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Students Step Back in Time Thanks to Passionate Teacher
Description
It looked like a scene straight out of an old movie. We’re talking about World War II Day at West Jordan High School.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out why history teacher Alyse Almond is so passionate about the past and preserving American military history. She is giving students a life-like history lesson, with the help of World War II historians, hoping to let veterans know kids today do care about the stories of those who served our country and sacrificed so much.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It looked like a scene straight out of an old movie. We're talking about World War II Day at West Jordan High School.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out why history teacher Alyse Almond is so passionate about preserving American military history. She's giving students a real-life history lesson, with the help of World War II historians, hoping to connect today's students to the stories of those who served our country and sacrificed so much.
We're here with social studies teacher, Alyse Almond at West Jordan High School. And I'm finally getting to see this tradition of World War II Day. Tell me a little bit about this.
Alyse Almond:
So World War II Day started about eight years ago here at West Jordan High School. Me and my friends, we are the Utah Military History Group and we do living history from World War I through Vietnam. And our passion is World War II, so we wanted to bring the history to the students in a very tangible way.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's obvious you're doing that. I see vehicles, it feels like I'm on a MASH episode, I know that's the wrong era, but this particular ambulance gives me that feel. We've got uniforms, it looks like we've got all kinds of materials from the time period. So, and several vehicles that are probably getting the attention of people driving by, wondering if there's a military takeover of West Jordan High School. So can you talk me through what we've got out here.
Alyse Almond:
Yeah. So we have a World War II 1945 CCKW, which is a truck made by GMC.
Anthony Godfrey:
Let's walk over there.
Alyse Almond:
It was built in 1945. So this is Layne Schoenfeld and this is his 1945 GMCCKW.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your CCKW, Layne.
Layne Schoenfeld:
Well, one of the most common vehicles used during World War II, it was used to transport troops and material. It was the backbone of the Red Ball Express. I don't know if anybody's familiar with the Red Ball Express but that was basically a supply route from the beaches in Normandy, France, up deeper into Europe and on into Germany, supplying the troops the front line.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about the state it was in before you refurbished it.
Layne Schoenfeld:
It was a rust bucket. It had been sitting outside for 20 years, just filling up full of leaves and dirt and the water raining on it. So it was all rusty and it was missing a few pieces here and there.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's pretty amazing. How long did this restoration take you?
Layne Schoenfeld:
I'm ashamed to say it took me 15 years.
Anthony Godfrey:
Hey, that's something that you just chip away at over time.
Layne Schoenfeld:
Yeah, life got in the way a couple of times.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's pretty exciting that West Jordan High School is the first event. How does it feel to have it out in the public now?
Layne Schoenfeld:
It feels good.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
Layne Schoenfeld:
It feels good.
Anthony Godfrey:
What got you interested in World War II initially?
Layne Schoenfeld:
My father was a World War II veteran, and him telling me a few stories