The Vietnam War-Personal Narrative

“Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Terry shrugged as he lit the cigarette in his hand. That is one of the most vivid memories of him I have. I don’t know why it’s this moment specifically that I remember. I just remember how we were sitting in the warm grass in the middle of the forest, where we would play as children. It was one of the last days we spent together before he went off to fight in the Vietnam War. He smoked a lot before he left, more than usual at least. I asked if it was because he was nervous, but he insisted he wasn’t smoking anymore than normal. I told him they had cigarettes in Vietnam too, and he didn’t have to smoke so many before going. Late on the night before he left he ran out cigarettes. “I’d die for another cigarette.” He mumbled as we climbed into bed. In the morning, he left for vietnam. Our last words to each other before he went to war were rather unusual. They were not I love you, or be safe. I said “Smoke a cigarette, but don’t die for one.” and he said “Well, if I do die trying to get cigarettes, it’ll be worth it.”

A telegram. “Western Union Telegram.727A EST OCT 63 CTA175. CT CT WA186 XV GOVT PD Washinton DC 14 559A EST. Mrs. Terry Arlie, Don’t phone, don’t deliver between 10pm and 6am. REPORT DELIVERY. 321 Illinois Ave Westerville Ohio.
The secretary of the army has asked me to express his deep regret that your husband, SSGT Terry Arlie died in Vietnam on 10 October 1963, from a wound received while