Local Writer and Veteran Visits School
Writer Ryan Smithson signs copies of his book Ghosts of War, after his talk in the PAC
March 4, 2010 • Angela Barone, Staff Writer
Filed under News, Top Stories
On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, juniors and seniors of Voorheesville High School had the opportunity to hear the inspiring story of Ryan Smithson, a soldier with the United States army reserve who wrote a book, The Ghosts of War, about his experiences in Iraq. Smithson, who is from East Greenbush, decided to enlist in the Army Reserve at the age of 17 after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. The presentation was very interesting, and students and teachers alike thoroughly enjoyed it. “I thought Ryan’s story was really cool,” said Junior Alex Fasulo. “It really opened my eyes about what’s going on over in Iraq.”
Smithson said that after Iraq, he felt isolated from everyone. He wanted to talk about his experiences, but he didn’t feel that he could talk to anyone who wasn’t in the war with him. Because he was in the Army Reserve, he was immediately separated from his platoon. After his tour of duty, Smithson enrolled in the criminal justice program at Hudson Valley Community College. While there, he was given an English assignment to write about something getting destroyed. Although the assignment was only supposed to be about two pages long, Smithson cranked out twelve pages. This simple assignment would eventually turn into his book, Ghosts of War. Smithson said that writing was like a therapy, and as he wrote down more and more of his experiences, he became more and more open to talking through them with his family and friends.
After the presentation in the high school PAC, many students had a much clearer picture of what it was like to be a soldier at war. Smithson described it as very boring, with a few instances of sheer terror. Most students, and even adults think war is all action and adventure, much like their favorite video games. However, Smithson clarified that life as an active duty soldier was not all fun and games. “Most of the time we spent there was driving a huge truck in the middle of the desert,” he revealed, when a student asked him if his video games were at all accurate to the real war. “I don’t think many people would play that video game,” Smithson joked.
Some of the most memorable parts of Smithson’s presentation were his stories about the Iraqi children, who were starving and begging for food. Smithson’s platoon was given strict orders not to throw food or water to the children, because there might have been an accident when a child ran near the convoy. Smithson said those moments made him see the more human side of the war. When asked why he wrote the book, Smithson said that he wanted people to know what the Iraq war was really like. He wanted people to realize that the local evening news and stories in the papers were not giving us the whole story. Also, Smithson felt that students need to follow their dreams and “jump head first” to the adult world, like he felt he did when he joined the army. Many students really seemed to understand what he was saying. “ He made me realize that high school is almost over, and I need to figure out what I am going to do with my life,” said Brianna Zell, a junior. The message seemed to affect all students in a positive way.
It is very important for students to hear presentations like Ryan Smithson’s. It was nice to hear about the Iraq war, something that will affect this generation for a very long time first hand, and from someone who is close to the students’ age.
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A+ would read again
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