News-Info-Alerts

Re: We Cannot Rest Until They Are Found

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: January 24, 2003

"Student wins for essay on vets

She is honored at VFW meeting, at which 'Vietnam' DJ speaks

By Stephanie L. Jordan Caller-Times
January 19, 2003

When Michelle Skrobarczyk learned she won a writing contest - and the $200 scholarship that went with the first-place prize - she cried.

"It was my first one," the Flour Bluff High School senior said. "I just didn't think I would get it, but I'm glad I did."

Skrobarczyk was recognized for winning the Voices of Democracy writing competition, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars posts across the country each year.

Two other entries were recognized for their achievements in Calallen at the District 6 meeting of the VFW posts from the Coastal Bend. Those winners, Katy Byerley and Rachael C. Ardoin, received $125 and $75 scholarships.

Skrobarczyk, who plans to study biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, wrote in her entry that she noticed that many freedoms she is afforded are because of veterans' sacrifices.

"She talked about her eyes coming open and seeing things on street corners, military bases, churches and schools that people have fought and died for," said Al Cantu, a longtime VFW leader. "For a young student to recognize that is incredible."

The scholarship winners' recognition was part of a larger meeting for the VFW posts in which members who died in 2002, more than 50 in all, were remembered.

The guest speaker at the event was Adrian Cronauer, an Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War. The movie "Good Morning Vietnam" was based loosely on Cronauer's experiences as a radio disc jockey from 1965 to 1966.

Although Cronauer's speech filled the VFW hall with laughter, what he does for a living now is no laughing matter for many veterans.

After Cronauer was honorably discharged from the Air Force, he stayed in radio for many years before becoming a lawyer. Recently, Cronauer joined the Department of Defense as a special assistant to the director in the POW/MIA office.

There are about 88,000 military members who are prisoners of war or are still missing in action from World War II and the Vietnam, Korean and Cold Wars, Cronauer said. Arduous meetings take place between the U.S. and other countries so that U.S. teams are allowed to retrieve items from battle sites and wreckage in the hope of identifying lost comrades.

"We cannot rest until they are found," Cronauer said.

Contact Stephanie L. Jordan at _886-3724 or jordans@caller.com

© 2003 Texas Scripps Newspapers, L.P. A Scripps Howard newspaper. "