Letters home from vietnam, the hbo movie now being released theatrically, is the first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time. Koch to serve on the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, he edited the book dear america. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. Letters home to vietnam, we must be cognisant of the circumstances surrounding both. This is a poignant collection of letters and poems.
Letters home from vietnam kindle edition by edelman, bernard. Letters home from vietnam a study of the vietnam era for teachers 11th 12th students examine letters that us service people wrote to their family and friends while they served in vietnam. North side of memorial wall vietnam veterans memorial plaza. Letters home from vietnam 19671979the twentieth century was a decade of war. Many citizens, especially young people, protested u.
Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush, their longing for home and family, their emotions over the conduct of the war, and their ache at. Sep 01, 2002 originally published in 1985, this collection of over 200 letters still provides a moving account of the war in vietnam. Excerpt from the blue book of the john birch society c. Buy a cheap copy of dear america letters home from vietnam book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There are stories about friendship, sacrifice and even love, as told by the very people who fought on the front lines and those who supported them. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were. Vietnam s defense minister, phung quang thanh, presents personal letters written by u.
The soldiers involvement in the war, in particular things like the reasons why america was involved in the war, and the growing unpopularity of the war as it progressed. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. In 1988, an hbo film starring tom berenger, kathleen turner, and robert deniro, among over two dozen other actors, featured readings of these real letters from soldiers as newsreels, home movies, and music from the era. Dean rusk credibility gap eugene mccarthy vietminh. Not having much knowledge on the vietnam war, this book really opened my eyes and my heart it really made me feel something, just reading these simple letters home. Steve flaherty of south carolina, who was killed in action in march 1969, to u. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships. A couple of introductory and acknowledgements chapters, and you will be faced with raw poetry, diary, and letters simply all kinds of writings written, basically from when the war started 1965, untilhmmi just noticed that the. This beautiful book from 1985 is a collection of letters from soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen that they sent home while in vietnam. Consisting of 208 letters, poems, and journal entries written by 125 people, this book is a heart wrenching, first hand account of the personal experiences of soldiers both on and behind the front lines in vietnam, and of loved ones waiting in anguish for their return back to the united states.
Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. Dear america letters home from vietnam 4 author notes as a collection of letters from hundreds of authors, it would be confusing and impractical, if not almost impossible, to provide notes on all of the authors. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. In their letters there is a sense of wonder at this new world they have found, a world so different from the american cities and towns they left behind. May 02, 2006 anyway, i better stop before i veer off the topic, which are the letters written by soldiers from vietnam. Some of the letters read lie poetry, while others simply share the danger and drudgery of being in a combat zone. This book contains letters written by soldiers and nurses in vietnam during the war. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded me of someone i knew. New york vietnam veterans memorial commission this anthology consists of 208 letters, poems, clippings, and diary entries written by american servicemen in vietnam.
Letters home from vietnam a book by edited by bernard edelman for the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission. Letters home from vietnam was compiled entirely from the avalanche of letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the memorial. Ties in to the march 88 hbo films motion picture with an allstar cast including tom berenger, kathleen turner and robert deniro. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam.
Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. Collects letters, poems, and petitions from the front, written mostly by infantrymen to their families and friends. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Below are the inscriptions that appear on the north side of the wall. Edelmans publication of the text in 1985, ten years after the official. Letters home from vietnam 19671979 the twentieth century was a decade of war. Letters home from vietnam for the commission, was associate producer of the peabody and emmy awardwinning film based on the book. More than twentyfive years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows us to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served in vietnam. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal experience of the vietnam war. Contains letters and poems written to families and friends by soldiers.
From the first impressions of troops newly arrived in country to the agony of losing a friend in battle, these letters from over 100 men and women stationed in vietnam tell a story more real and more powerful than any fiction. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Letters home from vietnam was met with almost universal critical acclaim. Here is the sad and beautiful countermelody of truth, audible at last, now that we have trashed the drums and cymbals of yet another senseless war, wrote novelist kurt vonnegut. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dear america. In 1981, six years after the official end of the vietnam war, mayor edward koch of new york city appointed a task force of twentyseven leading citizens of the city to develop a framework for a fitting memorial to vietnam war veterans. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam. English text summary notes dear america letters home from.
Dear america letters home from vietnam 5 william broyles jr. This program is presented in collaboration with the vietnam veterans of america. Absolutely no words can describe exactly how this book made me feel. Letters home from vietnam reprint by bernard edelman isbn. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Excerpts of 83 letters sent home from vietnam are etched in the memorials glass block and granite wall. William westmoreland sds richard nixon domino theory. Unit citations awarded vietnam to the 23rd infantry. Dear america allows us to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served in vietnam in this powerful collection of more than 200 poignant, honest, and very human letters. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam.
Due in part to escalating advances in military technology, twentiethcentury modern combat was exponentially more devastating. Based on the book of the same name, the program is devoted to poignant recitations of letters to and from american participants of the vietnam war. I cant tell them to my parents or darlene because they worry too much, but i tell you truthfully. New york vietnam veterans memorial commission this collection of letters, poems, and petitions from the front, written mostly by infantrymen to their families and friends, evokes the mingled emotions of an intense longing for home, fear, hope. Citation formats are based on standards as of july 2010. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal.
More than 200 letters home from vietnam era servicemen to family, friends, and others have been selected for publication in this volume about the most intimate thoughts of the soldiers who served in vietnam. Using your textbook and the movie, define the following terms. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film creates a highly personal.
By clicking on continue you confirm that you are 18 years and over. A reliving of the war in vietnam through actual letters from american g. Dear america letters home from vietnam edited by bernard. Bernard edelman, a vietnam veteran who was an associate producer of the film and also edited the companion book for the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, will introduce the screening, take questions afterwards, and also sign copies of the book. Letters home from vietnam documentary, 1987 part 38 might contain content that is not suitable for all ages. Mcgowan theater, washington, dc based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy award winning hbo documentary features actors and actresses reading actual letters home from men and women serving in the vietnam war. Letters home from vietnam, edite par bernard edelman pour. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush, their longing for home and family, their. Letters home from vietnam reissue by bernard edelman isbn.
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