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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 40-year 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. This war stemmed from a war of independence from French occupation, but the Soviet Union supported the communist North Vietnamese regime. At the time, the American government's foreign relations stance focused on containment of Soviet expansion. There was a fear of a "domino effect," whereby if one country fell to communism, then others in the region would be threatened, too. The United States entered the war in the 1950s to support the South Vietnamese government in an attempt to thwart the communist government from taking control.

The Vietnam War proved to be unpopular with the American public. Americans saw brutal images of the war on television, and the news reported on the number of American soldiers killed on a daily basis. The hostility exhibited by many South Vietnamese towards American soldiers, as well as flawed operations such as the 1968 Tet Offensive, led many Americans to question why the U.S. military was fighting the war. Protests erupted across the country, often led by citizens who were of the age to be drafted.

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 more than 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. This telegram notified the family of his death in 1970.


Citation: Telegram, Major General Kenneth Wickham to Mrs. Carol A. Sowder, Jan. 8, 1970, 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

VS.10, USII.8, VUS.17

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 social media), 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.