How Did The Vietnam War Affect My Family

29,263,826. What does that number mean to you? To me, that number is the combined total of all American soldiers that participated in WW1, WW2, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. The human mind is unable to begin to comprehend this number and the stories behind it. Even though we may not realize it, these wars have touched us all in some way because of the loved ones that have fought in them. Until this essay, I did not realize the extent that this number affected my family, and how meaningful placing the wreath on the memorial would be. While seeking information for this paper, the personal connection I had to this tomb and the soldiers it honored increased tremendously because of one thing: a phone call with my great-uncle Paul Brackett. During the call, I asked him if he had any war stories about himself or my family to share with me, given that he had served in the army between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. I learned that I had many connections to family that had served in WW2. For example, my two great, great uncles, Wiley and Alford Earl, served overseas in Germany alongside Generals Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower(future President) .One of my cousins, John Henry Smith, was also a casualty …show more content…
Additionally, another cousin, Preston Daniels, was shot in the leg while he fought in the Afghanistan War, and is raising his two children today. After learning all of this information, I have to say I was quite surprised. I had never expected that so much