Ghana Session: Celebrating Black History Month with Wilbur V. Martin

Just recently Vietnam Veteran, Wilbur V. Martin came to Asbury Park High School to participate in a Ghana session involving Oiada’s Student Ambassadors along with the students from the Solid Rock Foundation Elementary School. Also in attendance were Mr. Wronko’s students.

The Ghana Session began with Oiada’s Student Ambassadors giving a presentation on the history of the military in Ghana.  They went into how the military began, women’s roles, and culture.

Wilbur V. Martin; Black History Month celebration

After their presentation, Wilbur V. Martin addressed all students. He spoke about how he got involved with the military and his experience during the Vietnam War. Mr. Martin also talked about how the military ensured that James Meredith entered the segregated University of Mississippi. From there he mentioned the length of the Vietnam War stretching from President Kennedy to Lydon Johnson, and then finally to Richard Nixon.

Mr. Martin also shared that he was awarded the purple heart on two separate occasions while doing two tours of Vietnam. After his presentation, Oiada’s Student Ambassadors, Solid Rock Foundation Elementary School students, and Mr. Wronko’s students asked numerous questions such as his training, his world tours in which Wilbur Martin had gone to Germany and Korea besides Vietnam, and something he enjoyed doing while being in the military. What he enjoyed about the miliary was his paratrooping experience.

For instance, Mr. Martin told the students how during his first jump out of a plane he got caught in an air pocket which kept him in the air for a long period of time while the rest of his men made it to the ground. The students were amazed about his bravery of handling a dangerous situation.

All the students thanked Wilbur V. Martin for attending this Ghana session in celebrating Black History Month. Combining the history of Ghana’s military along with his history had made this a great start for this month’s celebration.

See Wilbur V. Martin on Classroom Close-up.

Project Ghana – Classroom Close-up, NJ (classroomcloseup.org)