Veteran fulfills hospice wish to share Vietnam experience with students
Veteran Rodney Rodenberg died on Jan. 31, while in hospice care. He had an important wish before he died: to spread a message of hope and healing while ensuring young people learned more about the Vietnam War.
A Guttenberg native, Rodney Rodenberg enlisted in the Marines in 1968, at age 17.
By Audrey Posten
Rodney Rodenberg passed away on Jan. 31, while in hospice care. Faced with a terminal diagnosis, Rodenberg had an important wish before he died: to spread a message of hope and healing while ensuring young people learned more about the Vietnam War.
A Guttenberg native, Rodenberg enlisted in the Marines in 1968, at age 17. Several buddies enlisted with him, but two didn't come home.
"It was terrible," Rodenberg recalled just a few days before his passing.
"They were kids who had no idea what they were getting into," said sister Sheila lhde, sitting by his bedside.
Suffering from PTSD, Rodenberg found not-so-healthy ways to cope when he returned.
Eventually, said lhde, "he got his life together."
Now, noted St. Croix Hospice social worker Jackie McGeough, "he's pretty open about it, to remind others they have a chance. PTSD is something that never goes away, but he's learned how to cope with it."
"He's always said, when there's something wrong in your life, there's always something better. Search for that good," McGeough continued.
That's one reason Rodenberg wanted to speak with and give back to students. It was also to assure the Vietnam War, and those served in it, were not forgotten.
"I thought it was my duty," Rodenberg said.
A former MFL MarMac employee and mom of MFL MarMac students, McGeough reached out to high school social studies teacher Megan Schellhorn late last fall. Would Schellhorn welcome Rodenberg speaking to one of her classes?
Schellhorn jumped at the opportunity. Her Modern American History class was preparing to study the Vietnam War.
"The timing was impeccable. I still get goosebumps," Schellhorn said. "We did a Zoom in a matter of days."
Students admittedly knew little about Vietnam, inside or outside class, before speaking with Rodenberg.
"I feel like we don't really talk about it because it's kind of a tough subject for a lot of people," said Kashton Decker.
"It's one of those topics we never cover in any classes. It's kind of skipped over," added Alexa McElwaine. "That's why it was good to hear his story. Even my grandpa was in Vietnam, but he doesn't tell his story much."
Before the Zoom, Schellhorn encouraged her students to ask questions while remaining sensitive.
McElwaine said many were curious about when and where Rodenberg served. They wanted to know what he did both on and off duty.
"He said most of the fighting was at night, so what they did during the day and trying to keep normal life when he was over there," explained student Jacob Schellhorn. "Some of the stories were really in depth, and he had a lot to say about people he met along theway," McElwaine noted.
Decker found Rodenberg's stories interesting, but also eye opening. "I couldn't even imagine being this age and going to a totally different place and having to be in that situation," he reflected.
The students admired Rodenberg's honesty. He didn't shy away from speaking about what it was like to point a weapon at someone or his later struggles with PTSD.
"He talked about alcoholism and falling into that," McElwaine said. "How they were treated when they came home. I'd never heard of how soldiers were treated until he talked about it. I thought that was crazy."
In response to a question, Rodenberg encouraged one student not to be afraid to join the military.
That continued pride in the armed forces — specifically the Marines — was evident to McElwaine.
"One of the biggest things he brought up was he'd still do it today. He said, 'For you guys, I would do it again.' That was something that stuck with me," she said.
Hearing from Rodenberg, as well as former teacher and coach Ron Vick, made the students grateful for those who served and continue to serve. They sent thank you cards to Rodenberg, and followed up with more greetings at Christmas.
Rodenberg treasured the mementos until the end. And while he helped the students better understand Vietnam and reflect on their own lives, they are proud to have helped a veteran too.
"I think it's really cool we had the opportunity to do it and make somebody else feel better about what they did for the country. People care about what they did. To hear that from a younger generation is pretty cool," Jacob Schellhorn said.
"I thought it was really cool we got to fulfill one of his wishes he always wanted to do," Decker added.
McElwaine equated the experience to closure."I think they need to get that story out. Everyone does-they need to talk about stuff," she said. "Now, that story travels on. His story is something I think I'm always going to have with me. You're going to remember these people who gave their lives who are now gone, who fought for you, who fought for everything we have. He's an inspiration."
These are lessons Megan Schellhorn said she, and other teachers, can't ever teach through a book.
"It was an opportunity for students to see the reality," she shared. "I'm grateful we have really respectful kids here and had the opportunity to help somebody move forward and have closure. And I'm thankful for what he did."
Marines fight until the end.
