Oconto Falls High School used music, words and actions to weave its web of appreciation for those who have served in the military during a ceremony in a packed gymnasium on Veterans Day.
Kevin Kuhn II, who was in the United States Navy from 2008 through 2021 and retired as a petty officer first class, told the students that many of the disciplines that comprised his work in the military were ones that they should try to apply in all aspects of my life. He pointed out that military life, especially in times of war, is much different than what is portrayed in the movies.
There is an increased discipline in the military, and those in uniform serve under a weight of decision that many others are not tasked to do on a consistent basis, often having seconds to make life-or-death decisions, Kuhn said. He had to engage potential threats to determine if force was necessary, and one wrong move — either making a decision prematurely or hestitating to take action — could cost lives.
“Think about that — capability, the opportunity and the intent,” Kuhn said. “Imagine if you were in my boots, a young 20-year-old on the roads of Afghanistan conducting security, standing in the turret of a gun truck for hours at a time, always scanning, always watching, always on guard and aware.”
Just because someone has a gun didn’t mean that they were planning to attack Kuhn and his unit, he said, but on the flip side of the coin, someone in a vehicle could use it like an improvised explosive device and kill Americans in service. Figuring out intent is key.
“This isn’t a video game; there’s no reset button,” Kuhn said. “This is the reality of what we, as servicemembers, were tasked to do each day. The moral courage to not shoot is often greater than the act of bravery of pulling the trigger.”
Even though the stakes of what Kuhn went through were life and death, he said capability, opportunity and intent are key factors in the lives of the high school students. He noted that there are targets in their lives, whether it’s a big exam, trying out for a sports team, speaking in public or filling out a college application.
Kuhn said veterans knew how to seize an opportunity when it appears, but it’s something the students can do, too.
“You can have the capability to pass a class and you can have the opportunity for sitting at the desk for a final, but if you do not have the intent to succeed, you will fail,” Kuhn said.
The desire to serve in the military continues today, including in Oconto Falls. Julia Weiler, a high school senior who plans to enlist in the Wisconsin National Guard next spring, told her classmates and community members that she’s been part of the military, at least unofficially, since she was a young child and raised by her grandparents. Her grandfather served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, and she also has an uncle who served as a master sergeant for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.
“I have many family members on both sides who have enlisted or at least tried to,” Weiler said. “Talk about deployments and stories of missing curfew when coming back to the ship have always held a special place in my heart and instilled a sense of wonder for me at a young age.”
Weiler said her family life differed from others in her life, noting that her grandfather taught her and her brother how to shoot cans with a BB gun, how to reload bullet casings at home and how to “swab the deck.” Daily work after school with typing lessons and multiplication tables were also part of the regimen her grandfather put her through.
It wasn’t until this past summer that Weiler considered being part of the military herself. She said she started to feel lost as far as what she wanted to do with her life once graduation arrives in about six months, saying the fear of college expenses and student loans instilled worry in her.
“I knew I needed more of a purpose than pursuing a career the rest of my life,” Weiler said. “I just didn’t know what type of change. I didn’t know what would fill the void that I was searching for.”
She said she talked with a friend who was talking about enlisting, and the thought remained with her after the conversation.
“It was like the light in my head that had been flickering on and off in my head finally lit up for good,” Weiler said. “This has not been an easy decision for me. It’s been intimidating, to say the least, and the toughest one I’ve made.”
OFHS Principal Steve Linssen said it was important for students and staff to honor veterans and all they have done for the United States.
“We’re here to honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces, both past and present,” Linssen said. “Their dedication, courage and sacrifices have protected our communities and shaped the places we call home.”
Because of the work that the armed forces has done, there’s a bar that the rest of the country needs to try and reach in honor of those who came before, according to Linssen.
“Their selflessness and steadfast devotion to duty stand as an example to us all,” he said. “Those who have served in times of war, and those who continue to serve today, and those who will serve in the future, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Your courage, resilience and patriotism inspire and guide us, and we are forever grateful for the sacrifices you and your families have made.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
