MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IS A MEMORY ARCHIEVE OF THE VIETNAM WAR

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Time slips away in its silver source, for those who lived through events of the past, it vanishes like dreams, some joyous and others in numbing sadness. For those who grew up in the Valley in the early 1960s, the troubles in far away Vietnam seemed only the rumblings of the "cold war" that resulted from earlier conflicts in World War II and the Korean Conflict. Boys, young men and women joined the Valley's Reserve units more from patriotism than an impending military draft. But, war was to come with mounting headlines and seductions.
By 1964, sleepy National Guard bases and Reserve units, were no longer weekends of passive drills and two week summer adventures. War was the reality of draft cards, fear and interrupted lives.
Today, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is collecting and carefully preserving the voices of the Vietnam War era. Story by story, artifact by artifact, We've only a few weeks away now from a Museum workspace. Won't you consider becoming a volunteer members of our Museum Associates? We will need a dedicated committee of men and women, determined to present the Valley's military story to today's and future generations.

 Viet Cong propaganda - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2012.

Support The Museum's collection of Valley military service history

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The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Acquisitions Committee
gary.fredburg@TheMuseumSFV.org
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419  (mailing address)
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

THE MUSEUM’S TELEPHONE
1 (818) 347-9665

THE MUSEUM'S EMAILS
gerald.fecht@TheMuseumSFV.org

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THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE

www.TheMuseumSFV.org

 

THREE US SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM 1970 DRAWING BY DAN COON

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY          2011

In The Museum's on-going effort to document the lives and times of San Fernando Valley residents, we gratefully received a series of Vietnam related photos, drawings and letters today. This first image was done by Dan Coon of the 1st Medical Battalion in Vietnam in 1970.
The artifacts are a gift to The Museum from Michael Hewson March 2011.  These important records  were secured for The Museum's Archives by Art Jacobs of Sherman Oaks.

A VIETNAM CHRISTMAS DINNER

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

There's a German word, popular in World War Ii movies, called "ersatz".  To my understanding, the word means a synthetic that just doesn't measure up to the real thing. I suppose that half the problem with a synthetic is the promise that it will taste or smell like fresh strawberries when it's closer to "mystery meat."

25 December 1967 - Christmas Dinner menu and holiday message to American Marines in Vietnam.
 Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010.

 Less sensitive to religious diversity than modern military officials, the leadership of the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War made the above assumption that their enlisted men and women shared their preferences.

 (click on this menu to read Jerry Berns' notes on the menu he saved from his service as a Marine during the Vietnam War.)
Tomato Juice Cocktail - none
Shrimp Cocktail, Saltines - none left
Scotch Broth - Didn't have it.
Roasted Turkey - canned, overcooked - dry
Cornbread Dressing - Didn't have it.
Baked Ham - Canned - Not bad.