No doubt, some of the worst Letters From War imaginable are those sent by our War Department, like the Western Union telegram received by Evelyn Black, mother of infantryman, Dennis Black, serving with the 7th Cavalry in the Vietnam War. “THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY HAS ASKED ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR [...]
Since the release of the movie, We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson, we hear a lot about the Battle at LZ X-ray. People seem to forget the ensuing, even more brutal, engagement at nearby LZ Albany. As the Battle of LZ X-ray came to an end, survivors of the 1st of the 7th were airlifted [...]
So many letters, even in war, speak of light, day-to-day events in passing. But then there are some that are written with great reflection. You can almost feel the emotion. This edition of Letters From War Wednesday features just such a note, written by infantryman, Dennis Black, following his final leave home, prior to his [...]
Hump day, and time for Letters From War Wednesdays. This October 1965 note comes from trooper, Dennis Black, who served with 1st Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cav Division in Vietnam. Black had just returned to the field at the time of this writing, having healed from shrapnel wounds. The letter [...]
The History Junkie noticed that We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition) is again making a run through the movie channels. It reminded HJ that it’s that time of year again–the battle’s anniversary. The movie portrays the three-day engagement at LZ X-ray. But what it leaves out is the subsequent battle at LZ Albany. Forty-five years ago [...]