Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Kim Acheson (Left to right) Zach Laporte, Grahm Clumpner and Abbie Pickette are three Iraq veterans who support Obama. Students for Obama hosted the Veterans on Friday in Davies Center.

Three military veterans visited UW-Eau Claire on Thursday afternoon in the Arrowhead room of Davies Center, speaking about their personal experiences, politics and a number of other topics.

Grahm Clumpner, an Army veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan War, Zach Laporte, an Army veteran of the Iraq War and current UW-Madison student, and Abbie Pickette, a veteran of the National Guard, spoke for about 90 minutes as part of the "Veterans Experience Tour."

The three veterans were open about their experiences, talking in detail about the violence overseas, why they signed up for the military, why they feel the war is losing and even friendly-fire experiences some had.

The question and answer session brought up their difficult transition from being in Baghdad one day and Wisconsin the next, advice to someone who is thinking about joining the military, post-dramatic-stress-disorder and guerilla warfare.

The veterans said it is important to stay in touch with members of the military, especially when they return from overseas.

The veterans said they want to spread the word about their experiences in war, unlike some veterans in the past who did not tell their stories and were more guarded.

"We want people to understand the story and ask questions about our experiences," Clumpner said.

The veterans also focused on how every veteran is different, and the fact that "every solider tells their own unique story," Pickette said, adding that no two soldiers have the same story.

"There are so many untold stories," Laporte said. "That's why I am here doing this."

Obama's Campaign for Change hosted the event.

- Spectator staff

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