1971-Madness For Vietnam War

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

   

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!