Vietnam View

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CAM00058CAM00059   CAM00060CAM00055 Over the course of a few days I have been analyzing the letters written to the Senator Harold T. Bizz Johnson (Bizz johnson) by his constituents in regards to the Vietnam War.  The overall sentiment towards the war had turned negative as the number of soldiers  in the world began turning up as POW, MIA, and KIA began to rise and the U.S.A began Drafting young men. At its worst War Statistics show that 25% (648,500) Of total forces in country were draftees. Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam. As young Men were sent off to die the countries perspective toward the war changed as well and in doing so Political Cartoons which was a type of propaganda also shifted to a more negative view of the war like comics and political Cartoons the ones listed above.

The People’s Influence

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The course of the Vietnam War was reasonably stable in the beginning. With the Red Scare and the war against communism in effect, the initial periods of the war went without much question from the people. Later into the war, however — particularly between the years 1967 – 1971 — due to a mass amount of casualties on the side of the United States and an abhorrence for death the people began speaking out against the government, as noted in these letters to California congressman Harold “Bizz” T. Johnson. 

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Though, that’s not to say that everyone was entirely ready to pull out of the war, including the congressman. Politics was still a game, and some of the people wished to maintain a strong stance against the dreaded force of communism.

image (1)Though it would come to pass, as the decade turned to the 1970’s, that it was a wiser move for government officials to stand by the action of pulling out. The letters speaking out for the war had grown quite numerous by 1971. People protested about the senseless death, and women and children pleaded for the men to come home before there wasn’t an opportunity for those of a young age to meet their fathers for the first time.  At the beginning of 1973 in January officials from both the United States and Vietnam met in Paris to sign a peace treaty. A more extensive article covering the specifics of that can be found here. That was a more official mark for the end of the war, finalizing in 1975 when the last of the American troops were lifted out of Vietnam; however, the true pivotal point was the beginning of the decade when the people vehemently spoke out. Though the question is still posed that if the government hadn’t been so lax with the voice of the people, then perhaps the tragedy and blunder of the Vietnam War would have been lessened.

 

New and significant information

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Over the course of these few past week is have, been investigation  the personal letters of Senator Harlod Bizz Johnson. The importance that these journals bring  are very significant, and shows the mind set of the average every day citizen felt towards the war efforts in the early 70’s late 60 ‘s of the  cold war.

Through out the cold war many  politician had their ideas of the spread democracy and the way it’s influences should be  spread.  Senator Harlod Bizz Johnson back round showed hoed his former employment shaped his way of thinking later in his career:  Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and also serves he served on the Budget, Foreign Relations, and Commerce, Science and Transportation committee. http://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography

The justification  that this document gives is one of a western idea, of how  manifest destiny effects lower income countries and that the  idea of  capitalism  and the inevitable success that it brings tromps over the methods of the  idealism of socialism

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A Mother’s Despair

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As my fresFullSizeRender (1)hman year began, my professors at CSU Channel Islands gave me the honor to read some letters citizens sent to congressmen either for or against the Vietnam War. Some letters were of people agreeing to continue the war while others were of families pleading that they wanted their family members back.

Among the numerous letters I read, there was one in particular that really caught my attention. It was from a lady named Betty Wellengak pleading she wanted her son back. She wrote, “Killing in the name of peace does not make anyone less dead.” That quote intrigued me because a lot of lives were going to be lost during the war. Even if it was to defend the nation or make “peace” a lot of lives were going to be lost and they wouldn’t be able to be replaced.

Another thing that caught my attention was how she pleaded for every mothers’ sons to get sent back home. Her despair was not just for her but also to the other mothers who were in her situation.

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1971 Letters about Vietnam

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Vietnam not only had an effect on the people involved but everyone around them. The family of the soldiers went through an emotional toll along side their sons and loved ones. Not only did they have to stay home and wait to find out if their family was going to come back, and if they did were they going to be intact. They also saw the effects the war had on the economy while the war in Vietnam was happening. They saw the hope in the family’s fall, watched President Nixon go back and forth on weather to retreat and bring the soldiers home.

