War Letters

Dearest Mother,

           Life is harsh here in Vietnam and the days have now become blurred with fighting and marching. I am tired of the mud and sweat that plaster my skin and of the smell of burning foliage and brush. Men fall all around me and the stench of rotting flesh and blood fills my nostrils. I feel alone although I march with my platoon. The war is engulfing all a taking everything down with it. I found a stray dog which I've been feeding scraps of my rations to for the past week I've named him Huey after the helicopters he seems to respond to this name. The other soldiers say I should put a bullet through his head before I get attached to the dog, they tell me it's war and there's no time for that, making friends with a mutt and all, but I couldn't do that. I haven't killed a man yet, but find it hard to face the fact that I'll have to sooner or later, probably in self defense. Just thinking about that makes me want to keep Huey safe away from it all, I don't know why I'm here or who I'm fighting, but Huey is probably fighting hunger and he is probably more afraid of the war himself then I am. He probably doesn't even know what war is either, just one day sitting in his village, then the next there's bombing and explosions and the screaming of wounded men and villagers, he probably doesn't even know what to make of it.
I am getting more hopeful though for the rain seems to be stopping, I think it is the dry season now. There and less and less muddy patches and rivers that we have to cross to lately. The rhythmic droning of helicopter roters always wakes me in my foxhole, which is unpleasant for I hate waking up to the smell and feeling of cold wet dirt against my skin and being pulled away from my dreams, a place away from this wretched war. I hope you stay well I'll be back as soon as I can, please try to worry as little as possible.

Love,

Eric


Why I chose To Write To This Person:
 I chose to write to my mother for I have a special bond with her and am really close to her. She cared for me when I was little and I think she would want to know first what is going on if I went to war.

I have chosen to share the information I have because although the truth is often harsh I know that she would want to know what is going on and how things are.

I did not hide information from her for I know the truth would be what she would want to here from me. Instead of lies and made up follies war just isn't pretty.