Source 1: Letter home from Vietnam
My name is Stanley Homiski; and I served with B Troop, 3/4 Cav, 25th Inf Div starting as an RTO and ending my tour as the Commo Sgt. I was married shortly before shipping out and have stayed married to the same woman for 30 years. I have two children--a daughter, Christin, 28 years, who is a doctor in Chattanooga, TN, and a son, Scott, 24 years, who works for the telephone company. This is a letter I wrote to my wife on May 25, 1968.
25 May, 1968
Dear Roberta,
Today is probably the worst day I have ever lived in my entire, short life. Once again we were in contact with Charlie, and once again we suffered losses. The losses we had today hit home, as my best friend in this shit hole was killed. He was only 22 years old and was going on R&R on the first of June to meet his wife in Hawaii. I feel that if I was only a half second sooner in pulling the trigger, he would still be alive.
Strange how short a time a half of a second is--the difference between life and death. This morning we were talking about how we were only two years different in age and how we both had gotten married before coming to this place. You know, I can still feel his presence as I write this letter and hope that I am able to survive and leave this far behind me.
If there is a place called Hell this surely must be it, and we must be the Devil's disciples doing all his dirty work. I keep asking myself if there is a God, then how the hell come young men with so much to live for have to die. I just hope that his death is not in vain.
I look forward to the day when I will take my R&R. If I play my cards right, I should be able to get it for Hawaii so our anniversary will be in that time frame. The reason I say this is by Sept., I will have more than enough time in country to get my pick of places and dates. I promise I will do everything necessary to insure that I make that date, and I hope that tomorrow is quiet.
We will be going into base camp soon for our three-day stand down. I will try to write you a longer letter at that time. Please don't worry too much about me, as if you won't, for I will take care of myself and look forward to the day I am able to be with you again.
Love,
Stan
1. What type of primary source is this?
2. When and to whom was it written?
3. What is the tone of this letter? What quotes from the document can you find to support your answer?
4. What impact has the Vietnam War had on the author?
5. How do you think the recipient of the text felt when she read it? How might she have reacted?
6. What perspective on the war does this primary source represent and why?
Source 2: 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971 and ratified on July 1, 1971, all during the Vietnam War. The amendment provided the right to vote to individuals who were eighteen years of age. Previous to this, the 14th Amendment had set the voting age at 21.
Text of the 26th Amendment
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Note:
Section 2 of Amendment 14 was modified by this amendment.
1. To which important document was the text above added? When did that happen?
2. What type of change did this text create?
3. Why might the American public have agreed with this change?
4. Why would this change have been especially important to young American men?
5. How would a young man eligible for the draft feel about this text? Why?
6. What type of perspective about the war might this document express? Why?
Source 3: Draft Notice
My name is Stanley Homiski; and I served with B Troop, 3/4 Cav, 25th Inf Div starting as an RTO and ending my tour as the Commo Sgt. I was married shortly before shipping out and have stayed married to the same woman for 30 years. I have two children--a daughter, Christin, 28 years, who is a doctor in Chattanooga, TN, and a son, Scott, 24 years, who works for the telephone company. This is a letter I wrote to my wife on May 25, 1968.
25 May, 1968
Dear Roberta,
Today is probably the worst day I have ever lived in my entire, short life. Once again we were in contact with Charlie, and once again we suffered losses. The losses we had today hit home, as my best friend in this shit hole was killed. He was only 22 years old and was going on R&R on the first of June to meet his wife in Hawaii. I feel that if I was only a half second sooner in pulling the trigger, he would still be alive.
Strange how short a time a half of a second is--the difference between life and death. This morning we were talking about how we were only two years different in age and how we both had gotten married before coming to this place. You know, I can still feel his presence as I write this letter and hope that I am able to survive and leave this far behind me.
If there is a place called Hell this surely must be it, and we must be the Devil's disciples doing all his dirty work. I keep asking myself if there is a God, then how the hell come young men with so much to live for have to die. I just hope that his death is not in vain.
I look forward to the day when I will take my R&R. If I play my cards right, I should be able to get it for Hawaii so our anniversary will be in that time frame. The reason I say this is by Sept., I will have more than enough time in country to get my pick of places and dates. I promise I will do everything necessary to insure that I make that date, and I hope that tomorrow is quiet.
We will be going into base camp soon for our three-day stand down. I will try to write you a longer letter at that time. Please don't worry too much about me, as if you won't, for I will take care of myself and look forward to the day I am able to be with you again.
Love,
Stan
1. What type of primary source is this?
2. When and to whom was it written?
3. What is the tone of this letter? What quotes from the document can you find to support your answer?
4. What impact has the Vietnam War had on the author?
5. How do you think the recipient of the text felt when she read it? How might she have reacted?
6. What perspective on the war does this primary source represent and why?
Source 2: 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971 and ratified on July 1, 1971, all during the Vietnam War. The amendment provided the right to vote to individuals who were eighteen years of age. Previous to this, the 14th Amendment had set the voting age at 21.
Text of the 26th Amendment
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Note:
Section 2 of Amendment 14 was modified by this amendment.
1. To which important document was the text above added? When did that happen?
2. What type of change did this text create?
3. Why might the American public have agreed with this change?
4. Why would this change have been especially important to young American men?
5. How would a young man eligible for the draft feel about this text? Why?
6. What type of perspective about the war might this document express? Why?
Source 3: Draft Notice
1. What kind of primary source is this?
2. When was it created?
3. What are the different components of the document?
4. If you received this in the mail, what would you be expected to do?
5. What feelings might a recipient of this document have felt when reading it for the first time? Why?
6. What were the characteristics of someone receiving this document?
7. How can you use this document to understand the perspective of young people toward the Vietnam war?
2. When was it created?
3. What are the different components of the document?
4. If you received this in the mail, what would you be expected to do?
5. What feelings might a recipient of this document have felt when reading it for the first time? Why?
6. What were the characteristics of someone receiving this document?
7. How can you use this document to understand the perspective of young people toward the Vietnam war?