Julie Williams-Weaver BACKGROUND The Open Letter to Vietnam Veterans was written in 1991 at the height of Desert Storm. At the time, I was writing letters to local people who had been sent to Desert Storm. The televised war was having a terrible effect on Vietnam veterans, causing flashbacks and bad feelings. Some of them wrote letters to the editor to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and that was how I learned that it wasn't too late for my thoughts. After I wrote the letter, I submitted it to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram but they refused to publish it due to its length. I didn't know what to do with it. It laid on my dining room table for several weeks. One day I was talking to a friend who works at DAV, telling her about the letter. She asked me to read it to her and I did. Then she asked for a copy and for permission to see if she could get it published. It appeared in a few local DAV newsletters, and the responses began. Later I learned about veteran publications, and I sent a copy to as many of them as I could find along with a request for them to publish the letter. Only one — VFW — refused. RESPONSES I haven't counted the letters and phone calls I've received since 1991 but I kept all of the letters. Today they fill 26 large binders and completely occupy a six-foot bookcase. Some of the people who responded are now pen pals and close friends. Most have only written once or twice but all are important to me. Most of the letters are positive, but a few are angry and mean. My favorite day was the one when I was invited to speak at a Harker Heights, Texas veteran function. It was the day I met Vietnam veterans face to face for the first time, knowing they were vets. They changed my life that day. I had no idea they were such regular ordinary people — not Rambo. I got about a million hugs that day. In 1991 I figured the letter would go around for maybe six months and that would be the end of it. Now, seven years later, I still get mail from people who are reading it for the first time. I depend on veterans to copy the letter and send it to others. I have no idea where Vietnam veterans are, but other veterans do. In this way the letter has stayed in circulation and I appreciate it. I have heard from veterans in every state of the United States plus from Canada, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Vietnam. I have heard from wives, mothers, sisters, daughters and from one father of Vietnam veterans, plus from thousands of vets. They come from all walks of life. I have received many letters from incarcerated Vietnam veterans. I also receive letters from one retired General who drives an old pickup, wears blue jeans, and signs his letters "Homer." Typical responses: DEAR HERO. Vet: I'm not a hero. When I wrote the letter I wanted to address it in such a way that it would encourage someone to continue reading. I chose the word that seemed to be the one we forgot the most. WHAT ABOUT YOUR BROTHER? My brother Jerry was the first Vietnam veteran I reached out to. I sent him a copy of the letter, and asked for his opinion. He and I are as close as we have ever been. My brother is a little bit screwy, as are many Vietnam veterans. They have been through Hell and their lives will never be the same again. It's not something to "get over" or something that will go away. Jerry was not a combat veteran in the sense that many are. He was stationed on a ship that patrolled in the area and that played "cat and mouse" with Russian submarines. Nevertheless, I have come to see that everyone, no matter what their capacity, has come away from Vietnam with a changed life. I don't know that I understand it, but I know it's true. YOUR LETTER MADE ME CRY. At first I was a little surprised at how many men admitted to being brought to tears by the letter. I began to remember how tears were streaming down my face as I wrote the words, and how I couldn't read the letter without bursting into tears. It began to dawn on me that tears are an imprtant part of a healing process. The tears of hurting men were my clue about the depth of pain that still exists in the souls of the Vietnam veterana community. AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM VETERANS The Open Letter was published in Australia through the efforts of Trevor Atkinson, an Aussie who is on the mailing lists of several American veteran newsletters. He published the Open Letter in Brisbane in 1992, resulting in a number of responses from down under. Even better, Trevor himself came to the United States and met us on two different occasions. He presented me with a handmade plaque, which is one of my treasures. REWARDS I have been given some astonishing things. One of the most precious is the service award sent to me by a Cajun. He was one of the first to respond back in 1991. He was so frustrated by his inability to make himself understood that he was almost incoherent. It was obvious that he was accustomed to being turned away. No one had listened to him for so long that he was in a constant state of rage. I listened. After what seemed like forever, he began to change. Today he is winning his battles against bureaucracy. For my birthday he wrote a poem to me that means more to me than money or fame. I FIND YOU AMAZING (Julie) After walking all alone, In the darkness of the shadows Of my mind These many years I find you. You walked with me in my darkness, When others would not. I find you...amazing! You walked with me in my darkness, And feared not me, nor my darkness, As others before you had. I find you...amazing! You walked with me In my world of sanity and insanity, And you always called me sane. I find you...amazing! You walked with me Within this insane world of sanity and insanity And when I doubted myself You called me sane. I find you...amazing! When the past haunted and hounded me, In the shadows of my mind, While I battled these Demons of myself and my soul, For myself, my soul, and my sanity, You walked with me. I find you...amazing! May the mirror of your mind Reflect the character of the image Standing before it. May the mirror of your mind, Reflect the beauty of the soul Of the image standing before it. I find you...simply amazing! --"Bear" 1992-- My life is continually blessed by the friendships I've made through this letter. I didn't know what would happen when I sent it out but it will probably turn out to be the best thing I've ever done. I look for opportunities to thank Vietnam veterans and I like hearing from them, even those who hate me or distrust me. I answer every letter. Vietnam veterans deserve every word of praise and every word of thanks we can give them. Julie with husband Dave Email address: julieweaver@juno.com |Letter |Main Page |Author | Site design by WebSights