My dad’s perspective on the Vietnam War and its aftermath based on letters home while in-country, conversations (as best as I can recall them), and other writings. Including photos taken while in-country.
For whatever reason my dad had the VA write a standard letter that read: “The official records of the Department of Veterans Affairs show that [my dad] is permanently and totally disabled for purposes of the VA.” He was officially diagnosed 100% permanently disabled with PTSD in the early nineties. (I have the official paperwork … More Still fighting the Vietnam War
June 17, 1967 Hi Dad & Mom Well they told us today that we would be moving to the Bong Song Plains or Bong Song mountains, which one I don’t know yet. We’ll move out no doubt in the morning tomorrow by copters. I just came back from a village where we bought some cokes … More Bong Song and Staying Clean
I just got done with my 4 days of training Wednesday noon. They got us up about 6am Tuesday and we walked about 5 miles to our training grounds outside of the barrier we had classes, shot our M-16 rifles, then in late afternoon we started setting up camp for the night. We had 4 … More LZ Uplift, Foxholes, and Kool-Aid
He received his Statement of Acceptability from Selective Service and he was found “fully acceptable for induction into the Armed Forces.” It was dated 20 April 1966, he was 19. My dad was inducted into the Army on 5 January 1967 for training at Fort Bliss, Texas. I have his ‘yearbook’ from his time at … More Vietnam Soldier: Average age was 19
How Goes the Battle? 