The Journey of a Canadian Teen to the Vietnam War Front
David Noonan’s teenage years in Guelph, Ontario, were marked by a thirst for adventure. At 18, on the cusp of adulthood in 1968, he sought to explore beyond his familiar surroundings. Despite the distant turmoil of the Vietnam War, Noonan felt a pull towards the conflict, driven by a desire to contribute to the United States’ fight against communism in Southeast Asia.
In pursuit of this newfound purpose, Noonan crossed the Canadian border to Buffalo, New York, and signed up with the U.S. Marine Corps. Reflecting on this pivotal decision, he shared,
“I didn’t know what to do with my life,” he told Guelph Today.com. “There was a war going on, so that’s going to give you adventure – like it or not.”
Noonan recounted his story in a candid interview for Global Veteran Stories, a documentary series that captures the experiences of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Sitting among mementos of his youth, he spoke of the youthful excitement and uncertainty he felt before his deployment.
Preserving Veterans’ Voices
Canadian filmmaker Zach Dunn initiated Global Veteran Stories in 2021, inspired by his grandfather, a World War II veteran. With more than 160 interviews conducted worldwide, Dunn aims to preserve the narratives of aging veterans on his YouTube channel. Driven by the urgency of capturing these stories before they vanish, Dunn has become a conduit for these voices.
Intrigued by the project, Noonan contacted Dunn to contribute his story. He emphasized the diminishing time to document the accounts of Vietnam War veterans, foreseeing the potential for these stories to fade.
“In less than 20 years, it’ll be forgotten,” Noonan said.
A Grandfather’s Legacy
Dunn’s endeavor began with a personal connection to his grandfather, John Williams, a British Air Force paratrooper during World War II. After discovering his grandfather’s war memorabilia, Dunn realized the depth of untold stories within his family. “We found his medals and photos in the basement while I was kind of cleaning up my parents’ house,” Dunn said.
Williams’ service in Germany and Africa from 1939 to 1945 sparked Dunn’s mission to collect stories from other veterans. Dunn recalls, “Each of them had a little bit of, you know, one or two stories, but a lot of the time, the veterans I meet with have never been interviewed or have never shared their story.”
To honor his grandfather’s 100th birthday in 2021, Dunn committed to interviewing veterans across various wars. His first interview with a World War II soldier in Lakefield, Ontario, solidified his resolve to preserve these narratives.
Unspoken Stories
Through his interviews, Dunn discovered that many veterans had never been asked to share their stories. For some, the past held painful memories, while others believed their experiences were not noteworthy. Dunn’s project, self-funded and driven by passion, aims to change this perception. With over 4,000 subscribers, his YouTube channel serves as a platform for these untold stories.
For Noonan, discussing his Vietnam experiences was a first, prompted by Dunn’s interest. “They didn’t ask, and I didn’t offer,” he said.
After his initial tour in Vietnam, Noonan returned for another in 1970, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant. Today, he belongs to both the American Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion, a testament to his unique journey across borders and battlefields.
