(7) MM 2003 - Tiffany Wiley

 

Campus Hard News (7)

The Patriotic Play of Ozark

The college of Ozark presented an annual, free, patriotic play on October 17, 2023. They stated that this year would be "Breaking the Silence: Stories of Vietnam Veterans," and would tell the stories of five heroes, which they all had a connection with the college.  The true story of the lives of five Veterans: Army Nurse Lou Eisenbrandt, Army Colonel Tony Nadal, 1st Marine Colonel Bill Duncan known as Texas Pete, Colonel Donald Doc Ballard, Navy corpsman, Marine platoon leader, and Sergeant - John Ligato. Each of those individuals have traveled with C and D through the Patriotic Education Travel Program. The patriotic play is a fall tradition at the college of the Ozarks. Their performances take place in the Royal Oak Forum, which is located in the Keeter Center, and is free and open to the public. The tickets are first come first serve, no pay. 

The stories of their Vietnam Veterans who have traveled with them back to the battlefields of Vietnam, will be told through the Veterans' memories and reenactments performed by the students in the Jones Theater Company. The play approximately last for an hour and fifteen minutes. They play is also open to everyone not just the university. 

When the Vietnam soldiers returned home, they were not met with parades. explosions of confetti, striking up of bands, cheers of joy, honoring ceremonies... nothing. Breaking the Silence is a play that tells their true stories with hope that younger generations will recognize the sacrifices of their grandparents. They hope that they will understand the heartbreaking way American soldiers were treated as they returned home from the war, and the disillusionment of anti-American philosophy which has pervaded our country. 

The play is based on the book Vietnam 101, by Dr. Jerry C. Davis, chancellor of College of the Ozarks, and adapted for the stage by Young.