Published: November 12, 2007 11:08 pm      

Vets tell their stories in student documentary

EBENSBURG — His voice cracked only once, when he spoke of coming home: “It was wonderful; the most beautiful thing ever.”

Paul I. Noel, 72, of Coalport, was one of several Vietnam veterans who shared their memories Monday with a group of Northern Cambria High School students. The teens are filming a documentary on how the war affected this region’s people.

Noel’s voice sounded bitter, though, as he described his reception by anti-war protesters: “My uniform was coated with spit, and I had to wear it across the country.”

Students heard firsthand how war can continue to affect someone’s life, even after the fighting stops.

“All my veterans’ benefits are being taken away from me,” he told the young historians, baring his arm to show them what he described as radiation wounds.

“This is one big conspiracy by the people in power now,” he said of the use of Agent Orange during the war. The defoliant since has been the focus of numerous lawsuits alleging physical harm from dioxins.

Noel, a native of Patton, was interviewed by Amanda Petrunak, 17, who is one of about a dozen high schoolers assembling the documentary through a $10,000 grant from the History Channel.

Their first round of interviews was held Monday at the Cambria County Historical Society in Ebensburg. Three more sessions will be held – including one in Johnstown in March, Pitt-Johnstown professor Paul Newman said.

Newman and Karen Bowman of Northern Cambria High School are advisers on the film, which will go into production in June and premiere in fall 2008.

The grant was received through the Coal Country Hangout Youth Center.