I love field trips, especially the one my class took Oct. 4 to the Cole Land Transportation Museum. I spoke to a fascinating veteran, Kate Mcloud, who had many shocking stories to tell. She told me of the stress soldiers experience while serving. One soldier was severely stressed, after being shot, but continued to serve through it all. Mcloud also told of her journey in the service: She went to many different countries, including Japan, France, and Italy, sacrificed everyday luxuries like eating out at restaurants, and endured some terrible things throughout her time in the military. While in Japan she said the Japanese people would stare at her because she looked different.

Mcloud does not think of herself as a hero. I thought that she would say the opposite, but she told me that it was her job. I never could fully understand what sacrifices soldiers made in war until I met her.

In a tour of the Cole Land Transportation Museum, I learned how people would get around and communicate during war time. Life certainly was different, like when people wanted to get messages to each other while a train was moving, or when people had to reverse vehicles up a hill. I also learned about different kinds of vehicles like the dairy wagon, how they ran, and some of the roles they played in war.

Samantha Cummings

Oakland


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