vietnam journal

Vietnam Journal

1. 1968-2-6
This morning during breakfast my mother walked in the room with a pale and black look on her face, she was holding an open envelope and paper. I asked her what was wrong, and she handed me the papers she told me that I’m going to war. I didn’t know what she was talking about until I looked at the paper; it was a paper notifying me that I’m being drafted. I didn’t know what to think at first, I’d heard of people being drafted but never thought of it being me. My mother was scared for me and my dad said it’s a good thing and I get to go fight for my country. I don’t know what to think, all I know is that in a week I have to report to the nearest military base.
I don’t know how I’m going to be fighting for “my” country. I’m going to be on the other side of the world fight people I don’t know and fighting to preserve the lives of people I don’t know.

1968-4-23
I’ve spent a month and a half in training n...