initially worried about her mother who was in the nursing home across the street and if they needed to evacuate, where and how would she get out. In the summer of 2012 Cindy started studying Harrisburg Area Community College for 3 years. After graduating Cindy returned working at Highmark and now hopes to move to Florida in the next few years.

9/11: The Day that Shocked the World

On November 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was riding in a parade through Dallas, Texas. He rode in a presidential motorcade in a topless vehicle with his wife, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as well as John Connally, the governor of Texas and his wife. During the parade, John F. Kennedy was fatally struck by a bullet. Later that day, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for allegedly killing John F. Kennedy. Before Harvey could be convicted of the crime officially, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald with a handgun while Oswald was in police custody. To this day it is unknown what Oswald's motivations were for assassinating the president.

Joyce Meyer was a young adult when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1962. She grew up in the United States in the midst of the Cold War, when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were at an all time high. She remembers that fateful day more more than fifty years ago when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. She is prepared to share her personal experience and account of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

The Assassination of John F. Kennedy: A Rude Awakening Into the Stormy Sixties

Following the events of the Civil War, African Americans finally got their freedom through the enactment of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. Through these pieces of legislation African Americans were granted freedom, became citizens of the US, and gained the right to vote. Although African Americans gained their freedom and their citizenship, things were still far from being equal. A battered and angry south put into place such things as the Jim Crow laws, and literacy tests as a way to further restrict African American rights. The Jim Crow laws made it so that public facilities were segregated, and literacy test virtually made it impossible for African Americans to vote. Things began to shift though upon the entry into the 50s, it was during this period that the Civil Rights Movement was created. Within this movement African Americans and other pro civil rights activist fought for racial equality through nonviolent strategies. Some of these being sit-ins, freedom rides, civil protests, marches etc..

Dr. John Rubisch was born on Jun 23, 1952 in Cherry point, North Carolina. Living in the segregated south, During his youth he witnessed the beginning and ending of the civil rights movement. Due to his father being part of the military - specifically the marines - him and his family moved a lot. They lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee during the the brunt of the Civil rights movement. He attended high school at Central Bucks West, and in the middle of his high school career him and his family moved to Pennsylvania. He then finished his High school education at central dolphin east High school. Afterwards, he went on to attain his Bachelors degree for Community Development at Penn state, his Masters for Community counselor at Shippensburg, and finally went back to Penn state to attain his PhD in Instructional systems. As of now he works as the guidance counselor for Susquenita High school and has been for about thirty years. Before acquiring this job though, Dr. Rubisch worked in a multitude of other occupations, such as a social worker for abused children, a substance abuse counselor, and a college counselor.

The Civil Rights Movement and its  Impacts

On October 29, 1929 the Stock Market crashed, resulting in a devastating economic depression. The Great Depression was caused by the overuse of bank loans, interest and credit. It affected people all across America, leaving them unemployed and job less. Herbert Hoover being President at the time was the inspiration for the name "Hoovervilles," where many homeless people lived. He was credited for the misfortune on the majority of Americans. Fortunately on March 4, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President. He initiated a New Deal Program that instilled relief, recovery and reform from this Depression. Many new programs helped rise the employment rate such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Some programs are still implemented today such as the Social Security Act. While America made their way out of Depression conflicts in Europe were evolving. On December 7, 1941 Japanese planes attacked the navel base Pearl Harbor. At first America claimed they were not going to be involved in foreign affairs, however the bombing of Pearl Harbor lead America to join the war. Many battles were fought during World War II, such as the D-Day invasion (June 6, 1944) and the Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944). Preceding these battles, two atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6th and 9th. They successfully forced Japan to surrender, ending World War II on August 12, 1945. This time in history was very significant and resulted in America coming out of the Great Depression into a surge of nationalism.

