Recapturing 1968
A sad chapter of past and present.18 total reviews
Comment from Thomas Bowling
This is the best entry. It definitely has my vote. I entered too, but I'm voting for you. I was in Veit Nam. It was a horrible time. I lost a lot of good friends needlessly.
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2019
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This is the best entry. It definitely has my vote. I entered too, but I'm voting for you. I was in Veit Nam. It was a horrible time. I lost a lot of good friends needlessly.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2019
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You have my utmost sympathy for your experiences in that needless war. I appreciate your vote. And thanks for your review.
Comment from poetwatch
You are a good writer for not being there, Author. You captured the feel, the smell of fear and the craziness of war, as well as the yells from home. On your notes, however, The US government also sprayed Thailand, up onto 1972. This is a good entry for the contest Charlie.
reply by the author on 25-Apr-2019
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You are a good writer for not being there, Author. You captured the feel, the smell of fear and the craziness of war, as well as the yells from home. On your notes, however, The US government also sprayed Thailand, up onto 1972. This is a good entry for the contest Charlie.
Comment Written 25-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 25-Apr-2019
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Thanks for this wonderful review. Your comment about Thailand made me do a quick search to verify. I found this: The Use of Agent Orange in Thailand. Veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War are not included in VA's presumption of exposure. However, records show that Agent Orange and other herbicides were used on certain Royal Thai Air Force Bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
Another site said it was used between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
I will add Thailand to that sad list in my posting.
Comment from LIJ Red
Good grief, is "The last time I saw Charlie" still around? Charlie as in Cong is an excellent use of the prompt. My rate handled ham spy and target nation radio communication...Tet was a rude awakening....
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Good grief, is "The last time I saw Charlie" still around? Charlie as in Cong is an excellent use of the prompt. My rate handled ham spy and target nation radio communication...Tet was a rude awakening....
Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Thanks for this review. When you ask is "The last time I saw Charlie" still around? what do you mean? Has it been used as a prompt over the years? I just joined at New Year and haven't seen it before. In fact, I've never seen war before except in films, and am a peace-loving woman, so writing about this was something of a challenge for me.
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The good prompts hang around. I did a Charlie tale back in 2015 or so...your research is sound, I think. (I was a totally rear echelon anchor clanker)
Comment from WryWriter
I think you have done an excellent job conveying the horror of this war. The soldiers' cries from "memberences" that torture the mind long after the war is over. For them, there is no end to the war.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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I think you have done an excellent job conveying the horror of this war. The soldiers' cries from "memberences" that torture the mind long after the war is over. For them, there is no end to the war.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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War stuff has a terribly graphic impact on me, even though I have never been in a war zone. I am a pacifist woman who hates guns and brutality of any type. Very strange that I should choose to write a story in this field. Thank you for appreciating it.
Comment from Sandra Montanino
Wow! If this wasn't your story, I am amazed. Your writing is so vivid. I can't believe how you captured the scenes. So realistic. I remember this war, it wasn't popular and how the veterans were not appreciated, like in WWII. Great job. I'm sure you'll win.
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Wow! If this wasn't your story, I am amazed. Your writing is so vivid. I can't believe how you captured the scenes. So realistic. I remember this war, it wasn't popular and how the veterans were not appreciated, like in WWII. Great job. I'm sure you'll win.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Many thanks for your review. I seem to like pulling my writing from unlikely territory. I am a woman and a pacifist. I hate violence and brutality of any sort, but I watched the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" the other night on TV and was moved by the strong values of the lead character. When the FS prompt came up with mention of Charlie, I immediately thought of the Vietnam War and the VC.
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So well done!!
Comment from robyn corum
Dear Mystery Writer,
Wow. For someone who hasn't been there, you write this stuff better than the ones I've read who have been. Super duper stuff. The details and descriptions were superb and I loved the way you kinda jumped around in a stream of consciousness thing. Made it seem even more real. I think this should do really well in the voting. Much good luck to you!!
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Dear Mystery Writer,
Wow. For someone who hasn't been there, you write this stuff better than the ones I've read who have been. Super duper stuff. The details and descriptions were superb and I loved the way you kinda jumped around in a stream of consciousness thing. Made it seem even more real. I think this should do really well in the voting. Much good luck to you!!
Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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It is interesting to me that I should write of these ghastly things. I am a woman and a pacifist. It started as an exercise in writing then I really got into the emotion of it. My only link is that I have been to Vietnam as a tourist in recent times... such a leap from this soldier's experience.
Thanks for your thorough review. I'm glad you mentioned the
'jumping around'... there was quite a lot of cutting and pasting as the story unfolded.
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Yes, you may not have personal experience, but your style and your descriptions through the first-person POV are wonderfully employed to create what so many vets did/do experience. I had a feeling when that 'name' on the writing prompt came up that this implementation of 'Charlie' would be utilized... great job with yours! :) Best of luck at the polls with this raw and realistic prompt answer. ;)
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reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Yes, you may not have personal experience, but your style and your descriptions through the first-person POV are wonderfully employed to create what so many vets did/do experience. I had a feeling when that 'name' on the writing prompt came up that this implementation of 'Charlie' would be utilized... great job with yours! :) Best of luck at the polls with this raw and realistic prompt answer. ;)
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Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Thanks for your comprehensive review, Yvette. Raw and realistic was my aim, imagined through what I have read and briefly seen in movies. (I am a peace-loving woman who doesn't know any Vets personally, so the story began as a writing exercise then just took off.)
Comment from giraffmang
Hi there,
Good job with this piece. t5he voice in the write is very strong and the tone maintains throughout as even and appealing.
very nice write indeed.
I was twenty years old and had my eyesight and all my limbs. - maybe insert 'still' before had.
Best of luck in the booths.
GMG
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reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Hi there,
Good job with this piece. t5he voice in the write is very strong and the tone maintains throughout as even and appealing.
very nice write indeed.
I was twenty years old and had my eyesight and all my limbs. - maybe insert 'still' before had.
Best of luck in the booths.
GMG
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 24-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2019
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Thanks for the great comments in your review. I have actioned your improvement suggestion to add 'still'. Good advice, appreciated.