Vietnam Reading Journal
Regret to Inform- A widows perspective
This article describes, Barbara Sonneborn, a film maker, and her experiences once she was aware of her husband’s death in the Vietnam War. Twenty years after his death, in 1988, Sonneborn began her film, Regret to Inform. Sonneborn’s objective was to meet and talk with as many widows from the war as possible from both sides, and see how it has affected themselves. She also was intrigued by the war itself and wanted to learn more about its concept. She spoke with over 200 American widows and then began her journey to Vietnam in 1992 and there, with a translator, she discovered the common characteristic they all had and the stories the Vietnamese women had to share. This article amazed me greatly. I never would have thought someone could take such a tragedy, and create something positive from it. I also loved hearing that she got stories and opinions from people on both sides of the war. Sometimes it feels as though the country we fight a war against is all bad; every single individual native to that country is against the United States as we should be towards them. It provides a breath of new air to hear Sonneborn’s desire to learn from both sides.
The Nui Ba Den
This article was written by Larry Heinemann, a Vietnam war veteran who recalls his best memory of the war. Where he was stationed, it was a low and flat landscape that stretched on and on, with the exception of Nui Ba Den, a 996 meter high mountain. It was this mountain that Heinemann found beauty within all the jungles and fright of the war. He recalled moments in which they had been fighting through the night and with the sunrise, Nui Ba Den brought peace among them all. Since the war, he has made numerous trips to Vietnam and he visits the mountain and remembers the bloodiness and goriness it overlooked. All of the stories I have heard about the Vietnam war have been bloody, sad, and hopeless; almost without life, without any drive to make it home. This mountain was this man’s drive. It gave him a beautiful and positive focal point during a time of turmoil, one in which motivated him to return to the scaring landscape and marvel in its beauty.
Why I went to the War
This article was written by Terry Farish who went to Vietnam working with the Red Cross. She was one of the few women who traveled to the war spot but she did it for her family. Her mother had always held the military to a high standard and expected her family to follow suit. In Vietnam she was able to see how the “mans war” took place and through talking with a lot of the soldiers, she got many perspectives on things. She realized in the end that it wasn’t her mother’s war, it was hers. She had experienced what most women of her time and age would never even begin to understand. I applaud Terry Farish for voluntarily serving in Vietnam, a feat most men didn’t perform. Her eyes were opened to the horrific events inflicted on the soldiers, mentally and physically. I try to put myself in her shoes over in Vietnam and I can’t even begin to imagine what she experienced. When you’re not in your home nation and for all you know the enemy could be in the trees directly behind you about to take your life.
Murder in the name of the war- My Lai
This article describes the horrific event on March 16, 1968 in which the United States military attacked and killed over 500 innocent women and children on a“search and destroy mission” to eliminate communists. This event alone took my aback and set me over the edge in confusion and frustration with the war. Vietnamese who bowed to greet the Americans were beaten, women gang raped, people with their hands held over their head were shot to death and carved with “C Company” on their chest. 160 American soldiers opted out of the massacre but even Lieutenant William Calley took part in the mass killings without hesitation. This appalls me and almost makes me sick. I have always held the United States military to a high and superior standard, not just because of their size and strength but because of their passion for giving aid to countries in need; not go on killing spree’s in innocent villages. Granted, I wasn’t there so who am I to judge, but how can you kill people who are attempting to show respect towards you and are pleading for their lives in fear? One of the many questions that will have to be left unanswered.
Still in Hiding
This article is about Lady Borton who went to Vietnam with a peace organization to help war-wounded on both sides of the war. She described a time when she was on her way to help a Vietnamese boy who had stepped on a mine and she was intercepted by children from the nearby town and an older woman who she engaged with peaceful conversation with. The woman expressed her gratefulness to Borton for her work with the American military. As I read more about the war, I am finding more stories about helpful and intriguing locals that interacted with the American soldiers in peaceful ways. It goes to show the innocence and gratefulness that existed on both sides toward one another and is overshadowed
by the grief and bloodiness of the war. I am proud and interested to see more and more ways people got along with the locals and spent time with them even when their brothers were killing one another.
