Telegram from Major General Kenneth Wickham to Mrs. Carol A. Sowder, 1970

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.

Context

The Vietnam War was a conflict between the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, and South Vietnam whose principal ally was the United States. Many of the issues in Vietnam stemmed from a history of occupation by the French and the Japanese. Vietnam was viewed by the American government to be an important piece in the "domino theory”. The concept of the “domino theory” was based on the belief If one country was communist, then other countries would become communistic. The goal of backing the South Vietnam military was to prevent the spread of communism. The Vietnam War proved to be unpopular with the American public after the Gulf of Tonkin incident led to a direct military intervention. Images of the war on T.V. as well as flawed operations such as the Tet Offensive led many Americans to question why the American military was fighting the war which led to protests calling for the war to end.

On April 30,1975, Saigon, the capitol of South Vietnam, fell to the North Vietnamese Army. The few U.S. Marines stationed at the American Embassy were evacuated by helicopter. Between 1961 and 1975 over 58,000 U.S. service members died in Vietnam. According to the Library of Virginia’s Virginia Military Dead Database, 1,490 Virginians were killed in the Vietnam conflict, including Bernard A. Sowder.

Citation: Telegram from Major General Kenneth Wickham, dated 8 January 1970, to Mrs. Carol A. Sowder, Records of the Virginia Dept. of Treasury, Division of of Unclaimed Property, Papers of Carol A.S. Amos, Box 45, Folder 11, Lot 1192872, Accession 43250, State Records Collection, Library of Virginia.

Standards

Social Studies: USII.1, USII.8, VUS.1, VUS.13

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Scan It: Scan the document. What message is it conveying? How do you feel about the message?

Post Activities

Up for Debate: How do you feel about the use of a telegram to convey this sensitive information? Considering the time (before emails and Twitter), would you have preferred a different medium, such as a formal letter? Is the speed of communication the more important factor? Explain your reasoning.

Another Perspective: Write a journal entry as if you were a parent and had just received this telegram. What thoughts and feelings would be going through your mind? Write two entries, one as someone who supported the war and one as someone who did not.