Conflict - Project - War Letters

Enlisting: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter1_5a.html

         This letter is from a sister, Flora, to her brother, Claude, who is boarding a bus to leave for active duty in WWII. I would describe this letter as poetry, a poem, from Flora to Claude. She is describing how he will do great things for his country. She is also saying to remember the wonderful things where he lives, the orchard, the birds, the beautiful scenery in each season, especially in the dark days of war. She mentions him being the only son of their mother and telling him to imagine a goodnight kiss from his mother as well as their forever love from them.

Comforts of Home: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter2/chapter2_6a.html

        This Christmas letter is from Corporal Brett G. Coughlin to his girlfriend, Kit, who he will later marry. He was stationed at the port of Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia in 1990, during the Persian Gulf War. Brett is thanking Kit for the presents that he received and got to open on Christmas morning. He is also describing the rather eventful Christmas day when there were camels that were trying to take their 1 ft. tall Christmas tree that another soldier received from his parents. He also stated that after the camels took the tree and they retrieved it, that they then lead the camels with popcorn to another tank of men that they were conflicting with. What a funny war letter to read!

Love: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter3/chapter3_6a.html

         This letter is from a recipient of the Bronze Medal, Air Medal, and Purple Heart, Dean Allen to his wife, Joyce. He was ordered to Vietnam only two years after he was married. Four days after writing to Joyce, he stepped on a land mine. While he was being evacuated, there was a second explosion. Three days later, he passed away. In his letter, he is talking about his fears about any of his men getting killed or wounded. Him being the the Lieutenant has put more stress on him, and his letter shows that emotion. He also mentions that he is afraid to start any friendships or bonding with any of his men because if any of them got hurt or killed, he wouldn't want to face that sadness. He talks about several times how he loves his wife, thinks about her very often, and misses her truly and always.

Combat: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter4/chapter4_8a.html

          This letter is actually an e-mail sent from Mike Rickert, who was serving as a journalist in the War on Terror, or Iraq War, in 2003, to his grandfather, Daddy Merle. He explains, with horror, the event that had happened when him and his crew started to pack up the convoys. He stated that when they started to pack the convoys, two Iraqis started to wave at them probably because they had seen their shovels. The Iraqis were pointing to a large mound of dirt. Once Mike and his men started digging the mound, Mike describes how it was so disturbing and surprising that when he started to take pictures, he almost dropped his camera. They ended up digging the remains of two bodies. One of the bodies had a bullet that had killed him right between the eyes. With a forensic science officer on hand, they started to investigate if it was a war crime. A moment of realization hits Mike when he says that these remains belonged to someone that had a family, a life, and people who loved him. I think that that realization made him want to write to his beloved grandfather, a person that he loves, even more.

The End of the War: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collection/battlelines/chapter5/chapter5_6a.html

          This letter is from Douglas MacArthur, who led the United Nations Command during the Korean War, to Mary Cushman. He is offering his condolences because of the death of her son in the Korean War; this letter being dated Oct. 24, 1950. MacArthur is making positive statements to bring up Ms. Cushman's spirit, even in her depressing state. He is reminding her how some comfort may be found because her son died serving his country. He also mentions that he is confident that, because of her son's duty, there will be a day when everyone will live in peace and harmony. He also states that his prayers to God go out to her to help strengthen her.

Conclusion:
   
             Conflict affects people's lives, mostly negatively, during times of war. Soldiers on the war front are worried about the safety of their men and themselves. They are thinking constantly about their loved ones far away. They also must suffer through devastating scenes and circumstances that scar their minds for the rest of their lives. On the home front, those loved ones are worrying about the safety of their soldier. For example, Dean Allen, a soldier in the Vietnam War, tells his wife that he is always thinking about her and misses her. Mike, a soldier in the Persian Gulf War, sends a letter to his grandfather, and though it is mostly talking about a gruesome event that happened recently, he mentions that he loves him and misses him. In all of the letters, you can sense the feeling of love and of loneliness no matter the circumstances or time in history. People are people. Everyone encounters the same emotions no matter the time period in history.