Regret to Inform- A widows perspective
This article describes, Barbara Sonneborn, a film maker, and her experiences once she was aware of her husband’s death in the Vietnam War. Twenty years after his death, in 1988, Sonneborn began her film, Regret to Inform. Sonneborn’s objective was to meet and talk with as many widows from the war as possible from both sides, and see how it has affected themselves. She also was intrigued by the war itself and wanted to learn more about its concept. She spoke with over 200 American widows and then began her journey to Vietnam in 1992 and there, with a translator, she discovered the common characteristic they all had and the stories the Vietnamese women had to share. This article amazed me greatly. I never would have thought someone could take such a tragedy, and create something positive from it. I also loved hearing that she got stories and opinions from people on both sides of the war. Sometimes it feels as though the country we fight a war against is all bad; every single individual native to that country is against the United States as we should be towards them. It provides a breath of new air to hear Sonneborn’s desire to learn from both sides.
The Nui Ba Den
This article was written by Larry Heinemann, a Vietnam war veteran who recalls his best memory of the war. Where he was stationed, it was a low and flat landscape that stretched on and on, with the exception of Nui Ba Den, a 996 meter high mountain. It was this mountain that Heinemann found beauty within all the jungles and fright of the war. He recalled moments in which they had been fighting through the night and with the sunrise, Nui Ba Den brought peace among them all. Since the war, he has made numerous trips to Vietnam and he visits the mountain and remembers the bloodiness and goriness it overlooked. All of the stories I have heard about the Vietnam war have been bloody, sad, and hopeless; almost without life, without any drive to make it home. This mountain was this man’s drive. It gave him a beautiful and positive focal point during a time of turmoil, one in which motivated him to return to the scaring landscape and marvel in its beauty.
Why I went to the War
This article was written by Terry Farish who went to Vietnam working with the Red Cross. She was one of the few women who traveled to the war spot but she did it for her family. Her mother had always held the military to a high standard and expected her family to follow suit. In Vietnam she was able to see how the “mans war” took place and through talking with a lot of the soldiers, she got many perspectives on things. She realized in the end that it wasn’t her mother’s war, it was hers. She had experienced what most women of her time and age would never even begin to understand. I applaud Terry Farish for voluntarily serving in Vietnam, a feat most men didn’t perform. Her eyes were opened to the horrific events inflicted on the soldiers, mentally and physically. I try to put myself in her shoes over in Vietnam and I can’t even begin to imagine what she experienced. When you’re not in your home nation and for all you know the enemy could be in the trees directly behind you about to take your life.
Murder in the name of the war- My Lai
This article describes the horrific event on March 16, 1968 in which the United States military attacked and killed over 500 innocent women and children on a“search and destroy mission” to eliminate communists. This event alone took my aback and set me over the edge in confusion and frustration with the war. Vietnamese who bowed to greet the Americans were beaten, women gang raped, people with their hands held over their head were shot to death and carved with “C Company” on their chest. 160 American soldiers opted out of the massacre but even Lieutenant William Calley took part in the mass killings without hesitation. This appalls me and almost makes me sick. I have always held the United States military to a high and superior standard, not just because of their size and strength but because of their passion for giving aid to countries in need; not go on killing spree’s in innocent villages. Granted, I wasn’t there so who am I to judge, but how can you kill people who are attempting to show respect towards you and are pleading for their lives in fear? One of the many questions that will have to be left unanswered.
Still in Hiding
This article is about Lady Borton who went to Vietnam with a peace organization to help war-wounded on both sides of the war. She described a time when she was on her way to help a Vietnamese boy who had stepped on a mine and she was intercepted by children from the nearby town and an older woman who she engaged with peaceful conversation with. The woman expressed her gratefulness to Borton for her work with the American military. As I read more about the war, I am finding more stories about helpful and intriguing locals that interacted with the American soldiers in peaceful ways. It goes to show the innocence and gratefulness that existed on both sides toward one another and is overshadowed
by the grief and bloodiness of the war. I am proud and interested to see more and more ways people got along with the locals and spent time with them even when their brothers were killing one another.