Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

Hey, it's 104 degrees,

(40C)

and if that doesn't wipe you out,

a jammed weapon will.

Remember, guys, keep it clean

and keep your head low.

"Hi, Mom. Well,

I'm fine today.

And I hope that you're

in good shape also.

Today I am swimming,

washing and taking in the sun.

The beach is great.

The sand is white

and the sky is clear.

Boy, I wish every day

was like this,

then I wouldn't have

any problems while I'm here."

American casualties

in Vietnam,

killed and wounded

now exceed 300,000.

More than 39,000 killed

and more than 258,000 wounded.

"Dear folks, this is your

on-the-spot correspondent

in the Big 'Nam reporting.'

"Hi, honey, I had

a hell of a day yesterday."

"Dear Sue, thank you

for the wingtips.

Only one question:

Where do I wear them in Vietnam?"

"Darling, I am sitting down

to write of my love for you

and the horrors of war."

"Actually, I'm writing because I have

to, or go out of my mind.

Things happen over here

you just can't..."

"Mom, I appreciate

all of your letters.

For a while as I read your letters,

I'm a normal person.

I'm not killing people

or worried about being killed."

"Darling, believe me, I try not

to skip a day in writing you.

Whether or not I get a letter determines

if it's a good day or not."

This is London...

Switzerland calling...

...South America...

And here is the news.

Three Communist P.T. boats

attacked an American destroyer

off the coast of Vietnam

yesterday.

And today, President Johnson's

response was hard and tough.

He has ordered the U.S. Navy

to continue patrolling there,

and if they are attacked

to destroy their attackers.

To any armed attack

upon our forces

we shall reply.

To any in Southeast Asia

who ask our help

in defending their freedom,

we shall give it.

You can't win in Asia.

So I am not going to go along

with this kind of a program

in South Vietnam,

at least with my vote,

that in my judgment is going

to kill needlessly

untold numbers of American boys,

and for nothing.

"Dear Dad, well, here it is.

We've been told that our whole company

will be shipping out to Vietnam

after advanced infantry

training.

Our company commander and our

battalion and brigade commanders

told us there's no sense in trying

to fool ourselves, we're going for sure.

The only thing

that makes me mad

is how do they expect you

to tell your parents."

"I don't mind going, but there are some

guys here who just won't make it.

And I don't think

they'll make it out alive.

Your son, Bob.

P.S., tell Mom not to worry.

It's nothing I can't handle."

All right, settle down,

settle down.

"Dear Uncle and Aunt,

some people wonder why

Americans are in Vietnam.

The way I see the situation,

I would rather fight and stop

Communists in South Vietnam

than in Kincaid, Humboldt,

Blue Mound or Kansas City.

And that's just about

what it would end up being.

The price for victory is high

when life cannot be replaced.

But I think it is far better

to fight and die for freedom,

than to live under

oppression and fear.

Your nephew, Jack."

- What state are you from?

- Charlotte, North Carolina, sir.

North Carolina?

Charlotte, yeah,

- I know it well. Good luck to you, lad.

- Thank you, sir.

"Dear John, well,

in 360 days I'll be home.

Try not to worry

too much about me.

I know that will be

difficult,

but it doesn't do anyone

any good.

Love, Bobby."

"Chris, I finally got

to my unit yesterday.

Our mission is to find V.C.

and kill them.

I should be operating like this

for the next two months

before I get a chance

to take a shower and sleep in a bed.

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