"No, I haven’t given up. I’ll never give up. I have faith that I’ll make it through this mess." (Letter to Billy, 2/28/1967)

Vincent Simonelli

Simonelli during basic training, Fort Jackson, South Carolina [10/1965] War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: A Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Service Location: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Cu Chi, Vietnam; Fort Carson, Colorado Rank: Sergeant

Writing to his brother, Billy, and his sister-in-law, Sergeant Vincent Simonelli began most letters with the following: “Hope everyone is ok, I am fine.” Reassuring his family became paramount while he served in country from 1965 to 1967. His correspondence paints a vivid picture of life in an Army infantry platoon: the constant unknowns, an increasing weariness with losing comrades, the demoralizing instances of friendly fire. Writing letters connected him not only to his family, but to his life prior to being drafted: a native of Brooklyn and an avid sports fan, his letters contain many questions about and references to the New York area baseball and hockey teams.