College of the Ozarks students travel to Vietnam with Patriotic Education Travel Program

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks Patriotic Education Travel Program recently took 20 students, seven Veterans and 10 staff and faculty members, on its sixth trip to Vietnam Dec. 9 – 22, 2025, to allow those attending to grow in a stronger understanding and respect for all those who served in the Vietnam War.

The trip gave students the opportunity to reflect on some of the most significant moments in American history. This trip took students back to the 1960s and 1970s, when the United States was engaged in a war to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Students participating in the trip successfully completed “HTA 403: United States in Vietnam” during the semester before learning directly from the Veterans as they walked alongside them in the very places where they once served as they told their stories. Through shared experiences, conversation, and reflection, students deepened their understanding of service, sacrifice, and the nation’s history while also representing College of the Ozarks.

While this trip was designed to help the students learn more about history, culture, and patriotism, it was centered around honoring Vietnam Veterans and giving them a time to heal, receive closure, and to build positive memories in a place that once brought heartache.

The students and Veterans first stopped in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city. There they explored local markets and experienced elements of the country’s contemporary culture. Their journey also included guided tours of the Củ Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used by Viet Cong forces during the Vietnam War, as well as a cycle ride through the capital city of Hanoi and a walking tour of its historic Old Quarter. Additional stops included the My Lai Memorial Site, the former U.S. military base at Chu Lai, the Demilitarized Zone, Hải Vân Pass and China Beach.

Veterans highlighted at each of the stops included James “Dan” Bunch; Frank Rutledge Eversole IV; Job Gonzalez; Guy D. Gruters, POW; Gregory L. McManus; John Sorenson; and Edward Wilson.

A Profound Impact
Annabella Mohler, a senior at College of the Ozarks, shared what the trip meant to her.

“The focus of the trip is not about the students, but it is for the Veterans,” Mohler said. “We students are their companions who accompany them on their journey of closure. Because of this, the purpose of the Vietnam trip became substantially more important and meaningful. The Patriotic Education Travel Program is a service for Veterans, and the fact that I was selected to attend the trip and help carry out this mission of helping Veterans receive the attention, recognition, and gratitude they deserve means the world to me. In the many years to follow I will continue to follow this mission and honor America’s Veterans and be a pioneer to encourage others to do so as well.”

Vietnam Veteran Greg McManus shared with the students his reflection on how the trip has continued to further his healing journey.

“You students are like the salve that cleared the blackness off of our hearts from the war, which has allowed our light to come through,” McManus said.

Mohler also shared the lifelong impact this trip had on her life.

“The lessons I learned in the Vietnam class and during this trip are incredibly important to know, and it has made me a more well-informed and responsible citizen,” Mohler said. “This trip has made me incredibly grateful to have been born in the United States of America.”

College of the Ozarks President Brad Johnson shared the profound impact the trip made on him as well as everyone attending.
“Traveling to Vietnam created bonds unlike any other experience,” Johnson said. “Students gained a deeper understanding of history, patriotism, and the sacrifices of Veterans, while Veterans found healing through sharing their stories with attentive, grateful students. These shared moments fostered respect, understanding, and a lasting appreciation for the freedoms they fought to protect.”

Veteran Participants
• Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) James “Dan” Bunch — Served 22 years in the U.S. Army, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade at LZ English in the Bong Son Central Highlands. Bunch currently resides in Bolivar, Missouri.
• Lt. Col. (Ret.) Frank Rutledge Eversole IV — Served 33 years in the U.S. Marine Corps with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, as a machine gunner. Eversole now resides in Walterboro, South Carolina.
• Spc. Job Gonzalez — Served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1969 with the elite “Tunnel Rats” and alongside multiple infantry units of the 1st Infantry Division. Gonzalez currently resides in Houston, Texas.
• Capt. Guy D. Gruters — Served in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot and was shot down in December 1967, becoming an American prisoner of war. He is a two-time Purple Heart recipient and has received the POW Medal and numerous additional commendations. Gruters resides in Sidney, Ohio.
• Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Gregory L. McManus — Served 42 years in the U.S. Army as a UH-1C Gunship and AH-1G Cobra pilot. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and more than 40 additional medals and commendations. McManus now resides in Springfield, Missouri.
• Capt. John Sorenson — Served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972 with the Armor Branch, D Troop (Air), 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, later redesignated as C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry. Sorenson now resides in Fair Grove, Missouri.
• Master Sgt. (Ret.) Edward Wilson — Served 29 years in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, including service aboard the USS Chicago (CG-11) and with CBU-416. Wilson currently resides in Branson, Missouri.

Faculty and Staff Trip Sponsors
• Chassidy Brittain — Director of Patriotic Programs
• Dr. David Dalton — Distinguished Professor of History (Retired)
• Dr. Brad Johnson — President, College of the Ozarks
• Dr. Lloyd Nguyen — Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
• Dr. Raine Prather — Assistant Professor of Nursing
• CPT Jamin Pyatt — Military Science Instructor
• BG James Schreffler — Vice President for Patriotic Programs
• Dr. Joe Western — Assistant Professor of History
• Jackson Bliss — Videographer, Portraits of Bliss
• Shann Swift — Photographer, Swift Shots

More About the Patriotic Education Travel Program
In 2009, College of the Ozarks began the Patriotic Education Travel Program, designed to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences for students and Veterans from World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since its opening, the program has hosted 26 trips that have enriched students’ lives in countless ways. The program pairs College of the Ozarks students with Veterans, taking them back to the battlefields where they served. This program honors Veterans and helps educate the younger generation, instilling an appreciation for the sacrifices of American servicemen and women.