The War in His Home

by BaileyFPeriod6

The Vietnam War was the first televised war and the average age men were drafted at was nineteen. Margaret Carter finds her husband and her brother-in-law on the screen in her house in Washington in the US. Margaret prays for her family while they are in combat and Robert prays to get back to his wife while Robert and Jack's parents pray that Jack will be the one to come home.

1. Chapter One

Margaret Carter, age 25

Dear diary,

Blood is spattered, soldiers down. I have never seen something so dreadful in all my life. This is the first war that has been aired on television.

One of the worst parts about this situation is that it is not only valiant soldiers who are losing their lives in Vietnam; children are not excluded.

My younger sister, Madeline, is living with me and my husband Robert. Madeline recently turned eighteen. She yearns to be independent, she dreams of living on her own, but that is not plausible until she learns to take care of herself. Mother and Father wish for Madeline to marry though Maddie is not fond of the idea.

The three of us visit with my parents and brother, William, when the opportunity presents itself; which is rarely. We live in a small house in Washington. Actually right now it is just my sister and myself. My husband was drafted into the war about two years ago along with his brother, Jack.

In 1957, only a decade ago, the Vietminh opted for guerilla warfare against South Vietnam. Two years later some of our advisors were killed. Not terrible long after that, President Kennedy gave extra aid to South Vietnam. Five years past this one, the American troops in combat nearly doubled.

My sister and I do not watch this terrifying sight on the television when the chance rolls around.

Some say the war will last for years, decades even, but for my husband, my brother-in-law, and everyone else's sakes, I hope that is not going to be the case.

Until next time,

Margaret Carter