Emily's Guestbook

Make sure that your local high school and library has a copy of this book.

Like the Wall, we must not let the sacrifices of those men and women who served in Vietnam go unnoticed.

For us today, in a world filled with terrorism, death is still be dished out to young military men and women.

I am a retired Canadian teacher living for just one year in Sydney, Australia. On my own, I visited the War Memorial back in the late 80s. The first statement I'll make is silly and born out of ignorance. I saw a name "Sharon" and I thought, that must have been an embarrassing name for a man to have. Moments later, I realized that women had served. Sharon was a woman.

Now, in Australia in 2003, I picked up a book "Women in Vietnam". I read your story and poetry about Kenny. It moved me. I also found references to Sharon. I found out her story. This was a sad moment for me.

Back to the Wall. I moved down the Wall looking at the names. I stopped feet away from a man and a woman. I was shocked to suddenly hear the man swearing...Fucking this, and that Fucking Bastard. I jumped to conclusions by assuming that he had no respect or was mentally disturbed. How wrong of me. There was suddenly sobbing sounds. I glanced to find the man sobbing in the arms of the woman. The swearing was the only way that he could express the love and loss that was in his mind and heart.

Twenty years have passed and I still remember both incidents.

I am very disgusted and mad, if things have not changed for the civilian women who served in Nam, i.e. not having medical converage and access to doctors who know about the effects of Agent Orange. I hope this changes. They should be buried with the flag on their coffin.

Thanks for your service in Nam. The book, Women in Vietnam, should be in every high school library..even compulsory reading on American History courses.