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Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Content Description
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
    Title: Berry Robison, Jr. Vietnam War correspondence
    source: Torello, Christine K.
    Creator: Robison, Berry, II
    Identifier/Call Number: 2015.064.w.r
    Identifier/Call Number: 1249
    Physical Description: 0.08 Linear Feet (1 folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1968 March - 1969 June
    Abstract: This collection contains the correspondence of 1stLt. Berry Robison, Jr., USA to his wife Christine during the Vietnam War.
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: Vietnam 1
    Container: 13
    Container: 1

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Christine Torello. Legacy collection from Andrew Carroll.

    Biographical / Historical

    First Lieutenant Berry Robison, Jr., United States Army served as a rifle company commander and an airborne ranger. He trained at Fort Benning in Georgia and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. While in Vietnam he was promoted to first lieutenant and received the Silver Star. His unit was Co. B 2/187 Infantry 101st Airborne Division. Robison and his wife Christine had been married six months before he departed for Vietnam. They have two sons together but eventually seperated.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Berry Robison, Jr. Vietnam War correspondence (2015.064.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
    For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

    Content Description

    This collection contains 21 correspondence from 1stLt. Berry Robison, Jr., USA to his wife Christine Robison during the Vietnam War. Robison signed his letters with his nickname, "Robie." Throughout his letters he wrote how much he loved and missed his wife. He also described the various assignments and missions he had as well as his opinions on the politics of the war. Sometimes he was very supportive of their mission there, other times he was against the war.
    Letter dated May 30, 1968: Robison reflects on what is important to him in his life and how war has made him realize what he takes for granted.
    Letter dated August 13, 1968: Robison states that he will only write letters when his morale is high so that he does not worry his wife. He tells her that he received a Purple Heart because he took a piece of shrapnel in his right leg during battle in Cu Chi, northwest of Saigon. He says "I am really proud of this minor wound, because now I can really hate that SOB."
    Letter dated August 30, 1968: he writes of how much his wife's letters mean to him and how they are the only thing that keeps him going.
    Letter dated September 15, 1968: He is feeling upset because he had just been to the hospital to visit some of his men that had been wounded.
    Letter dated September 22, 1968: He describes how his company commander was wounded by a boobytrap, so he is now "a 22 yr. old company commander with more responsibility than you could imagine."
    Letter dated May 4, 1969: He discusses his decision to become a career Army man.
    Letter dated May 15, 1969: "As I sit here writing this letter, I am listening to President Nixon as he talks on the V-NAM War, to say the least I am confused. Baby I only believe in one thing and that is the Democracy that the United States of America has provided for her citizens. I still believe in our country even more so now and I would come over here or anywhere that the USA deems necessary. The main thing I have gained from V-NAM is that I was able to prove my love for my country, and the tragic thing is not every American male can say this."
    Letter dated May 22, 1969: "Chris all I want to do is get out of this filthy God-forsaken place and let someone else be a guinea pig for a corrupt bunch of exploiting politicians."

    Conditions Governing Use

    There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
    Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
    Politics and culture
    Torello, Christine K.