By Pat Harris, Media Relations Director
 
Soldiers stand in front of tents with cloud of smoke in background.

Soldiers stand in front of tents with cloud of smoke in background.

When the Spartan Daily’s Aimee McLendon set out to write about SJSU students who are combat veterans, she encountered resistance. People she contacted were concerned their comments would be used to portray them in a bad light, or taken out of context. A veteran herself, McLendon proved to be a careful listener and writer.

“I knew we had veterans on campus and I wanted to hear about their firsthand experiences because otherwise, we only see the war through a very limited lens,” McLendon said. “Those veterans are now part of American history and I am honored they took the time to give us a small glimpse of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

McLendon is not a combat vet, but her Air Force career, combined with living and traveling across the country and around the world, gave her the courage to return to college to pursue what she loves most, telling a good story.

For her piece on combat vets, McLendon also sought the perspective of Professor Jonathan Roth, who spearheads the new SJSU Presidential Task Force on Veterans and Military Students. Roth estimates 275 veterans and 300 military dependents attend San Jose State.

“These young people have experienced things that most people will not,” Roth said. “The crucible of war, as they call it, changes them. And I don’t think we should focus on them as somehow sick or ill, but I think they’ve earned our respect.”

To mark Veterans Day, we bring you McLendon’s story, originally published in the Spartan Daily on Oct. 20, 2010. We would like to extend our gratitude to Jason Lopez for sharing his photo with us.

Read “SJSU Students Give Firsthand Accounts.”
http://www.news.sjsu.edu/27819/sjsu-students-give-firsthand-account-of-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan

View the CSU Troops to College website.
http://www.calstate.edu/veterans/