A frustrating war of attrition westmorelands strat egy for defeating the. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships. 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. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america.
This program is presented in collaboration with the vietnam veterans of america. 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. Using the medium of letters sent home by american soldiers many of whom did not survive long thereafter, dear america takes only 84 minutes to relate america s 10year quagmire in southeast asia. An overwhelmingly eloquent book of the purest and most simple writing on vietnam. 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.
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. France theatrical title dear america lettres du vietnam. A reliving of the war in vietnam through actual letters from american g. In this collection of more than 200 letters, they share their first impressions of the rigors of life in the bush. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid 1970s. Your first grade wont be your final grade, ill grade the essays by hand. English text summary notes dear america letters home from. American intervention in vietnam, the role of congress, the executive and the media. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Latinautor, emi music publishing, cmrra, bmg rights management us, llc, ascap, sony.
Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. 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 commission, will introduce the screening, take questions afterwards, and also sign copies of the book. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. 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. Themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. 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. 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 by bernard edelman, editor w.
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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 by royalfool1195. Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. The united states and the vietnam war the british library. 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. Ties in to the march 88 hbo films motion picture with an allstar cast including tom berenger, kathleen turner and robert deniro. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time. Dear america questions dear america letters home from. This gripping documentary of the vietnam war begins with the kennedy administration and extends through the return of the first mias in the mid. Dear america letters home from vietnam dvd 1988 hbo. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home.
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. One of the greatest hardships faced daily by the soldiers was. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Jul 17, 2002 few books touched me as much as dear america. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964.
And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. They had no comforts and were forced to live in harsh conditions most of the time that they were there. 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. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. 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.
Many citizens, especially young people, protested u. There was an abundance of insects that bothered the soldiers and was mentioned in the documentary multiple times. Nearly forty years after the official end of the vietnam war, dear america allows. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. Mcgowan theater, washington, dc 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.
Latinautor, emi music publishing, cmrra, bmg rights management us, llc, ascap, sony atv. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. Some themes from dear america, letters home from vietnam. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who were in the war, some of whom did. Personally, i watched my father serve three tours one in 1963 as an advisor to the french as it was. In their letters there is a sense of wonder at this new world they have found, a world so different from the american cities and towns they left behind.
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. The united states and the making of postwar france. 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. 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. Without a clear purpose in vietnam, killing the enemy became the only goal. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 youtube. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 2 8 by royalfool1195. There were many daily hardships faced by soldiers in vietnam. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
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