LeneBR

//15th of June, 1641, New Sweden//

=Dear Mother and Father=

Writing to you to tell you about my journey to “the land of opportunity”, and how it is over here. As you know the ticket for the passage over the sea was not cheap, but I would say worth it. The journey over seas was fatiguing, but comfortable enough. Ola complained quite a while the first day, but after getting used to the waves and uneven ground he stopped.

When we first arrived in America we used all our energy on getting further into the country and finding a place with rich soil and opportunities for farming as we planned to all along. We used a map and a recommendation from an old experienced man on the quay to get to the place we live now, New Sweden. It is along the Delaware River. The plurality of the settlers here are Swedish and Dutch, we get along nicely with the Swedes, but the Dutch people are a little bit hard to understand so we do not have very much contact with them although they seem to be very friendly and kind people. But we have got to know some really adorable people named Inga and Emil. Their farm is not far from ours so we interact with them often and exchange experiences about I would say pretty much everything. They are from a city called Stockholm; which is the capital city in Sweden! I told them about our hometown, Christiania. And they actually have some relatives there! Unbelievable! We got really excited when we first got to know this! I think you know one of their closest relatives too, her name is Ingeborg Andersen. Is that not the woman you often meet and get tips from at the market? Well either way, let me know, because common acquaintances are always a fun subject to talk about!

Well we have settled real well and we are hoping for our first harvest to turn out rich and with good quality. It looks like everything is going our way anyway, so cross your fingers and hope for the best for us!

Now I am almost at the finish line when it comes to this letter, so I guess I have to “popp” the big news for you right now. I would rather tell you face to face, but I am worried it would take too long before I will get that opportunity. Here goes: I am pregnant! Ola and I are having a child. I found out just a month ago, and we are both really excited. Of course Ola is hoping for a boy, so he can take care of us, and inherit the farm when we get old, but I told him that “we will definitely get more children, so let us not haste into decisions we can not make, but has been made for us.” He agreed and I am very pleased with that, after all the gender of the child are not supposed to limit its possibilities for affection. Now mother, I know what you are thinking! I got to stop being so sensitive and raise my child in a strict and disciplinant home, but luckily that is up to me. Although it is of no relevance I would actually be happy to give birth to a girl, I do not know why, maybe it is because I grew up with four brothers? I do not know, but what I do know, is that I miss you __so__ much, and I can not wait until I get to see both of you again! Take care, and Mum; remember to remind Dad my brothers was not born silly, he just raised them that way, so tell him to have some patience with them!

Best regards PS: Ola says hello! PPS: Can you please send us your recipe for thin wafer crispbread? I did not pack mine, and I can not remember it no matter what I do!
 * Kari**

[|http://nabo.nb.no/trip?_b=EMITEKST&urn="URN:NBN:no-nb_emidata_1244]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA#Native_Americans_and_European_settlers http://www.norskenavn.no/navn.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2007/oktober/1191686680.81
 * Sources**

//Vietnam, 17th April 1967//

=To my beloved and deeply missed wife, Lynn.=

First of all I just want to tell you that I am absolutely fine, and my physical health has never been better. How is Elisabeth, my little girl? Tell her daddy said “hello” and that I will come home as soon as possible to see her! And would you be so kind to send my regards to my parents? I do not think I will get the opportunity to write some letters in a while now.

Although I said that my physical health is superbe I should confess to you and say that psychically I am starting to get pretty burnt-out, it is so hard when death and tragedy is all this place is about. Today when I listened to a radio program they send to US soldiers here in Nam I was absolutely terrified when I learned that Ronald Reagan spoke the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard only a few years ago:

“We should declare war on North Vietnam. . . .We could pave the whole country and put parking strips on it, and still be home by Christmas.”

It is obvious that he has never fought a war himself and that he does not think of the people that have to see through that his visions turn into facts. Lynn, I know I am supposed to stay positive and look at the bright side of life, like you always tell me to do. But for every day that passes I find it harder and harder to find positive things about this hell hole. People that have their whole life’s in front of themselves are killed in battle every single day just because a man that is sitting safe in his at his office in Washington said that it is the right thing to do. I want to serve my country in the best possible way, do not get me wrong! But some days, when my sprit is low and I struggle with keeping my thoughts straight I think that the president has sent us out to fight a war we can not win. There is so many things they did not consider when they sent us off to fight in this jungle. For instance the fact that most of us did not even know what a jungle was before we were told to fight in it.

My best friend had to amputate his left foot yesterday after he got shot. The wound got so infected by all the mud and different sorts of unhygienic things that is to be found in the jungle, that the nurses and doctors where not under any circumstances able to save it. I have often admired him for his sense of humour and yesterday he proved me absolutely right when he said in such an easy breezy voice “Well well, let’s look at the bright side of it! I get to go home to my family and drink some pints of beer again. And I won’t have those big shoe expenses any more either!” And that was a comment that just made me admire him even more. He is so full of life and has so much to give to so many! It would have torn my heart if I would have to see him face “the man upstairs”. So maybe this is the best solution after all? I do not know, but at least, now I have a person less to worry about when we go to battle. I am so sorry this turned out to be a depressed little piece of paper this time, but I know you will understand and I feel lighter at heart already, when I know you will read it, support me and sympathy with all those men that had to sacrifice their life’s for this cause.

I am looking forward to my R&R in June; currently this is the thing that always brings a smile to my face! So all I can say is: do not worry about me! You know I am sharp as a needle when it comes to weapons and I am absolutely not letting anything, under any circumstances stop me from getting home safe and sound to my two favourite girls, alive! Remember: you two are the fire that keeps my candle lit!

Xxx Your faithful husband through thick and thin
 * Robert**

http://grunt.space.swri.edu/letters.htm http://www.whatrain.com/bailey/lh.htm [|http://www.vietnamwar.net]
 * Sources:**