And so, day after day, you had dead Marines, wounded Marines, and nobody to fight back at. In the meantime, you've got guys, you know, you go out, you run a patrol, somebody hits a mine and there's a couple of dead people. And here's Joe the rice farmer out in his field. he just, he don't even stop. He don't even, it's like he didn't even hear the blast. And after awhile, you start thinking, well, these people must know where these mines are. How come they never step on them? They must be, they must be VC. They must be VC sympathizers.
And so, over a relatively short period of time, you begin to treat all Vietnamese as though they are the enemy. If you can't tell, you shoot first and ask questions later. -William Ehrhart, US Marines
Dear Mom,
I got back yesterday from our company "outting." Thought we were only going to be out for two weeks, but a change in plans made us stay out for another week. Bruce Greenwood, our machine gunner, stepped on a mine. He didn't make it. But don't worry, I'm okay. I'm tired a bit sore, but some sleep and hot chow will cure it. No worries.
I'm glad you had a good time at David's house. It seems like Bernie and Danny are becoming fast friends. Bet you're happy about that, having both boys friends with the Schulman boys. And yes, I' know you're smiling, Mom. But go ahead, keep being proud of yourself. Please, keep writing about things such as buying a new lamp, only to have to go through a lot of trouble to return it. I'm sure if I were in Bernie's shoes or Uncle Jake's, I wouldn't think it so great, but being over here and hearing about it makes it seem like things are actually normal elsewhere. There are actually people in situations where returning an ugly lamp is the most life threatening thing they have to do. It's almost as if the reason I'm over here is to keep life that good at home, even I might not agree with everything we do over here. Maybe if I think about it like that, I'm over here to keep life over there the way it was when I left, it won't be so bad.
For a while now, ever since I started to really understand what Dad's death was doing to our family, I thought that you might not want to talk for that reason. Considering you've been honest with me, I suppose I should return the favor by saying there were times I resented you for not talking about him. I also have to be honest in saying that the few times I started fights, it was because they had said something about Dad. I believed that fighting them would clear Dad's name. In some way, I was protecting him because he wasn't around to do so himself. But saying that, I'm glad you've decided to talk about him. I don't want to make you feel guilty, that's the last thing I want to do, but it was hard on Bernie and me all these years. We both would have loved to hear stories about him, seen pictures of him, especially Bernie. I mean, he was only six, Mom. He, we never got to really know him. Even my eleven years wasn't long enough. All I saw him as was a man who was at work a lot, someone whom I missed when he wasn't around, but at the same time he was Superman, no matter what he did. Stories about him would have built that up, allowed me to know my father after he was dead. But, Mom, don't think for one minute you were wrong. It was a decision you made, a decision you believed to be right. And now you're trying to correct it, to make it better by talking about Dad. Bernie thinks it's great, though he didn't understand the sudden transition. I hope you won't be mad when I tell you that I told Bernie what you told me. I felt he deserved to know of your change of heart. By all means, though, please continue. It's good for the both of us, and maybe you will benefit as well.
Because we've been out so long, they've given us three days to relax. I hope Charlie or the NVA don't decide to try anything these few days. I really want this rest and I'm sure we all need it. Oh, and the package you sent was very much appreciated. All the guys loved it.
Anyway, I'll sign off now.
Love,
John