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ONLINE EDITION 2: July August September, 2008
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EDITOR'S MESSAGE: War-Stories will top 500 posted Vietnam War stories by the end of August 2008! Quality stories only need apply. For every story we post, there are a half dozen that are not considered.

What are we looking for in a story?

Stories are about Vietnam War Veterans' off all services, and their personal accounts of the war, ranging from the U.S. Air and ground War, grunts, dog handlers, riverboats, sea battles, war poetry, how-to research the war, and cover every service.

What I want most is for the reader to leave War-Stories with a good feeling and a desire to return for more great stories. You can be a part of that by telling us what you remember most vividly. Some veterans' Web sites repeat the blood and guts, which is great, but I want to know more -- how you felt during the battle, and how did that effect you. I also want to read about good-memories, humor, R&R treks, and something unusual that I may think about a day or two later.

How are we doing? New membership continues growing. As of today, 58 Life Members with 227 members and pending applicants helping keep War-Stories online. Your commitment keeps our stories alive and before the public.

Recently, a new Members Only Preview page was opened, allowing members to "preview" the new stories before they are released for public view. Some stories and categories will remain Members Only, such as many of the DEROS & FIGMO Calendars, as well as the Playboy Calendars of the war years. To receive Preview Bulletins, make sure your current email is on file, and your spam-filter authorizes email dp@war-stories.com.

War-Stories; Web Stats: Since 1 Jan 2008, 140,775 visitors opened 620,293 pages, and clicked on 3,601,806 links. Daily Average of 312 visitors spend from 30 minutes to one hour at War-Stories, and 110 visitors average one hour plus.
[Domain Bank Statistics & Analysis]


Letters to the Editor / Emails from the Front:

From: Kim Bayes Bautista,
Subject: Stories posted at War Stories

Hi Don, I have been reading the stories on the War Stories website and they are absolutely amazing.  I've enjoyed your writings, especially your poem "Forget Me Not." I'm not sure if you know but I am the daughter of a Vietnam veteran (My dad was an Army helicopter pilot for most of his career) and I am also a clinical social worker.  I have a passion for helping Vietnam veterans and their families, both formally and informally. I am also a closet poet! I have written several poems, one about Vietnam veterans and two that I wrote for a dear friend who suffers from PTSD. I would like to share them, if you feel they are worthy and appropriate to the site.  I think writing is therapeutic and perhaps if just one person feels good after reading them, I would feel like I helped communicate that other people really do care.

Best regards,

Kim Bayes Bautista,
The Reunion Brat (Associations' Reunion Organizers), War-Stories LM 51
[Kim Bayes Bautista' poetry]

 

 

From: Donald Dinubilo
Subject: ZIPPOs at War Stories

Don: I gave my Zippo to a shoe shine boy who I had befriended for most of the year I was at Phan Rang.  His name was Kim.  About 11 or 12 years old.  He was so proud to show it off to the rest of his buddies.  Haven't thought of Kim in a long time.

You guys are doing one hell of a job.  Keep up the good work.  I'll be getting a WS life membership asap.

Thanks,
Don Dinubilo

From: Daniel Cantelope, USMC '69-'70 SVN
Subject: Music link for War Stories forum

You guys have developed the War Stories site well.  I have from time to time visited it over the years. I have a site called freefire-zone.com on it I provide music of the Vietnam era and weekly do a featured artists section.  Am myself a Marine, Vietnam Veteran (incountry ‘69-’70).  Wondered if you might like to link my music via your site.  Your members can listen to music in one window as they browse War Stories.  Kind of helps add to the recall process.  Here is the link, check it out and see if it meets your approval:  https://www.freefire-zone.com/

Music includes: Jukebox Central - Various Genres/Multiple Playlists ; Rock 'n Roll War - Music from 1955 -1975 (approximately 100 songs for each year); Featured Artists - Three Albums or Artists, Changes Weekly ; and PTSD Resources - extensive links to documents and information . 

Thanks for any consideration you might give me.

Daniel Cantelope,
USMC '69-'70 SVN, Troy, MT

FEATURED STORIES:

An Open Letter to Anyone Who Served in Vietnam
by Julie Weaver

Dear Hero,

I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single mother and, I'm sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest. I didn't care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me-how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played.

I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media.

happened without my ever being aware. I listened to the protest songs and I watch the six o'clock news and I listened to all the people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I'd have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our men. All we were shown was what they were doing to the people of Vietnam.

     My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation-not only of miles, but also of character. I didn't understand. In fact, I didn't understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had given for us and what we had

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