Beyond the Bunker: Families Fight a Different Battle

By: Christie Nicks

From Iraq, to Germany, to Vietnam, soldiers of today and years past put their lives on the front lines for America. However, while these soldiers are off fighting on foreign soil, their friends and family are left to fight a different battle.

Harlene Cicchese, Labadie, Mo., struggles still today to hold back tears as she recalled her son Ron’s decision to enlist in the Marine Corps. “His dad and I had two different reactions,” said Cicchese, “My thought was ‘Oh no’, his dad was like ‘alright, let’s go, hoorah’.” Cicchese said much of her worry was spawned from having gone through the Vietnam War. Cicchese’s husband, Mike, was a Marine during the Vietnam War. That combined with the loss of several of her friends during the Vietnam War resulted in greater worry for her Iraq-bound son. “You don’t have to like it if they do it, you just have to support it,” said Cicchese.

Ron Cicchese was deployed to Iraq New Year’s Eve of 1990.

“You wake up thinking about it, you go to sleep thinking about it,” said Cicchese recalling what she went through as Ron was in Iraq. Both Mike and Harlene Cicchese described the worrying as endless and something that affected their day-to-day lives. Mrs. Cicchese said, “It doesn’t get any easier because it’s your kid and you don’t want them out there.”

While never being completely worry-free, Cicchese pointed out some of the ways she and her family coped with Ron’s absence.

“We had given him a calling card,” said Cicchese about how she and her family stayed in touch with Ron. “He would call between 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning when he could.”
Another way Cicchese and her husband dealt with the stress of wondering where their son was in Iraq, was by pinpointing his platoon on a map. “Having that map and plotting that map was a good family thing to do,” said Cicchese, “ it made you feel like you were a part of him at that point.” Cicchese pointed out that Ron was not allowed to give his precise location but between her son’s vague descriptions and news reports they had a general idea of where he was.

During the Gulf War, and now the more recent War on Terrorism, media coverage is changing the way Americans view the war. “This war was on TV. The Vietnam War was never on TV until days and days later,” said Cicchese about the Gulf War. One significant memory Cicchese shared occurred when reporter Charles Jaco, reporting from Iraq, was mid sentence when the whole TV screen went blank. Cicchese said that this event scared her as well as ruined her day. Thankfully the report was interrupted due to a blast near an electric tower and everything was fine. However, the way this affected Cicchese spawns questions over war coverage in the media.

“It’s a hindrance to the troops,” said Ron Cicchese, U.S. Marine. Mr. Cicchese elaborated that having journalists embedded is not only risky for the journalist but for those around them. “It’s a tactical problem,” said Mr. Cicchese. Another issue that journalists face, as well as the military, is the issue of information- what you can give out, and what you can’t, and as Mr. Cicchese said, “The information [journalists] can give out is limited.”

But for those back at home, Mike Cicchese, Ron’s father and U.S. Marine veteran, pointed out that the war coverage by the media helped them get a clearer picture of the war so that their imagination wasn’t running wild.

“You watch the news wondering, ‘Is he gonna get home?’…and he did,” said Mrs. Cicchese. Ron Cicchese was in Iraq for six months before he returned home. She said you could hear their boots hitting the pavement at the airport before you could see them, and as they crested the hill, you could see them in unison carrying the flags. “You are so glad they are on American soil,” said Cicchese, “and so glad they are home.”

“He was gaunt, thinner, and real tired looking,” said Mike Cicchese as he remembered the return of his son. Ron Cicchese was one of many American soldiers who returned home sick from improperly sealed suits. These suits allowed in the toxic gases that resulted from chemical warfare.

Aside from being physically ill after returning home from Iraq, Harlene Cicchese said there were noticeable personality changes in Ron. “He was always a pretty joyful fellow, but he became a pretty serious fellow,” said Mrs. Cicchese. She also said that while he used to enjoy traveling, he no longer wanted to and said that he’d, “already seen too much.”

Struggling with the pride we have for our country and the love for our family and friends makes coping with the absence of those near to our hearts a difficult task. As the Cicchese’s explained, it is an ongoing battle between worrying and waiting that doesn’t end once the soldier is back on home turf.

“The best thing I can tell [family and friends of soldiers] is to just be supportive and to love them while they’re still here,” said Mrs. Cicchese. “ If they get a day off, spend it with them because you might not get another one.”

A Note From an Aspiring Journalist:

The story of Ron Cicchese unfolded after I got an assignment to write a side bar for my final project, which had to do with the topic of veterans. My friend, a neighbor of Ron's, recommended I speak to him as I was pondering who to interview. Ron's story really came a life after I spoke with Harlene Cicchese, Ron's mother. I have never cried after doing an interview, especially after doing one over the phone (not ideal, but she lived quite a ways away from me and my deadline was fast approaching), but the way she worded what she said really made you put yourself in her shoes and feel the pain she felt as she saw her son depart for Desert Storm and left me with my eyes filled to the brim with tears. What was also very interesting was the difference between her interview and her husband's. Her husband, Mike, formerly a Marine during the Vietnam War, felt pride and honor in his son's decision, and not quite as much worry as Harlene felt (which I suppose comes with knowing how being in the military works first-hand). Harlene, on the other hand, felt nervous as well as worried all the time when Ron was overseas- a feeling she had much experience with since she went through the same thing with her husband during the Vietnam War. All in all, the story was a moving one and one that I am proud to say that I told.

