Book "In Retrospect," Robert S McNamara, left at the Wall.
Title
Book "In Retrospect," Robert S McNamara, left at the Wall.
Description
Robert S McNamara's "In Retrospect," was left in a used condition at the Wall in 1997. The book had been left with 9 bullet holes and bound by adhesive tape.
Writing on the book jacket reveal the anger and resentment felt by some Vietnam veterans:
"WOUNDED 9 TIMES BY ENEMY FIRE, AND THE LESSON WAS ABOUT OUR LEADERS - / THE TRAGEDY WAS THEIR COWARDNESS [sic] … EXCELLENT BOOK - / WORTH 9 BULLETS -" and, "HAVE A NICE LIFE - / WE FOUGHT FOR IT".
The inscriptions label McNamara as "THE REAL ENEMY".
The donor signs himself off "THANKS FOR NOTHING / HEADHUNTER 16 / 1970 - 71".
Writing on the book jacket reveal the anger and resentment felt by some Vietnam veterans:
"WOUNDED 9 TIMES BY ENEMY FIRE, AND THE LESSON WAS ABOUT OUR LEADERS - / THE TRAGEDY WAS THEIR COWARDNESS [sic] … EXCELLENT BOOK - / WORTH 9 BULLETS -" and, "HAVE A NICE LIFE - / WE FOUGHT FOR IT".
The inscriptions label McNamara as "THE REAL ENEMY".
The donor signs himself off "THANKS FOR NOTHING / HEADHUNTER 16 / 1970 - 71".
Source
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website
Contributor
From the collections of the National Park Service, the Memorial Parks, and the National Mall.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Book "In Retrospect," Robert S McNamara, left at the Wall.,” UNO Digital Humanities Projects, accessed May 2, 2024, https://unodigitalhumanitiesprojects.omeka.net/items/show/420.