Dear america letters from vietnam book

Nearly forty 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. 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 the. Couturie began with an anthology of letters written home by u. 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. 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. 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. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear ame. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions.

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. A lot of times, the figure of how many were killed, wounded, missing, etc but it does not portray any emotions the soldiers felt. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded. Letters home from vietnam from the worlds largest community of readers. This will give us stronger personal perspectives of the vietnam war which will. Letters home from vietnam reprint by edelman, bernard isbn. Letters home from vietnam is a collection of letters written home from soldiers and other personal serving in the vietnam war with the exception of a couple letters being to a soldier. 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. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. Letters home from vietnam wascompiled entirely from the avalanche of letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the memorial. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. 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. 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.

Letters home from vietnam, originally published in 1985. The music on the soundtrack is all from the period, and then, at the end of the movie, there is a heartbreaking flashforward to the vietnam war memorial in washington, d. 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. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid. The entire books is all real letters from soldiers that were stationed. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube. Letters home from vietnam allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there. 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. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. Book recommendations for people who like dear america. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987.

Dear america is a series of historical fiction novels for older girls published by scholastic in 1996. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. By considering the songs of this time alongside the poetry of dear america we can gain a deeper understanding of the themes and ideas explored by the text. Then he screened the entire archive of tv news footage shot by nbctv from 1967 to 1969 2 million feet of film totaling 926 hours. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam. The series was cancelled in 2004 with its final release, hear my sorrow. 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. Letters home from vietnam definitely captures the essence of the vietnam war. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in. This book consists of letters written by american soldiers during the vietnam war. Most vets dropped the 19 when it came to their years over there.

This emotional and powerful film takes the viewer through the war from optimistic beginning to seeds of doubt to the bitter end and a postscript with the dedication of the vietnam memorial. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book. Letters home from vietnam is a documentary based on the book which printed letters from the soldiers and nurses who served in vietnam. You replied as i knew you would always the mother who tries to put her sons. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america.

Due in part to escalating advances in military technology, twentiethcentury modern combat was exponentially more devastating than any. Eloquent, gutwrenching letters from american men and women stationed in vietnam paint a poignant picture of wars agonies and joys. 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. The book is chronologically listed and you can see the changing feelings of the soldiers. More than 25 years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women. Letters home from vietnam is a book that tells the story of the war through the printed letters from the soldiers and nurses who served in vietnam.

The bestselling book and basis for the emmy awardwinning documentary letters read by robert deniro, robert downey jr. Collects letters, poems, and petitions from the front, written mostly by infantrymen to their families and friends. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more. The book is an anthology of letters assembled by the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission, to which the director offered the profits from the. David halberstamdecades after the end of the vietnam war, dear. This incredibly moving documentary adds immeasurably to the growing.

The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. Letters home from vietnam was compiled from the letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the. Chastant hhephu bai 29 june 68 mom, today i received your letter in reply to my extension letter. The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. A major reason for the visceral clout of dear america is the coordination of rock music by bob dylan, the rolling stones, the doors, and others with the images on the screen. The means of turning this concept into a film came from cowriter richard dewhurst, who showed couturie a copy of the book dear america. Not having much knowledge on the vietnam war, this book really opened my. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film. More than 25 years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there.

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. For the 1987 vietnam war documentary, see dear america. 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. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. Based on the book of the same name, this 1987 emmy awardwinning hbo documentary features actors and actresses reading actual letters home from men and women serving in the vietnam war. 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. Letters home from vietnam 19671979the twentieth century was a decade of war. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. Most are a page or less, and they give a vivid insight into attitudes of the men there, though possibly selfcensored to.