Shooting the Breeze Around a Stammtisch

By: Christie Nicks

“Stammtisch,” a German word meaning, “regular’s table,” delivers a dose of European culture to students and faculty at Shakespeare’s restaurant every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

In Germany, Stammtisch is a table at every bar where various members of the community can sit and discuss politics, news, or any other various topics said Olaf Schmidt, a visiting German professor from Berlin. Schmidt went on to say how Stammtisch in Germany is often negative but in Columbia the atmosphere is a more open conversation about culture, or anything else. Stammtisch is not just a MU German department event said Schmidt, but it’s one that is all across the country.

“Community building, that’s what this is,” said Will Wojtowictz, a German 1200 Teacher Assistant, “ It puts undergrads, grads, and faculty on the same level. It’s a source of common ground.”

The idea of Stammtisch in Columbia is not only to meet new people from the German department, but it’s also a way for students to delve further in their language skills outside of the classroom.

“It’s a way to learn the culture and an essential part of learning is putting yourself in that environment,” said Michael Smith, MU Senior. Smith goes to every Stammtisch and stressed how important it is, especially for beginning German students, to attend. “Not only can they learn culture and language, but you make friends,” said Smith, “It’s a way for you to stay involved and be involved, and a way for meeting people that will benefit you later on in life.”

While Stammtisch is typically an event for those involved in the German department at MU, it is not strictly limited to German-speaking students. “Anybody who’s interested in German or Germans is invited to come down, we don’t discriminate, “ said Wojtowictz.

“German has a bad reputation for being boring; being hard,” said Schmidt, “So we’re fighting against that century-old repution.” Part of doing this is drawing other people into Stammtisch and showing them that “German is cool and fun.”

“I love meeting people and this is an opportunity to do that,” said Brian Limback, a non- German MU student, “They [Germans] like to have a good time.” Limback said that while he didn’t necessarily understand the language, he enjoyed going and participating in the conversations.

In the end, whether you are a fluent, German-speaking student, or just someone who wants to learn a little more about the German culture and make new friends, Stammtisch is an event that rings true to its German definition. It brings people around the table, both strangers and long-time friends, to make conversation.

“We’re all friends here,” said Wojtowictz, “ so what’s better than hanging out with your friends and if a little German gets spoken well hey! That’s great.”


A Note From an Aspiring Journalist!

As I wrote this article, I continuously questioned whether or not it was necessarily news. But as I typed it up, I realized the article was a form of news, but one that is definitely less covered in the media. Often times we only here about political meetings, school board meetings, and others of that nature, but we fail to see the diverse and cultural meetings that show up in the most common of places, like Stammtisch at Shakespeare’s for example. These are stories that are right under our noses yet continuously are left out of the news.

Pulling Out all the...Yarn?

Columbia Woman Works Toward Independence Through Knitting

By: Christie Nicks

COLUMBIA, Mo., Loop by loop, knitting needle in hand, Victoria Salerno Paul, a 22-year-old Columbia resident, is stitching her way to independence one strand through the next.

“I feel like it’s a real life application of my art,” said Salerno Paul as she pulled a piece of teal yarn through a loop. “A hand made hat is something you don’t find anymore.” Salerno Paul, previously a dual Art and Spanish major, quit going to school a year ago. Instead, she now invests her time working at Dryer’s Shoes in the District as well as knitting hats to hopefully one day sell in boutiques and perhaps even open her own business in the future.

“The capability to start my own business and not being afraid to is something that most young women don’t have the courage to do,” said Salerno Paul.

Starting a business of her own is only a small way that Salerno Paul has proved herself a courageous individual though.

“When I was 14 my dad was really ill,” said Salerno Paul, “My mom woke me up and told me my dad had passed away.” Even though Salerno Paul’s parents divorced when she was 5 years old, she still recalled the experience as a difficult one. Two years later, Salerno Paul’s mother remarried a man who Salerno Paul doesn’t refer to as her step dad, but simply, “dad.”

“I think she’s incredibly mature and independent,” said Emmalee Leicht, 24, and Salerno Paul’s best friend. Leicht described how many students remain sheltered throughout their college career by parents, but said Salerno Paul isn’t one of them. “Her mom I know had a lot to do with how independent she is,” said Leicht. “ It wasn’t like her mom abandoned her or anything like that, she just raised her to be a self sufficient woman from a very early age.”

“The best thing my mom ever did was tell us we can do anything,” said Salerno Paul. She took this message to heart. Salerno Paul not only works full time at the shoe store and knits, but she also enjoys salsa dancing as well as participating in the United Methodist Women’s group. “I really like the connection I have with the older population,” said Salerno Paul, “They give me wisdom and recipes.”

While she is an active member in her church’s women’s group, primarily composed of senior women, Salerno Paul said she would also like to inspire confidence in young women. She described how being a confident young woman helped her become the independent person she is today and would like to pass that on to other girls going through hard times. “It’s important to have confidence and independence when you walk into a room,” said Salerno Paul.

As for the future, Salerno Paul doesn’t know where that will take her. She said that “Everything is temporary, nothing is permanent,” but giving back is what she likes to do. “ My ideal dream job is to be a philanthropist,” said Salerno Paul. Along with this goal she said she would like to maybe start her own non-profit organization.

With her bubbly smile and colorful personality Salerno Paul is making her own way in the world thread by thread armed with her thought, “I wanna do big things and help a lot of people.”

A Note From An Aspiring Journalist!

Recently in one of my journalism classes I was assigned the task to simply go out, find someone (no one I knew) and tell their story. I'm really proud of the way this story turned out because it only proves Steve Hartman's (CBS) concept that everyone has a story, to be true. You can find a story staring you right in the eye from the face of a perfect stranger.