My Role in Vietnam, March 1971
It was absolutely thrilling to finally be able to write for the New York Times as a journalist, and not as just a frivolous "lifestyle" columnist--i.e. covering the newest fashion trends in France. It was ludicrous beyond belief--just because I was a woman all I could handle was a few pieces about skirt length! But that's irrelevant. That's one of the articles I wrote for the Times while I was in Nam.
In Nam, I found some small solace in writing what I saw as opposed to what people wanted to read. The war was so wretched, but so few seemed to really understand that. That's why I wrote my articles. And I wrote my articles over the tragedies of the war--and their effect on the men. Ha! Men! I swear, those were boys. Boys fought that danged war, not men--boys barely old enough to vote, never mind carry a gun. That picture is of me speaking with a group of the youngsters.
In Nam, I found some small solace in writing what I saw as opposed to what people wanted to read. The war was so wretched, but so few seemed to really understand that. That's why I wrote my articles. And I wrote my articles over the tragedies of the war--and their effect on the men. Ha! Men! I swear, those were boys. Boys fought that danged war, not men--boys barely old enough to vote, never mind carry a gun. That picture is of me speaking with a group of the youngsters.