Ron Cushman and Jamie Marks

Ron Cushman spent nearly 30 years teaching kindergarten in Bothell, Washington, a suburb outside of Seattle.

But he hadn’t always planned on becoming a teacher.

As Ron told his former student, Jamie Marks, his journey to the kindergarten classroom began when he was wounded in Vietnam.

Originally aired February 26, 2012 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

Photo: Ron showing off his prosthetic arm to students. Courtesy of Ron Cushman