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 wascompiled entirely from the avalanche of letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the memorial. Dear america is a series of historical fiction novels for older girls published by scholastic in 1996. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. 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. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded. 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. The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters. 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. David halberstamdecades after the end of the vietnam war, dear. Decades after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam. 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.
When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. 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. 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. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. It would be hard to imagine a more powerful documentary on the vietnam war than dear america. Eloquent, gutwrenching letters from american men and women stationed in vietnam paint a poignant picture of wars agonies and joys. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid. Letters home from vietnam, originally published in 1985. 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. A lot of times, the figure of how many were killed, wounded, missing, etc but it does not portray any emotions the soldiers felt. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in. Fox, mark harmon, sean penn, randy quaid, martin sheen, robin williams, and more. 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 on thursday, january 18 at 7 p.
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 from the worlds largest community of readers. 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 definitely captures the essence of the vietnam war. Most vets dropped the 19 when it came to their years over there. 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. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. 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. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam.
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. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. 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. 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. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions. Letters home from vietnam as you read note the mens feelings about the war. Most are a page or less, and they give a vivid insight into attitudes of the men there, though possibly selfcensored to. The bestselling book and basis for the emmy awardwinning documentary letters read by robert deniro, robert downey jr. The means of turning this concept into a film came from cowriter richard dewhurst, who showed couturie a copy of the book dear america. Collects letters, poems, and petitions from the front, written mostly by infantrymen to their families and friends.
The list of actors reading these letters is practically a whos who of hollywood, including. The entire books is all real letters from soldiers that were stationed. For the 1987 vietnam war documentary, see dear america. Not having much knowledge on the vietnam war, this book really opened my. 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. 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, the hbo movie now being released theatrically, is the first film about vietnam to come to us free of bias, free of rhetoric. Letters home from vietnam was compiled from the letters and poems received by the commission for consideration to be included on the. Letters home from vietnam reprint by edelman, bernard isbn. Due in part to escalating advances in military technology, twentiethcentury modern combat was exponentially more devastating than any.
Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. Book recommendations for people who like dear america. Letters home from vietnam by edited by bernard edelman. 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. 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. Its extremely heartbreaking to read these letters as they gives voices instead of a mere figure. 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. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. Letters home from vietnam 19671979the twentieth century was a decade of war.
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. 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. William dafoe, robert deniro, matt dillon, michael j. Letters home from vietnam is a documentary based on the book which printed letters from the soldiers and nurses who served in vietnam. 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 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. This book consists of letters written by american soldiers during the vietnam war.
This incredibly moving documentary adds immeasurably to the growing. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. 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. 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. Chastant hhephu bai 29 june 68 mom, today i received your letter in reply to my extension letter. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. This will give us stronger personal perspectives of the vietnam war which will. Letters home from vietnam allows readers to witness the war firsthand through the eyes of the men and women who served there. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Couturie began with an anthology of letters written home by u. Using real letters written by american soldiers which can be read in the book. 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.
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