Posts

A Mother’s Despair

/in /by

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.

test post

/in /by

where does this go?

1971 Letters about Vietnam

/in /by

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.

ATT_1441338011927_20150828_111716

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

/in /by

IMG_0862IMG_0863

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

 FullSizeRender  

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!

 

1971 Vietnamese Letters

/in /by

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.

All about me

/in /by

My name is Raul Perez and I’m from Downey California. I graduated from Warren High School, where I was actively involved in many organizations and sports at my school. I’ve ran Track and 009Cross Country for all four years and played a bit of baseball. Although baseball was and still is my main sport I stuck with running and I’m blessed to say it was a really great decision. While I was running, my cross country had won the CIF Division 1 title marking both the first time the school had ever received a Division 1 title as well as the team. I am currently enrolled as a Environmental Science and Resource Management major and I do not plan on switching majors anytime soon.

I love the environment and just nature in general. I’m more of the outdoors type I just like to be outside and explore the world around me. Whether it’s playing sports, out hiking, being at the beach or just being outside and hanging out with friends I do it all, I rarely like being indoors. With my Environmental major I plan on becoming an Environmental Lawyer were I would then hope to make a difference in some aspect in the world. I know no one man can change the world, but my main goal is to just preserve the world long enough for my kids and my kid’s kids to live happy lives. I am currently the first in my family to go to college, so this experience is as new to me as it is for everyone else within my family.

I have three brothers back at home two of which are way too young to even understand where I am at, so its kinda hard being away from them at times. Coming to Channel Islands has been a big step you can say, although I’m not too far from home I do get a little homesick every now and then. I am excited to be here at CI and be apart of the SURF program with all of you amazing people. I’m ready to just take on this year and let life take me on its’ journey, because I know for certain it will be great.

Nursing401 Introduction Post

/in /by

Hello

My name is Vy Do (Pronounced Vee Doe). It’s ok if you still pronounce it wrong, I will respond to anything that sounds close to it. I am an RN at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Surgical Intensive Care. We care for primarily for open heart, neuro, and surigcal patients. I have been an RN for 2.5 years. I did my ADN at College of the Canyons, and I also have my BA in Communication Studies from CSU Northridge. After  I finish my BSN, I plan to take a (long) break from school. In the future, I would like to pursue clinical education.

Outside of work and school (in the whole 2 hours that remain in the week) I like to cook and binge watch Netflix. I also like to travel, and I’m going to Chicago and New York in the next few months.

1968 Vietnam War Newsletters

/in /by

Andrew Hauffen

September 3rd, 2015

I never really looked into the Vietnam War until I witnessed some newsletters sent to a Congressmen during the time named Bizz Johnson. Most of the letters I have looked  at were during 1968 and most of the people who wrote to Bizz Johnson were for the war. I assumed those people were for the war because they did not realize how tragic and how expensive it would be.

 vietnam photo 1.JPG flipped

I feel that this photo means a lot towards our country because looking at this photo can confuse a person. And what I mean by that is this letter can go both ways, for the war or against the war. The quote “Let’s not our freedom go piece by piece” could mean we are losing men each and every day in the battlefield. It can influence people to create groups and organizations to conquer the idea of sending more young men and women to sacrifice their lives. So basically against the war.On the other hand, the quote “It seems to me we could win sometimes” could illustrate the motivation by this individual to support the war. It might seem like he would want to be sent overseas to help his country overcome the war.

vietnam photo 2.JPG flipped

This document interests me because it is simply an American women wanting peace. Also caring for her children in an aggressive and vigorous way. Not ashamed of her language and cruelty towards Bizz Johnson shows the grit and the confidence against this war and that personality is really intriguing. It does remind me of my Grandma how prideful she is towards her beliefs and that amazes me quite a lot.

If I was living in that period of time, I would probably be forced to be a combat troop in the military as a eighteen year old young adult. I would probably be motivated to serve my country as an American. Working hard in training camp, then being strong-willed and strategic in the battlefield. But at the same time missing my family back at home. I would do everything in my power to become successful during I am on duty. Motivated to be some type of leader in my unit. The sooner and more sophisticated I do my job, the sooner I get home.

1971 Vietnam War Letter

/in /by

Vietnam War

Every letter that I read in class on Friday was heart warming. Most of the letters I read were from women from various ages. But this was a male writing a letter to the senator. When I read this specific letter it almost made me cry a little. These letters were written in 1971 and that is when most people started opposing the
IMG_5361war. They started opposing the Vietnam war because it had already been going on for a long time and they didn’t expect it to last that long. Also because the United States began bombing Vietnam and the citizens didn’t feel safe in their Vietnam war Letterown neighbors.

In this letter this man, Vincent, was writing this letter because the war in Vietnam had already taken way too long. He said that the war had started when he was in high school and he was a senior in college when he wrote the letter. The reason why this letter made me tear up was because four of this man’s high school friends were killed at war. He states “I must say one of the most revolting sights in this entire world is to attend a military funeral and sit and look at the American Flag draped over a closed casket containing the pieces of a life long friend.” Its sad knowing that a friend you have known for a long time that at their funeral you cant have the casket open to see them one last time before they are buried because they are in pieces. This letter made me value my friend more and to be thankful that I wasn’t alive at this time because I can not bare with losing someone close to me. Everyone I know is valuable to me in some sort of way or form.

Letters from Wartime

/in /by

IMG_3100

It was interesting, to say the least, to look over the letters sent to congressman Bizz Johnson during the Vietnam war. While a vast majority were opposed to the continuation of the fighting, some wrote with a great deal of emotional attachment, mourning or fearing for a relative overseas in the military. On the other hand, some wrote using a more political point of view, explaining that the president had overstepped his legal boundaries in regards to the war effort.

The couple that wrote the letter which particularly caught my eye chose to not only address Johnson as his constituents, but more importantly, as Americans. Though they hold the United States in high regard, referring to it as their own “great country,” their own patriotism seem to have been crushed by a more prominent craving for violence in the United States at that point in history. Their acknowledgement of our country’s mistakes represents not only their opinion, but the opinion of a great deal of American citizens, which was shifting from pro-war to pro-peace.

In my own opinion, the most crucial aspect of the letter is the ending, in which the writers state that in spite of any efforts that have been or will be made, the Vietnam war is “one that we have lost.” Even with the original objective of supplying aid and supplanting communist regimes, the body count of either side was far too massive for their to be any true winner, and I believe that this is what the couple was trying to convey. Their view is much the same as many other U.S citizens at the time,

Historical Context

  • The Cambodia Campaign added further anger to the war, which was already lengthening
  • American involvement in the war had been going on for over a decade
  • 6,173 deaths in 1970 alone