Contributed by Roxanne Lee
The Vietnam War officially began in 1954, although conflict in the country stemmed back to the 1940’s. The roots of the conflict that started the war can be traced back to the conflict between the United States and the USSR that began with the end of WWII. Japan was occupying Vietnam during World War II the Viet Minh, also known as the League for Independence, formed and fought against Japanese occupation. Japan left the country in 1945. Ho Viet Minh, the founder of the Viet Minh, and his forces seize a city in the North for Vietnam and declare it the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. France backed the overthrown Emperor Bao, which set up state in Southern Vietnam. Treaty negations at Geneva split Vietnam along the 17th Parallel. Emperor Bao was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem in the South in 1955, and the US promised to support Diem and South Vietnam, despite his repressive regime.
In 1960, Diem’s opponents in the South formed the National Liberation Front. President Kennedy increased aid to Diem, under the impression that if one Southeast Asian country converted to Communism, more would follow. The U.S. presence in Vietnam increased in 1963 with the assassinations of Diem, Ngo Dinh Nhu, and John F Kennedy. The stage was set for a conflict that would last until 1975 for the United States.
Interview:
Set forth below is an interview of Jeannette E. Lee, 81 years old and who was in her early forties when the United States entered the Vietnam War. The interview focuses on life at home during the Vietnam War.
Jeannette E. Lee
When where you born?
April 17, 1931.
How old are you at present?
81
How old were you when the United States entered the Vietnam War?
41/42
What did you work as before you retired?
Head Secretary at a Middle School
What was the name of the middle school you worked at?
John Lewis Costley, Sr. Middle School, Hamilton Street, East Orange, NJ.
What is your religion?
Baptist
What is the extent of your education?
3rd yr. college
How old were your sons when the war was going on?
Jeff; 9, Jon; 6 Bill: 3mos.
Who in our family served during the Vietnam War?
My brother (your great uncle) Jerome C. Waltz
Uncle Jerry entered the U. S. Air Force 1967. He was trained as a Protective Equipment Specialist (for Fighter Pilots). He served 32 months at Denang AFB, Republic of South Vietnam & Kadina AFB , Okinawa. This was a very difficult time for Jerry's & my mother, Dorothy Waltz. In
the almost three years Jerry was overseas Mom's hair went from soft brown to white. She developed high blood pressure. We (his family) were worried/scared for all of the time he was away. Because of the news media we saw the horrors of that war up close. Jerry wrote when he could, his letters were censored .......... we were just happy to hear a positive word from him. When he came home in late 1971 Bill was just a few months old.
How did they respond?
(They were)Too young to understand.
Did you ever think about whether the United States should have been in Vietnam?
At that time I felt that the U. S. should NOT have been involved.
Why did you think the U.S. shouldn't have been involved in the war?
Being the mother of three sons I naturally was (and am) concerned for their safety and well being at all times. I felt then and still do feel that the U. S. acted hastily in entering into the war at Vietnam.
What was news coverage of the war like?
Information was not as available as it is now ......................... Today new is given as it is happening .......... then the news was censored as was the mail.
What kind of TV did you have?
We had one TV (ask Dad the make, I can't remember).
Was there any reports of the war on the radio?
YES !!! There was so much reporting on the war, the number killed, etc. I sometime turned off the news because it was so painful to listen too.
What did you think of the censoring of the news and letters? What did other people think of it?
We all understood the censoring, however with some of my mother's mail from Jerry it was overkill. He was trying to tell her of his tasks, not reporting on the war. Anyone having loved ones over seas had to be frustrated with the censorship.
How much did the War affect your everyday life? did it have any noticeable effect at all?
Then as now (The last 10 years) if you have loved ones involved in the middle eastern conflicts or any overseas assignments any where in the world, you try to go about your regular daily routines .... work, household chores, etc. ....... however, always, your mind and prayers are with that missing family member or friend. All of your thoughts are on them returning safely. Keep in mind there were/are those who were killed in action. This is their family’s worse nightmare. For them there will always be a void in their life.
For more information on the Vietnam War, see:
Coffey, David. "African Americans
in the Vietnam War." English.illinois.edu. Modern American Poetry,n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
Goodman, Walter. "BLACK SOLDIERS
IN VIETNAM." The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 May 1986.Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
"Vietnam Online." PBS.org.
PBS, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
"Vietnam War Timeline." English.illinois.edu.
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/timeline.htm.
"Vietnam
War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Feb.2013. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war.
No comments:
Post a Comment