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“[O’Brien] has left
an indelible imprint on both American literature and American
society in the last three decades,” said Krenn.
“I have almost nothing to offer to you today,” said
O’Brien as he began his remarks.
He went on to talk about the value of a story to its readers.0
Through the characters and events in a story, a reader can believe
the story’s message completely, said O’Brien.
“A good piece of fiction, a good work of art, appeals not
just to the head, but to the whole human being,” said O’Brien.
After his introduction, O’Brien took off his cap and tassel,
replacing it with a baseball cap and telling a story about receiving
his draft notice. He revealed later the events in the story were
not true, but that they accurately represented what he was feeling
after he found out he would have to fight in Vietnam.
He began by describing his hometown, Worthington, Minn., as boring
and uninformed about the events happening in the country and the
world.
A few weeks after receiving his draft notice, O’Brien said
he ran to the Canadian border and stayed at a lodge along the
Rainy River, debating whether to cross and avoid the draft, or
enter the army and go to Vietnam.
After deciding he would not flee to Canada, O’Brien said
he was a coward for not saying no.
O’Brien served in the United States Army’s Fifth Battalion,
Forty-Sixth Infantry in Vietnam from January 1969 to March 1970.
He was wounded in battle and received the Purple Heart.
O’Brien is the author of numerous books and is the Writer
in Residence at Southwest Texas State University.
Harvey R. Durham, provost and executive vice chancellor, welcomed
O’Brien back to Appalachian State in the future.
Also during Convocation, Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski acknowledged
the recipients of the Board of Governors’ Teaching Award:
Dr. Rennie Brantz, professor of history and director of the freshman
seminar program; Dr. Cassandra Eagle, professor of chemistry;
Dr. Michael Dale, professor of leadership and educational studies;
Pat Farthing, Belk Library; Judy Humphrey, professor of art; and
Dr. Peter Petschauer, professor of history.
Also acknowledged were the recipients of the Staff Outstanding
Service Award: Liz Bordeaux, Center for Appalachian Studies; Eleanor
Church, Building Services; and Sgt. Phil Minton, University Police
Department.
Borkowski presented the W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion to:
Dave Robertson, director of student programs; Dr. Arthur Quickenton,
associate professor of curriculum and instruction; and Shiona
Christensen, senior advertising major.
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