Title: Fireworks from the Past

Author Name (thats you): Lorelis Castro

Veteran Name: (Triple Check Spelling): Jerry Newman
Written portrait text:
In 1968, Jerry Newman found himself far from his rural farm life in Old Glory, Texas.
Wearing his helmet and flak jacket, he crawled along the floor of his hotel room in
Saigon. For seven nights straight, he carefully peered through his balcony window
and listened as shots fired. Bang! Bang! Bang! At some point he figured out it was
Vietnamese New Year and the gun shots were celebratory.
However, his panic and cautiousness werent altogether unfounded. A year later, he
would serve as a Commander for an armored cavalry troop in Germany. Jerry risked
his life for others as he found himself immersed in the Cold War. His men controlled
the borders while he crossed the fence between east and west Germany. Jerry
learned that war has a devastating effect on the families who fall victim and the
nations that are in the path of destruction.
During the Cold War, families lost their loved ones and nations were angered as
they used all their resources in hopes of winning a war. Survival Assistant Officers
visited families and delivered the news that their sons, cousins, or husbands had
just been killed in war. Survival Assistants were tasked with helping these families
prepare everything for their military funeral. Jerry served as a Survival Assistant. He
helped families understand and make decisions about the funeral. Jerrys
perspective on war was greatly affected by working so closely with direct victims,
War, in my opinion, should be the absolute last option. You should negotiate, try to
prevent war. But let me tell you something, going into the Army is the best thing I
ever did in my life.
From 1966 to 1967, Jerry served in Korea and commanded an Army Cavalry Troop in
a demilitarized zone in North and South Korea. After his time in Korea, he came back
to the United States and was assigned to go to a military school and be an ROTC
instructor. He was there to train the men who were going on to Vietnam, to prepare
them for the horrors they would see. Jerry wondered aloud, Are these men really
sure that they are ready to see what war really is?
Some people believe war is never a way to resolve problems or conflicts, but not all
people have the same mindset. Jerry is a problem solver. When he was young, he
would say, That is a problem, it's got to be solved and I, Jerry Newman, am going
to solve it! or, I have a problem and I feel it's yours and this is how it has affected
me and you know. Can I help you solve it? As he grew older, he still kept the same
mindset.

47 years ago, in a hotel room in Saigon, Jerry Newman thought he was in danger. He
was scared and panicked because he wasn't sure what to do.. That week in Saigon,
Jerry realized that it is okay to be afraid of what might happen. He grew as a person,
I know that I can get up and keep on going and not hide under the bed.
Pull quote: I know that I can get up and keep on going..