S7 Ep. 21:Letters from Vietnam

Letters from Vietnam

To connect with family, friends, and loved ones back home today’s servicemen and women utilize email and live-video calls. That wasn’t always the case. In Vietnam, our brave men and women deployed overseas had to rely on written letters. These letters could contain good news, bad news, or no news at all. “Mail Call” was either a respite from the stressors of war or a depressing event. But what specifically did these letters contain? And how did our troops respond? What details did they omit to protect their loved ones? Did they fear a Dear John or Dear Jane letter?

 

Joining The Scuttlebutt this week to talk about the history of letter writing in the military including their personal letters home are Vietnam Veterans Donn Nemchick (Navy) and Jim Roberts (Army). Their wars couldn’t have been more different. Donn served on a ship while Jim served in the bush. How did they each receive their mail? And what did they write about when it came time to respond? Was Mail Call always a happy time? And what of our boys that fought in WWII? What was V-mail?

 

We also discuss the books, museums, and online exhibits that  catalogue and preserve the stories of our servicemen and women for future generations.

 

For a brief history of the US Military Mail Services visit dvidshub.net

 

Operation Meatball - V-Mail: America's Secret Morale Booster in WW2 - http://bit.ly/3JfxINt

 

You Have V-Mail – Smithsonian Magazine - https://bit.ly/3yw8wxw

 

Mashable – V-Mail - https://mashable.com/feature/v-mail

 

Chapman University – The Center for American War Letters -  http://bit.ly/3Trohzz

 

Boot Camp – What is Mail Call? - https://bit.ly/3TfJnki

 

Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam - https://bit.ly/3Tandjc

 

Dear America - Letters Home from Vietnam - https://bit.ly/3ZGHzDl

 

Letters from Vietnam: Voices of War by Bill Adler - https://bit.ly/3mPlZxR

 

Letters from Vietnam by Dennis Hoy - https://bit.ly/425BjXc

 

The American Soldier | The Scuttlebutt | Season 7 Episode 1 - https://bit.ly/426miED

 

VBC Happy Hour with LOON author Jack McLean - https://bit.ly/3ZLjJpV

 

Loon by Jack McLean - https://bit.ly/3TgC0sz

To watch this episode, please visit our website at www.veteransbreakfastclub.org/scuttlebutt

 

Thank you to our sponsors: D and D Auto Salvage and Tobacco Free Adagio Health!

 

https://danddautosalvage.com/

 

https://tobaccofree.adagiohealth.org/

 

http://www.veteransbreakfastclub.org/

 

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