Ellen Whitmoyer Smiley was born on February 19, 1921 in Reading, Pennsylvania. She lived on Front Street in a rural community with similar buildings and close, friendly neighbors. Being eight year old at the time, Ellen recalls the stock market crash of 1929 when her Uncle lost a lot of investments. Growing up during the Great Depression the Smiley family was very fortunate and was always able to have food. Taking interest in Biology and Chemistry, Ellen studied at Albright College, later working as a medical technician. Oliver Smiley (Ellen's Husband) graduated from college and had trouble finding employment in his field. In the 1940's he was fortunately able to find a job in Baltimore, moving Ellen from her hometown, to Maryland. Together they lived there for a few years in a home built by the government, later moving to Kimberton, PA. In 1949 Oliver and Ellen began the construction of their house, where they lived until moving to Saint John's Herr Estate in 1991. Today, being 96-years-old Ellen is able to clearly recall her life growing up during the Great Depression and World War II.

A Take On The Great Depression And World War II

On Wednesday March 28, 1979 at approximately 4:00 AM the chain of events that would cause the partial meltdown of one of Three Mile Island's nuclear reactors unfolded. At the time Three Mile Island was managed by the Metropolitan Edison Power Company and the Vice President being Jack Herbein. At Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, PA the secondary cooling system on unit 2 malfunctioned. This caused the temperature in the primary coolant to rise. A series of valve malfunctions lead operators to believe that the coolant water was full, so they stopped pumping replacement water. Because a valve was stuck open water was boiling away and exposed the fuel core raising its temperature. The fuel rods became damaged and released radioactive material into the water. Following this there was a partial release of radioactive gases. There was a recommended voluntary evacuation of people within a five mile radius of the reactor which was later extended to a twenty mile radius. Following the accident there were protests to stop operations at Three Mile Island.

Harry Blose was born on January 24th, 1960 in Harrisburg, PA. Harry was raised in Duncannon, PA and graduated from Susquenita High School in 1977. At the time of the Three Mile Island accident he was nineteen years old. He was living with his parents and siblings in a house along the Susquehanna River in Duncannon, PA about ten miles from Three Mile Island when the accident occurred. This event made him more conscious of alternative power sources and their possible effects.

Three Mile Island: Accidental Doom

The mid-twentieth century was a colossal turning point in culture, especially in the younger generations. The shift from the conservative, traditional values of the 1950s to the rebellious, obscene actions of the 1970s mingled together in the 60s. There was tensions between age divisions and altogether a stark contrast between values. Music showed the emergence of rock n' roll, which challenged the upbeat and peppy pop of the 50s. Television and celebrities like Marilyn Monroe were more displayed and comedy became the popular genre in main media. Even artistic movements changed; Andy Warhol's pop art became one of the famous works in the modern art category. Books were an important staple, as well:To Kill a Mockingbird's themes of racism opened up conversations in the Civil Rights Movement, and In Cold Blood spoke of criminal deviance and sparked the crime genre in pop culture. The Vietnam War included college students rallying around this point to try and save their friends and family stationed in a needless war against communism. Pop culture is always a fascinating and broad topic for any decade, as it shows the common ideals and interests of the people at the time. But the 60s particularly reflects the movements that occurred at the time, like Civil Rights, Anti-War, and Youth Revolution. 

	Barbara Harter grew up in central Pennsylvania and has continued to raise a family there for three generations. She was born in 1945 and went to Bishop McDevitt Catholic School, where she graduated in '63. Following schooling, Mrs. Harter balanced various secretarial jobs and volunteer work in the mental health and pediatric centers at Harrisburg Hospital. She married my grandfather, Douglas, in 1969. She raised three children and has six grandchildren and one granddog. She currently loves reading, beach vacations, and of course, her loving family.

That's Life (1960s Pop Culture)

Even though World War II started in 1939, the United States did not enter until late 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's address following the attack stated that it was "a day that will live in infamy" before asking congress to declare war on Japan and its allies. On the home front, America did everything possible to provide supplies and fund the war. Agencies that were led by Bernard Baruch in World War I were once again imperative. Citizens were buying bonds to help our soldiers overseas. Many women were entering the workforce for the first time and picked up the jobs men left behind. All of these efforts continued until the end of the war when the Axis powers succumbed to the Allied powers in 1945.

