77 Letters: Operation Morale Booster: Vietnam

by Susan P. Hunter, Mike Guardia (Foreword)

In 1966, during the Vietnam War, Joan Hunter, an ordinary housewife, mother of four from the small, idyllic coastal town of Scituate, MA, spearheads Operation Morale Booster, a mission to ensure that every deployed American G.I. receives mail at weekly mail call. Armed only with her typewriter and her vibrant personality, she reaches thousands of soldiers and especially captivates one battle-tested soul, Bob Johnson. She is white, he is black; she is married, he is not. This potentially scandalous relationship transcends society's rules of engagement due to their honest and thought-provoking candor. This found collection of letters, providing a full dialogue in many cases and spanning 7 years (1966-1972), engages the reader, allowing them to vicariously experience what it was like to be a recipient in real-time. With the exchange of letters driving the story's flow, the reader will be taken back in time and into the day-to-day activities of one of the most successful cavalries in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War (1st Cavalry Air, 2nd/7th Cavalry Division, Airmobile). The reader will be privy to the thoughts and undistorted narratives of the war from Bob's perspective, a young soldier from Philadelphia, PA, who was well respected by the ranks and served four tours in Vietnam. The backdrop of this story is set on the front lines of our country's most controversial war; however, the focus of these letters is on the other side of this war, delving into subjects previously thought to be inconsistent with the Vietnam War. These being love for humanity amid the war zone, the freedom of racial equality in the Army vs. the stark contrast of racial atrocities simultaneously happening in the States, the acceptance of miscegenation, the strength derived from having faith in God, and the value of understanding … even your enemy. In an astounding quirk of fate, these two unlikely pen pals, reconnect fifty years post-war. But the story doesn't end there. From this reunion, the most unexpected redemption takes place. “Until now, military families have never been given an exclusive voice in the historiography of the Vietnam War. Susan Hunter’s book, 77 Letters, highlights the power of human interaction, emotional support, and their collective effect on the health of the human spirit. A book like 77 Letters can remind us that, even during times of social upheaval, we can still find allies through the power of kindness and empathy.” ~Mike Guardia, Author of “Hal A Soldier Once… and Always” "77 Letters is a beautiful and timely story about a heroic soldier and a woman who reached out to him and his comrades during a turbulent time in our history. This patriotic story of empathy and kindness bridges the racial divide and provides a healing message, particularly poignant, when considering the social justice issues which have our country so divided today. As a Vietnam Veteran and former Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Officer for the Massachusetts National Guard, I highly recommend 77 Letters. It is a story that will fill you with hope as we try to find our way forward to a better America, one that represents justice and equality for all.” ~Brian Sullivan, LTC (Ret), USA Vietnam Veteran "Susan Hunter’s compelling prose pulsates with passion and power, urging us to read more deeply and to understand more fully. This true story shreds many of the commonly held misconceptions about the Vietnam War and presents the truth with precision, honesty, and healing. With poignant insight into our past, 77 Letters provides a much-needed message for contemporary culture, and bona fide hope for a better future." ~Ken Abraham, 15x New York Times bestselling author “Chronicling the unlikely correspondence between a Viet Nam soldier and a young New England housewife, 77 Letters reminds us that history is best learned through the stories of real people.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2020

Reviews

[Kathleen D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the subject very interesting and worth reading all the way through. It made me look into Vietnam's history and current politics, and I ended up discussing it with quite a few people. The author is a new writer, and I'm not sure her writing flows as well as an experienced writer because of her vocabulary choices, but it was still very compelling.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction account of the unlikely friendship forged by an exchange of letters between a small-town wife and mother and a U.S. soldier serving in Viet Nam is by turns surprising, enlightening, and affecting.

In the late 1960s, after watching a documentary about the Viet Nam war, Joan Hunter was struck by one segment in particular. It had featured “Mail Call,” the time of day when the soldiers received letters from home. While the segment showed the excitement and happiness of those service members who had received mail, it also revealed the crushing disappointment on the faces of those who had not.

Joan couldn’t get those sad young faces out of her mind. So, she did something about it.
She started a letter-writing program to help ensure that as many soldiers as possible received the morale boost of letters from home. Joan herself corresponded with several young servicemen. One in particular, Robert, responded in an honest and heartfelt way about his experiences, his hopes, and his fears. Because of his openness and her empathy, the two forged a bond that bridged their very different life experiences.

