May 17, 2002 dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. Vietnam veterans ensemble theatre co coutrie company hbo video firm. Dear america letters home from vietnam essays free essays. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam lesson plans. They speak of patriotism, of confidence, of new friendships. Aug 14, 2011 what was it like returning home from the vietnam war. Bill couturie 84 min documentaryeducational antiwar although this film doesnt directly address libertarian objections to the vietnam warthe draft, the lack of a declaration of war, the irrelevance of the war to national security, etc. Letters home from vietnam was first published in 1985 by the new york vietnam veterans memorial commission its editor, bernard edeleman, writes in the preface that. Letters home from vietnam recalls the vietnam war in the words of the men and women who fought it, in letters written in haste, without selfconsciousness and. The film was shown in theaters throughout europe and asia. 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.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. By interweaving authentic letters from our men and women in southeast asia with chronological footage of events in nam and the world, the program evokes memories of the. Contains letters and poems written to families and friends by soldiers expressing their homesickness and the horrors of war. Dear america is a collection of letters back home from menand women in vietnam. Dean rusk credibility gap eugene mccarthy vietminh. Mar 31, 2019 the means of turning this concept into a film came from cowriter richard dewhurst, who showed couturie a copy of the book dear america. 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. This product can expose you to some chemicals, which is known to the state of california to cause for more information, go to. This documentary takes a deeper look into the letters that were sent from battle from 1954 to 1975. I cant tell them to my parents or darlene because they worry too much, but i tell you truthfully. 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. The common theme of each of the writers was their sense of duty to their country despite the hardships.
The book, which simulates a tour of duty in vietnam, offers context for the excerpts of the letters and poems selected for. Da is split up into 8 sections, giving the reader a decent exposure into what guys went through over there. In each case, a famous celebrity voice martin sheen, michael j. Since your last letter, i almost feel as if you are my sister. Ia drang the battle that changed the war 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. 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. It was, and still is the most moving movie, documentary, whatever you would call it, about the vietnam war, imho, i have ever seen. Get your swag on with discounted movies to stream at home, exclusive movie gear, access to advanced screenings and discounts galore. What was it like returning home from the vietnam war. Ive watched it twice, and will probably watch it many more times. American actor and comedian robin williams 19512014 starred in films, television and video games throughout his career williams studied acting at the college of marin in california and later at the juilliard school in new york. Section 2 october 20, 1966 dear aunt fannie, this morning, my platoon and i were. Many citizens, especially young people, protested u.
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. 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. Using your textbook and the movie, define the following terms. Dear america letters home from vietnam dvd 1988 hbo. 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. When do the first american combat troops arrive in vietnam. 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.
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 is a 1987 american documentary. Letters home from vietnam conveys the american experience in vietnam from the perspective of those who were there. 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.
Real footage of the soldiers home movies plus tv news coverage of the war are also included to help make an impactful narrative. What reason do some soldiers give for fighting vietnam. 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. 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.
Due to the overwhelming response to the commissions request for letters, dear america. Letters home from viet nam over the weekendand it is awesome. Archive footage of the war and news coverage thereof, augment the firstperson narrative by men and women who. September 16, 1988, section c, page 18buy reprints. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film inspired by the anthology of the same title, directed by bill couturie in 1987. Letters home from vietnam tv movie 1987 dear america. Letters home from vietnam is a 1987 american documentary film. Letters home from vietnam dvd this classic hbo documentary features reenactments of actual letters written by soldiers during the vietnam war.
I was a teenageryoung adult while this war took place, and each letter reminded me of someone i knew. He wrote the following letter to his greataunt less than three weeks before his death at the age of 24. Dear america does more than merely state about the vietnam warit allows the reader to see it through the words of those straight involved. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 2 8 by royalfool1195. The vietnam war was extremely controversial during this time.
Letters home from vietnam on thursday, january 18 at 7 p. 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. This program is presented in collaboration with the vietnam veterans of america. And then gradually the tone of their letters begins to change. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dear america.
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 not survive it. Letters home from vietnam kindle edition by edelman, bernard. Letters home from vietnam bernard edelman 9780393323047. Letters home from vietnam pg, 1hr 24min documentary, special interest, television. In conjunction with its new exhibit remembering vietnam, the national archives will screen dear america. 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.
Fox, robin williams, and others reads the letters to us. A reliving of the war in vietnam through actual letters from american g. It was a war that embodied the turbulence and ferment of the 60s. 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. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 1 8 by royalfool1195. I had it on vhs, when a vet friend gave it to me back in 89, but hadnt watched it since. Letters home from vietnam was first telecast april 3, 1988, over the hbo cable service. Ties in to the march 88 hbo films motion picture with an allstar cast including tom berenger, kathleen turner and robert deniro. Letters home from vietnam a study of the vietnam era for teachers 11th 12th students examine letters that us service people wrote to their family and friends while they served in vietnam. New jersey vietnam veterans memorial foundation 184,657 views. 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.
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. William westmoreland sds richard nixon domino theory. A history of american involvement in the vietnamese conflict told through letters of american service personnel and illustrated with contemporary news footage, home movies, and. What piece of legislation is passed in august 1964. Letters home from vietnam recalls the vietnam war in. Letters home from vietnam by bernard edelman, editor w. Cherries contains optimistic letters from male childs newly arrived in vietnam. Chapter primary source letter from a soldier in vietnam 22. Letters home from vietnam, originally published in 1985. Letters home from vietnam is a documentary wherein real letters from real soldiers in their own words regarding their wartime experiences to loved ones back home, are read by well known actors. On the soundtrack, we hear the voices of these soldiers, in the words they wrote home. Dear america letters home from vietnam part 3 8 by royalfool1195. 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.
441 1237 1234 910 658 885 61 524 698 897 808 553 1476 359 113 170 219 654 1115 1384 715 297 763 232 336 1509 1497 756 86 64 229 1042 345 793 1300 756 1137 225 651 179 1137 1368