APRIL 10, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
resources
3 wars in 30 years Boredom-busting
to pass the isolation hours
Keizer vet has seen it all
By LAUREN MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
In 1944, Keizerite Jon Vi-
erra joined the Merchant Ma-
rines. Three wars and 30 years
later he retired from the U.S.
Army.
At age 16, Vierra enlisted
to serve during World War II.
He got out of the service in
1947 for about two years and
worked in a steel mill.
“I was getting a little restless.
I worked there for while then
all of the sudden I just packed
my bags and went down to the
recruiting station and signed
up for the Army,” Vierra said.
About the same time he
reenlisted, in 1949, he met his
wife, Nan.
“That was the best thing
File
that ever happened to me John Vierra, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army and the
in my life,” Vierra said. They Merchant Marines, was visited by representatives of the Ore-
married in 1950 and spent the gon National Guard to thank him for his service in 2014.
next 61 years together.
Vierra emerged from the from the military to civilian
Not long after they mar-
ried, Vierra was called to duty confl ict, but he did not escape life wasn’t diffi cult for him. He
credits that partially to the fact
entirely unscathed.
in the Korean War,
that he was able to train for
“Agent
Orange
and then joined
had messed me up work at the post offi ce while
fellow troops in the
pretty bad,” he said. he was still in the military. It
Vietnam War.
Complications arising meant he did not have to go
“When it came
from exposure includ- job hunting after his retire-
time for my duty
ed diabetes and heart ment.
to Vietnam, I didn’t
“[My time in the service]
problems, though he
have to go,” Vierra
could’ve
impacted me if I let
said
the
heart
prob-
said. His younger
it,
but
I
didn’t
let it impact me
lems
were
not
recog-
brother was killed,
nized by the military in any way,” Vierra said. He
making him the
or the Department of mentioned his family in par-
sole surviving son
ticular, which was cared for by
Veteran Affairs (VA).
in the family. He
his wife.
Because
of
the
chose to go any-
“She took care of the house
close relations that
way.
were
killed
and and I never worried about it.
His nephew was
A Mile in Their
wounded, Vierra was She did a real good job with
also sent to Viet-
Boots is a
nam. The two met Keizertimes series pulled from foreign that,” Vierra said.
She only had to manage the
up in the country focusing on the assignment. He retired
house alone when he was in
briefl y before go- lives of veterans a year later in 1974.
Two days after re- Germany during the Korean
ing their separate
and active
tirement,
Vierra took War and, later, when he was
duty
military
ways for duty. His
personnel.
a job at the U.S. Post- in Vietnam. Otherwise Vierra
nephew was shot
al Service where he was there to help raise their
four times in the
seven children, too.
worked for 20 years.
chest, though he managed to
Vierra
said
transitioning
survive.
a
m i ile
n ir
boots
e
th
Despite our best efforts, boredom looms like
a cloud during these weird times.
We dug up some resources you can tap into
to pass the time online, many are free and some
have a cost, but there’s a little something for
everyone.
The National Emergency Library
The Internet Archive is suspending wait-
lists for roughly 1.4 million ebooks. The items
available support emergency remote teaching,
research universities, independent scholar-
ship and intellectual stimulation while uni-
versities, schools, training centers, and libraries
are closed. Wait lists are suspended through the
end of June. Topics are virtually limitless and
languages available span the globe. Keep to
the older stuff, there are a lot of newer titles
in the database, but not all of them are being
made available in ways that benefi t the creators.
www.archive.org/NEL
The Science of Well-Being
This is a popular Yale University course that
is now being offered free online. Professor Lau-
rie Santos reveals misconceptions about hap-
piness, annoying features of the mind that lead
us to think the way we do, and the research
that can help us change. tinyurl.com/science-
well-being
Coursera
Coursera has numerous free online classes
as well as others that come with a fee. Learn
how to learn, a new language, how cryptog-
raphy works and more from some of the top
professors around the world. www.coursera.org
Masterclass
Learn about fi lmmaking from Jodie Foster,
basketball shooting from Steph Curry, story-
telling from Neil Gaiman, self-expression and
authenticity from RuPaul and so much more.
Classes can be purchased individually or with
an annual subscription for $180. www.master-
class.com
edX.org
Sign up for free courses from top univer-
sities and colleges. Topics include computer
science, languages, data science, business and
management, engineering, humanities and
more. edx.org
Open Culture
Another free course site associated with
some of the top universities and colleges.
Open Culture’s big emphasis is on humanities
and social sciences with course names such as:
Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond; Ar-
chitecture Studio: Building in Landscapes and
Foundations of American Cyber-Culture. op-
enculture.com
Skillshare
Skillshare doesn’t have as many mega-celeb-
rities, but there are several well-known names
and a few metric tons of average folks with
some incredible insights to share. Arts and life-
style are the primary focus. skillshare.com
Story Club
Read or listen to a short story and then
participate in a online Q&A with the author.
More details at tinyurl.com/4storyclub.
DC Comics Kids Camp
The creators behind some of the most pop-
ular DC Comics are sharing projects for free
on Twitter (@dccomicskids) and Instagram (@
dckids). Follow the accounts to fi nd out how
to make Green Lantern rings, Superman ori-
gam, and design your own superhero. DC is
planning several weeks of content to be re-
leased.
Warmline can connect you to local assistance
In
response
to
the
COVID-19 pandemic and
its effects on the community,
Marion County Health & Hu-
man Services has established
a warmline for community
members to call for support
and fi nd out about available re-
sources that may be helpful.
The line will be open seven
days a week from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. at 503-576-4602.
Marion County staff an-
swering calls to the warmline
will be able to help com-
munity members address the
challenges they are facing due
to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Resources they will be able
to assist with include: available
fi nancial supports for utilities
and rent; resources for mental
health care; information about
food pantries and food boxes;
and entertainment resources
and ideas to beat cabin fever.
The resources available
through the warmline will be
updated frequently as the needs
of the community continue to
change.
The warmline is not intend-
ed to replace a crisis hotline.
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