Sharing Our StoriesMaryJane Boylan Sgt. Maj. Gerald R. Mitchell retired in 1970 with 30 years service in the U.S. Army. At his retirement, he was the Operations Director at the 35 th Signal Group, Ft. Bragg , N.C. He served eight tours overseas totaling over 17 years in foreign lands. His wartime service includes duty in France , Belgium , Germany , Korea and the Republic of Vietnam . He wears battle stars for World War II campaigns, the Ardennes and Rhineland, the summer and winter campaigns in Korea, and the Vietnam counteroffensive Phase II, III and the 1967 counter Tet offensive. He also served occupation duty in Japan and Germany , and two of his tours were served in Turkey and Iran . Following is a letter that he sent to my sister and her classmates. 1st Signal Brigade Dear Nancy, I was thrilled to get your letter and the request for some information about Vietnam . I am happy to know you and your classmates selected Vietnam as your subject for discussion in your class. I hope you will be able to use some of the information I am sending to you. Please write again if I can help in your class or schoolwork in any way. The military forces here in Vietnam are not only fighting the war to keep the people free and protect them from terrorism and aggression, we are at the same time building hospitals for the sick and for the people in need of medical attention, building schools for the children to be educated, constructing better roads and communication systems, helping and guiding them in better farm productivity, providing food for the starving and under-nourished children. There are many other projects being accomplished that I haven’t mentioned which will help the people and the nation. We are also here to prevent communism from spreading to other free nations of the world. It is better to stop the spread of communism here than it would be to stop it in our own country a few years from now. We are here sacrificing our time and in many unfortunate cases lives for the people we love so dearly at home. We are proud of our families for being so brave, patriotic and concerned about what is taking place over here. You are so dear to our hearts and we love you for supporting this very worthy cause. I hope this information will get to you in time for your commitment in your schoolwork and that it will be of some help to you and your friends. Tell your Mother, Linda and Mary Jane that I love them very much and I will write them tonight when I get back to my quarters. I hope you and all the other children have a very wonderful and happy Christmas. Your Loving Daddy
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