This book is a collection of biographies and much more; it is a heartfelt tribute to the young men from central Iowa who ultimately gave their lives in the Vietnam War. However, rather than focusing on their experiences in combat, this student-centered project captures the essence of their lives before they became soldiers — highlighting their families, friendships, and the communities they once called home.

This special event, open to the public, will serve as a book exhibition and a significant occasion to honor the families and friends who contributed their stories to this project. The program will feature a guest speaker, a presentation of the book to the families, and a military salute to recognize and commemorate these fallen heroes.

Robert Brecht, a student at Iowa Central Community College, summed up the spirit of the project with these words: “Everyone has a story; sometimes we just need someone else to tell it.”

This project exemplifies that sentiment by preserving the narratives of 55 men who once lived as brothers, students, farmhands, baseball players, grocery clerks, and more before they answered the call of duty. The book paints a picture of life in 1950s and ’60s central Iowa and acts as a memorial to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

The idea for this book was conceived by T.J. Martin, dean of distance learning at Iowa Central. With a desire to create a lasting tribute to the fallen servicemen from the region, he collaborated with history professor Kurt Schmid to develop a unique course that would allow students to engage in hands-on learning. Through interviews and writing exercises, students documented the personal histories of these men, bridging past and present while strengthening community connections.

The project was no small feat. With more than 58,000 American lives lost in the Vietnam War, selecting a representative group to memorialize required careful consideration. Ultimately, 55 names were chosen, each name and story sharing the past of a young man who once lived in one of the nine counties within Iowa Central’s service area.

Through their hard work, these students have created a valuable historical resource and, more importantly, a tribute that ensures these men’s lives are remembered for generations to come. “Before They Were Soldiers” is a testament to the power of storytelling, the importance of community, and the impact of hands-on education.

If You Go

What: “Before They Were Soldiers” book reception

When: 2 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Decker Auditorium, Center for Performing Arts, Iowa Central Community College

Individuals included in ‘Before They Were Soldiers’

Calvin William Binder II –Rembrandt

Jimmy Lee Buckley — Sac City

Billy Bruce Bull –Lake City

Thomas William Carrington –Storm Lake

Henry Robert Claussen –Palmer

Leslie DeWayne Crouse –Fort Dodge

Rollin Duane Davis –Grand Junction

Jerold Virgil Despard –Manson

Patrick Maurice Dillon –Belmond

Randy Lee Fisher –Webster City

Richard T. Flattery –Fort Dodge

David Allen Fleskes –Fort Dodge

Randall Gaylord Freeman –Sac City

Timothy Lee Green –Fort Dodge

Terrence Hastings Griffey –Fort Dodge

Jerry Dean Hatcher –Humboldt

Keith Russell Heggen –Renwick

Dwight Earl Hinman –Belmond

Donald Henry Holm –Fort Dodge

Frederick August Holst –Knierim

Danny Wayne Johnson –Lehigh

Dennis Ogden Johnson –Eagle Grove

Eric Bernard Johnson –Laurens

Donald Kay Lakey –Fort Dodge

Michael Keith Lewis –Lake City

Wayne Thomas McGuire –Peterson

Gerald Claude McKeen –Sac City

Melvin Dale Miller –Newell

Roger Lewis Olson –Fort Dodge

William Harrison Pease –Fort Dodge

William Lee Peters Jr. –Fort Dodge

Delbert Ray Peterson –Manson

John Herbert Platt –Early

Thomas Richard Poundstone –Clarion

Robert F. Rex –Odebolt

James Alphonse Rial –Barnum

Kenneth Wayne Roche –Nemaha

La Roy Frederich Roth –Wall Lake

James William Sampers –Storm Lake

Steven Dwight Sears –Webster City

Daryl David Shonka –Fort Dodge

Jack Rae Smith –Clarion

Larry Eugene Smith –Sac City

Herman Smits Jr — Scranton

Loren Francis Studer –Clarion

Rickey Eugene Swaney –Grand Junction

Melvin Eugene Thompson –Fonda

Patrick Joseph Trotter –Fort Dodge

Craig Thomas Waterman –Rockwell City

Richard Joseph Wehrheim –Clarion

Grayson Jerald West –Webster City

Waldo Alva Williams –Rockwell City

Keith Leslie Wilson –Marathon

Dennis James Yetmar –Clare

Herbert Owen Zinnel Jr. –Dakota City