Thislisting is a cohesiveVietnam War–era correspondence archivecentered on PFCJohn McClean,known throughout the letters as “Dev”or “D.”The group spans 1969–1971and documents McClean’s experience from initial Army processing andtraining through active service, with letters sent to family andclose associates in Stockbridge,Massachusetts.
The archive is notable for its exceptionally articulate,reflective, and literary voice, offering insight far beyondroutine military correspondence.
CONTENTS OF THE LOT
• Original handwritten letters (signed “Dev” /“D.”)
Written in blue ink, several pages each, withthoughtful, introspective content.
• Typed letters
Multi-page, detailing training, bivouacs, weather extremes,morale, and personal philosophy.
• Period photocopies of letters
Clearlymarked “COPY.” These are included for context and continuity andare transparently identified as such.
• Original military envelopes
Hand-addressedand APO mailed, preserving full provenance.
DATES & Gordon, Georgia
Fort Polk, Louisiana
APO SF 96490 (Vietnam-era military address)
ADDRESSED TO
Miss Rosamond Sherwood, Strawberry Hill, Stockbridge, MA
Mrs. Howell Forbes, The Frog House, Yale Hill, Stockbridge, MA
Sender identification appears repeatedly as:
PFC / Pvt. John McClean
Unitdetails including 3rd Platoon, B Co., 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry andA-4-3 (AIT)CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
These letters are thoughtful, philosophical, andhistorically revealing, addressing:
Daily Army life and training realities
Bivouacs, mud, cold, frostbite, and helicopter supply drops
Bureaucracy and morale within the Army
Moral and political reflections on the Vietnam War
Longing for civilian life, art, music, and intellectual pursuits
Family connections and Stockbridge life
Representative excerpts include sentiments such as:
Reflections on the “terrible mistake” of war
Commentary on humanitarian consequences and displacement
Vivid descriptions of training exercises and weather hardships
This is not generic GI mail — it is a deeplypersonal, literate record of a young soldier navigating war,conscience, and identity.
O21
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