I was an ardent patriot, of the "love it or leave it" kind, in the 60's until my brother came home from Vietnam with stories and friends--less lucky--returned in body bags. So then I held candles in the park at peace vigils and sang peace songs. I was not against our troops, but for them, for bringing them home alive. And when they returned, I celebrated. I still do. I am ever glad for the return of all of you who survived and who continue to make America a better place in which to live through your involvement and efforts with your families, employment, and through efforts like Vets With A Mission.

During the first Persian Gulf War, our local Vietnam Vets association kicked up a notch a project I'd initiated to send boxes of supplies and letters to troops. Too, it involved a call-in radio show where people could relate messages to loved ones serving in the Gulf. There we were, hippies, soldiers, and some who didn't care one way or another about Vietnam (but whose children were now in the Gulf), standing side by side packing up boxes of lip balm, tapes of the radio call-in program, sun screen, deodorant, paperbacks, letters from school children, and more.

As a college prof, I've taught units on the literature of war (including Tim O'Brien's stories and numerous websites of poetry by Vets), but I found your website tonight in my research for a novel I'm writing in which the heroine's dad served in Vietnam and ended his tour of duty shortly after the Tet Offensive. It provides me with an objective history of American involvement in Indochina and a wealth of voices about that experience from those who knew it firsthand. I thank you. More, I hope all of you Vietnam Vets know how very glad America is for your safe return.

Blessings,

Kate