Public perception of later wars limited

VFW Magazine, Jan, 2003

"WWII Vets: Public Perceptions and Popular Portrayals" (November) by Mark Van Ells was interesting. It's no wonder WWII vets are held in such high regard. Movies and books on the war generally depict those who served as having a strong sense of duty and honor. These are qualities that would endure for future generations, regardless of the politics and controversies connected with the conflict.

There seems to be an absence of those fundamentals of patriotism in films and writings about Korea, Vietnam and subsequent conflicts. One can only hope that as time passes, future portrayals of the Americans serving in these hostilities will include such distinctions.

Tim Rennegarbe, Ontario, Calif.

As a WWII vet, I wonder about the use of the superlative greatest to describe our generation. What about the place in history of earlier and later veterans? Are they somewhat less important? Veterans of the Revolution, Civil War and WWI were inferior? Book titles like Brokaw's belittle sacrifices made in other heroic times.

Denis J. Warta, New Ulm, Minn.