God Bless Them Every One
JPat Branch in Vietnam

By Davalynn SpencerĀ @davalynnspencer This post first appeared on Nov. 11, 2019. It appears edited today in honor of JPat Branch, *pictured above, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, who reported to his last call of duty on Oct. 29, 2021. When I taught sixth-grade world history,

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Veteran Dreams
JPat Branch in Vietnam

By Davalynn SpencerĀ @davalynnspencer When I taught sixth-grade world history, I grew accustomed to adolescent boys who dreamed of becoming soldiers and warriors like the ancient kings they studied. Later, when I taught English composition at the college, several of my students were young marines who bore unseen

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