A Minnesota PBS Initiative
Three Memories
My father was in the Navy during Vietnam. His deployment meant our family was also deployed. Born and raised in Chicago my home base changed from Chicago, to San Francisco, to a small town in Idaho, and finally back to Chicago.
Our final move, back to Chicago, had more to do with my parent’s divorce than the war. Perhaps my parents divorced because of the war? I will never know.
When my dad returned from service he was not the same person. Or so I heard.
My family was divided on their opinions about the war.
As a kid, growing up during the war, guns were not allowed in the house. My mother had a hard rule that exempted even the smallest water gun and the use of fingers-as-guns. Her children's little fingers were not going to be pulling triggers be they real or imaginary. GI Joe was not allowed in the house to hang out with Malibu Barbie and her suntan friends. She never spoke about the war with positive or negative words. But, we knew how she felt by her simple actions.
My family was divided on their opinions about the war. On the maternal side, the return of cousins, from Canada, at war’s end was celebrated. I remember a very large party and much swooning over the “boys who made the right decision”. They were welcomed home as heroes. The paternal side believed my cousins were traitors.
I believed fear was normal.
I remember trying to fall asleep worried that someone was going to bomb us. The footage of war zone news feeds burned into my impressionable brain. Horrifying images made for terrifying night mares. Comfort came when I remembered what they taught us during in school drills to prepare us to survive a tornado (in downtown Chicago?). Hide under something. My bed would work. Now I could sleep.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Minneapolis, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Chicago, United States 
Story Subject: Family
Story Themes: Children of Veterans, Divorce, Family, Fear, News Coverage, Patriotism, Read, Relationships