Letters home from vietnam from the worlds largest community of readers. The bestselling book and basis for the emmy awardwinning documentary letters read by robert deniro, robert downey jr. For the 1987 vietnam war documentary, see dear america. 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. 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. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. 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. 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. 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. Letters home from vietnam by edited by bernard edelman. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more.
What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. Letters home from vietnam also was released theatrically, on 49 screens in the united states and canada in september 1988, a rarity for any film that has been made for cable. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. 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. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. 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. You replied as i knew you would always the mother who tries to put her sons. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded. 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. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Chastant hhephu bai 29 june 68 mom, today i received your letter in reply to my extension letter. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. 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. 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.
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. Due in part to escalating advances in military technology, twentiethcentury modern combat was exponentially more devastating than any. 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. The series was cancelled in 2004 with its final release, hear my sorrow. Eloquent, gutwrenching letters from american men and women stationed in vietnam paint a poignant picture of wars agonies and joys. 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. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book. Most are a page or less, and they give a vivid insight into attitudes of the men there, though possibly selfcensored to. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam.
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. Dear america is a series of historical fiction novels for older girls published by scholastic in 1996. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. This will give us stronger personal perspectives of the vietnam war which will. A lot of times, the figure of how many were killed, wounded, missing, etc but it does not portray any emotions the soldiers felt.
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. 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. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. 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. 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. Letters home from vietnam definitely captures the essence of the vietnam war. Book recommendations for people who like dear america. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book along with many more and archive footage, the film. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america.
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. 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. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam. Letters home from vietnam as you read note the mens feelings about the war. Letters home from vietnam allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. 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 means of turning this concept into a film came from cowriter richard dewhurst, who showed couturie a copy of the book dear america. 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. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. 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. This incredibly moving documentary adds immeasurably to the growing. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p.
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. 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. Letters home from vietnam was compiled from the letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the. 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. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. 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. Couturie began with an anthology of letters written home by u. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. Letters home from vietnam 19671979the twentieth century was a decade of war. This book consists of letters written by american soldiers during the vietnam war. 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.
It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. Letters home from vietnam, originally published in 1985. The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. 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. Letters home from vietnam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear ame. Most vets dropped the 19 when it came to their years over there. The entire books is all real letters from soldiers that were stationed. Letters home from vietnam reprint by edelman, bernard isbn. Its extremely heartbreaking to read these letters as they gives voices instead of a mere figure.
Decades after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america. 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. Not having much knowledge on the vietnam war, this book really opened my. David halberstamdecades after the end of the vietnam war, dear. Collects letters, poems, and petitions from the front, written mostly by infantrymen to their families and friends. The book is chronologically listed and you can see the changing feelings of the soldiers. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters. Letters home from vietnam is a documentary based on the book which printed letters from the soldiers and nurses who served in vietnam.