The author, Joan’s daughter, Susan, tells their story largely in their own words, through the letters they exchanged. Some of the beliefs and attitudes in the letters are surprising when viewed from the perspective of today, but they’re an accurate reflection of the times. The book is a compelling, moving, and ultimately heartening read.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely story about a unique relationship that develops between an unlikely pair. Joan a white homemaker and mother from a bucolic seaside community in Massachusetts and Bob, an African American soldier in Vietnam. The book is very well written and comes from the perspective of one of Joan's daughters, Susan. It was a wonderful journey and there were some very poignant moments. As a veteran myself, it gave me a different perspective on the soldiers serving in Vietnam and ultimately an increased respect for them. In this era of racial tension (2020) it serves as a great example of a human connection that crossed racial boundaries in a healthy and respectful way. Well done and definitely worth the read.

[Jamie Basch · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Iraqi War veteran (who wrote many letters during my time overseas) I found the glimpse into another generation’s experiences in a different war very inspiring, healing, and humbling. I cannot fathom the horrible conditions and sacrifices the Vietnam-era veterans made. At times could tell that the author is still new, but the story itself is one that needed to be told… kudos to her for taking the time to do so! Those letters could have easily ended up just collecting dust in an attic… so thank you, Susan!

[Valerie Negra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan P. Hunters’ mother, Joan, started a letter writing campaign during the Vietnam War, to soldiers, so that no GI would ever be without mail. I highly recommend this beautifully written book. The reader actually feels as if they are “there”, whether it be in the trenches in Vietnam, or at the dinner table at Susan’s childhood home in lovely Scituate, Mass. I could not put the book down. Finished it in two days…“77 Letters, Operation Morale Booster-Vietnam” is a MUST read…!!

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolutely incredible story of penpals during the Vietnam conflict. The white woman that just wanted to help morale for the soldiers and the black soldier who was fighting but always felt thankful for those people back home. It’s a true story and the actual letters were compiled by the daughter of the woman who wrote them.
This story brings hope and history needs to be shared. I can’t wait to share the book with my own mom who was the wife of an American soldier in Vietnam.

[Edward W. Moks · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIETNAM PERSONALLY REVISITED!

This book is a very emotional and personal depiction of the experience of two people one civilian and one a soldier combatant at the time of the Vietnam war. It also discusses interracial marriage overtones. It would be best received by readers with an open or liberal viewpoint! It is a very good effort for an author's first book! I know the author!

[John Dalco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, got sucked right in and finished in a day and a half. A great look at the Vietnam war from a uniqu perspective of a housewife and the soldier she became penpals with. As a history nut I loved reading this. Not the usual sanitized historians look at the war, but a look at it from someone fighting it as it is going on. Well worth the read.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Wonderful premise. Learned a lot about aspects of Vietnam War that I hadn’t known or considered. I felt the author could have done a lot more with the story. With Bob such an important part of their childhood, why did no one look at the letters sooner? What did her siblings think about the story?

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit home with me. Growing up in that era and my ex-husband being in the Army in Vietnam, I could now understand why he never really talked about his time there. This book was a real eye opener. It was heartwarming and also heartbreaking. It was written so very well. Kudos to Susan Hunter
I truly enjoyed your book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book. It will pull at your heart strings. What an amazing story of one of our heroic serviceman and a kind Mom of four and her family's support of one of our Vietnam heros. Very touching story of two different lives and their friendship.

[April Lashbrook · Rating 2 out of 5]

The letters themselves were great, but the author needed a good editor. I was very put off by her continued use of the outdated, hurtful term “miscegenation” when discussing interracial marriage. Plus she failed to discuss the systemic issues faced by people of color in any real way.

[Lauren Reed Harland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a follow up to reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. Though this is from a different perspective, I appreciated the front line recap and dialoging letters. I appreciated the conversation about race especially!

Great time piece to learn about that era of history!

[David Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and well told story about two unlikely friends during Vietnam.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and great insights into the war I thought the author could have done more on character development.

[Odie O'Neal Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a most interesting story about an American housewife who wrote letters to soldiers in Vietnam as a morale booster. In one case in particular, a friendship was developed which lasted for years between people of very different backgrounds and race.
I found the book to be interesting and eye opening as well as thought provoking.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The letters in this book are worth the read. The mother's remembrances of the time were nice. The author seemed to add made up things to the story.

[Jennifer Altom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise and interesting epistolary tale. Slow in many parts. Much more interesting towards the end.