Harriet Magee was just five when the United States joined the World War II. The war was very close to the many members of her family. Living in Duncannon, Pennsylvania, Harriet's father was a contractor who helped construct naval bases and veteran hospitals as well as an air raid warden who would patrol the streets at night. Her cousin, Jack, was in the air corp and an active member in the war. Harriet also would help on the home front doing such activities like looking for airplanes and marching the streets of her hometown waving American flags. Even in adulthood, Harriet helped contribute to the war effort. During the Vietnam War, she was a civilian nurse who helped bring head trauma patients back to the United States for treatment. Later on, Harriet became a teacher and taught at Susquenita High School, continuing to help others.

World War II And The American Home Front, Life In Central Pennsylvania

Prior to the new millennium technology was advancing at a slower rate than today, yet programmers had caused a mass panic among people not only in the United States, but worldwide. Starting from the question of whether the programs with a two digit code for the year, (ex. 98 for 1998) would successfully carry over to 2000 without the first two digits turned into frenzy. People began believing all technology would shut down which led to paranoia. This paranoia spread and even more irrational fears started, with the belief that all technology and electricity would fail. Many held true to the fact that with the new year would come an apocalypse.

Shawn Simpson is a central Pennsylvanian who was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1971. He was raised in Pennsylvania, moving around schools frequently, never sitting in the same place for long periods of time. He furthered his education for four years of college at HACC. He married Marry Staub in the January of 1999 to put some more fun in what he considered a banal and dreary month. As the new millennium and the threat of Y2K was approaching he was preparing for a child due in four months. Shawn did not buy into the paranoia of Y2K, and in a way, hoped everything would malfunction, finding a sense of ironic humor in the midst.

Y2 Cray

The 1960s were one of the most historic periods in history. This era held many country changing events that made the modern day America possible. Many growths occurred in the science area such as putting men into space and inventing new technologies based around this. People fought each other over race as well as came together in support of each other. Leaders rose and fell, leaving the nation in mourning multiple times. Without this era, America would not be the same.

Born in 1948, Sharon (Hetrick) House was aged 12 through 22. She experienced firsthand what the times leading up to the 60s was like and after the 60s were over she felt the effect of the history made then. She grew up as a child through early adulthood, a very important part of any child's life. Without this era she may never have become the person she is today.

Sharon's  Sixties

In the 1960s the modern Civil Rights Movement was in full swing again. This era is approximately one hundred years after the end of the Civil War and society has realized that in these hundred years, not enough has changed. Vehement leaders are enraged by the segregation and unequal  treatment of African Americans and pushed for change. This feeling was shared by many, including whites, who pushed for change and legislation so that equality could finally be reached. The movement consisted of marches, sit ins, peaceful and violent protests, riots, and eventual legislation in 1964 and 1965. On August 11th, 1965 after there is an altercation between a black motorcyclist and white policemen, a violent and destructive riot broke out in the black Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The riot lasted five days and was ended by the national guard leaving 34 dead and $40 million in damage. In 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which ended segregation and discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or ethnicity. This legislation was a major achievement for the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders, including Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Malcom X.  In 1965 the Voting Rights Act was also passed, ensuring that African Americans could vote free of literacy tests.

Cheryl "Cherie" Higley Rohrer was born and raised in the Village of Estella in extremely rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rohrer grew up in this rural area as the youngest of four children. She grew up in a full household because when her mother's (Alfreda Carpenter Higley) parents passed, her mother took on the responsibility of raising her siblings as well. This region is among the most rural and least populated in the state. For example, the nearest hospital was approximately an hour away and the nearest "real" supermarket was approximately the same distance away as well.  This region was mainly agricultural consisting of a small collection of family-run farms, most of which are still there today. In addition to being mainly agricultural, a mountain in the area, Bear Mountain, was sometimes used for logging. Overall the population was minute and consisted entirely by Caucasians, because at this time the majority of the African American population lived in large cities, as opposed to small towns. Due to this lack of a diverse population the Civil Rights Movement and its effects vastly differed from urban America.

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