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In this letter you meet a gentlemen named John Jaekel fed up with what is going on around him.  He wants to know if the economy has a plan to rehabilitate the soldiers returning home. They spent so much money on the war finding the resources to fight, and to win, and no concern for the well being of the humans in control of them.

Even in present day society this is still a major concern to every vet who has fought in war. Many vets receive the physical needs when returning home but in my opinion the biggest concern should be the psychological damage caused by war. Psychological damage  done to our vets should be the main concern to military when our troops come home. Many of our soldiers suffer from PTSD, it doesn’t only effect them but there family and friends. Just as in the 70’s this is not an issue that many family think about when the send them of to war.

The economy is mostly impacted by the war and the cost it takes to go to battle. Just as John this is a concern to every american who is anti-war. So all in all we need to redirect our focus and our droller on the health of our soldiers.

1971-Madness For Vietnam War

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John F. Kerry says, ” I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest, not just military service.” Although I was not born in the time that this letter was written, I had never understood the urgency and truth in what he says. Reading these letters have given me a knew insight to what it was like in the U.S. in this critical time. The picture I have posted above is one of the letters that really gave me a new view on the difficulties in the U.S. This letter was written by two very competent and concerned parents of a very young Vietnam war soldier. They formally address many different issues in the very beginning of the letter. They later address that they’re very upset that the U.S. is going to war again and have many concerns. Their son is stationed right outside of Vietnam and they are afraid for his life. They want their son to come home safe and sound and wish t see him soon but by the looks of everything they aren’t going to see him for a while. Towards the end of the letter they quote their son who says that he feels much safer in Vietnam than he does in the U.S. because of the outbursts and riots that have been uprising

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This next letter fascinates me so much. This person kept it short and sweet! He basically tells them off in such a subtle way. He tells them to win the war or get out because we have no business being there again. There is no reason for us to continue in a long war especially with all he uprising.

These letter differ immensely but one thing is for sure, neither of them wanted the U.S. to continue in the war. I believe the parents who wrote the first letter are sincerely worried for not only their son but the other men and women of the military as well. It is hard breaking as a family member of a soldier to go extended periods of time without seeing the ones they love most. They were both definitely afraid of all the rioting that was going on. The trauma was probably very unbearable and difficult to deal with. How could they feel safe when others were fighting in a war for them when in reality they were fighting their own war at home? Nothing and no one was safe from the outburst occurring at the time. How can you blame them?–I’d be afraid too. I feel both these letters were written in urgency to voice their opinion on the act and the plans to continue in the war. The Vietnam war was not only dangerous for those fighting in it but for those fighting at home as well. It was an effort throughout our country and no one felt safe and no one was happy knowing their soldiers were out fighting again!

 

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1971 Vietnamese Letters

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As I Read many people’s letters in a very important time for the U.S something catches my attention from all of them. Although every letter is unique in its own way all of them speak of something in common. In every letter that I read every person mentioned the fact that president Nixon made a promise that at the time he is not committing to. This captured my attention because I’m the type of person to always keep my word. I would especially keep a promise that includes millions of thousands of people. To be more specific a promise that people’s life depend on. Further more those people have families who are hoping they come home alive. I would not be able to extend any amount of time on a promise that is so valuable for many people.
The first letter I read was from a retired solder who had fought in the Vietnam War. Who more than a solder who was in the middle of one of the biggest war’s know what was best for the county? The solder urges president Nixon to retreat from the war. He specifically mentions the fact that Nixon made a promise to his country to retreat from the war with a Bill that would bring solders home. Also what really caught my eye about his letter was that the solder mentioned how Nixon tempted twice to seek a conclusion military victory in the country. Overall this letter captured me for the solders desire for Nixon to bring solders home and end the war.
The fact that Nixon extended his promise to many Americans who expected it and wrote to him with his concerns is brassard to me.