In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes in the wake of the bombing of the American Embassy in Saigon — one of the deadliest attacks against Americans in Vietnam to that point. His letter folds the threat of violence into the rhythms of everyday life, moving between worries about family finances and the sleepless wait for an attack that never came. What’s left unsaid feels just as important as what’s written — a balancing act between reassurance and fear.
Accompanied by a photo which is presumed to depict a square in Saigon, today's episode explores how soldiers carried on in the shadow of uncertainty, holding onto routine even as the ground beneath them threatened to shift.
What’s Covered:
- The March 30, 1965 bombing of the American Embassy in Saigon and its significance in the larger arc of the Vietnam War.
- How Popi's letters mirror the way soldiers processed fear without giving it too much space on the page.
- The tension between normal life and the ever-present threat of violence.
- President Johnson’s response to the bombing and how governments frame acts of terror in times of war.
- Reflections on how societies respond to violence — then and now.
📷 Featured Photo: The photo today appears to be a large square in a big city, which may be Saigon. It has a roundabout with some sort of signage in it and manmade pond or water feature. The square itself looks to be a big parking lot for bikes or motorcycles.
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