Howard Kalachman

Hi Mom, I'm O.k.: and Other Lies from Vietnam Howard Kalachman

In his first letter home to his family, author Howard Kalachman wrote, "Take care. Don't worry. This is laughs". Drafted into the military in May of 1967, this was the first of many letters Kalachman would write to his family telling them about his experiences in Vietnam. This memoir looks at the complexities of writing home to an anxious family from a war zone. In "Hi Mom, I'm O. K." and Other Lies from Vietnam, Kalachman chronicles his service with excerpts of letters, candid commentary, history, and photos. His story begins with being drafted and follows his experiences while on duty with the First Air Calvary in Vietnam from November of 1967 to December of 1968. The narrative includes information about the unit's activities in the Tet Offensive, Hue, and Khe Sahn and of Kalachman's serious injuries obtained at AnKhe. Thoughtful, poignant, and often humorous, "Hi Mom, I'm O. K." and Other Lies from Vietnam is not a story of heroics, but rather serves as a reminder to all about the sacrifices soldiers and their loved ones make for their country.