Vincent SimonelliSimonelliVincentNYVietnam War, 1961-1975ArmyA Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry DivisionSergeantFort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Cu Chi, Vietnam; Fort Carson, ColoradoNoVeteran"No, I haven’t given up. I’ll never give up. I have faith that I’ll make it through this mess." (Letter to Billy, 2/28/1967)Writing to his brother, Billy, and his sister-in-law, Sergeant Vincent Simonelli began most letters with the following: “Hope everyone is ok, I am fine.” Reassuring his family became paramount while he served in country from 1965 to 1967. His correspondence paints a vivid picture of life in an Army infantry platoon: the constant unknowns, an increasing weariness with losing comrades, the demoralizing instances of friendly fire. Writing letters connected him not only to his family, but to his life prior to being drafted: a native of Brooklyn and an avid sports fan, his letters contain many questions about and references to the New York area baseball and hockey teams.Simonelli during basic training, Fort Jackson, South Carolina [10/1965]Vietnam War: Looking Back"Please Write Often": Wartime CorrespondenceBlack & white photograph of veteran taken during his first week in basic at Fort Jackson.October 1965Fort PolkFebruary 1966Fort PolkFebruary 1966Veteran and his parentsSeptember 1965Black & white photograph of the veteran's brother and his wife on their wedding day.September 1963B/w photograph of a Vietnamese HouseBlack & white photograph taken by the veteran of a Vietnamese village.July 1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken of/by the veteran during his stay in Vietnam.1966Photograph taken by veteran from hotel room while on R&R in Taiwan.1966Black & white photograph taken of/by the veteran while in Vietnam.1966Black & white photograph taken of/by the veteran while in Vietnam.1966Black & white photograph taken of/by the veteran while in Vietnam.1966Black & white photograph taken of/by the veteran while in Vietnam.1966Veterans welcome home.April 1967Veterans welcome home.April 1967Veteran after he is back in the States at Fort Carlson.June 1967Photograph taken of/by the veteran while at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.June 1967Photograph taken of/by the veteran while at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.June 1967Photograph of the Eisenhower Museum in Kansas.August 1967Photograph taken while veteran was at AIT of veteran and his friend Robert Ruhl, who later died,August 1967Photograph taken in Vietnam of veteran and buddies readying for a mission, in the picture is Ivon Bunch who died later that day in the Hobo Woods.June 1966Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [10/17/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [10/17/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [10/22/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [10/22/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/10/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/10/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/22/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/22/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/26/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [11/26/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [12/6/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [12/6/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [12/11/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [12/11/1965]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [1/2/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [1/2/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [2/7/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [2/7/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [7/16/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [7/16/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [7/31/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [7/31/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [8/1/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [8/1/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [8/7/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [8/7/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [8/21/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [8/21/1966]Postcard to Mr. and Mrs. Simonelli [9/3/1966]Postcard to Mr. and Mrs. Simonelli [9/3/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [9/18/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [9/18/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [10/19/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [10/19/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy 11/22/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy 11/22/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [12/6/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [12/6/1966]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [2/6/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [2/6/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [2/28/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [2/28/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [3/10/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [3/10/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [3/19/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [3/19/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [3/26/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [3/26/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [5/31/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [5/31/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy [4/4/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [5/31/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [5/31/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [6/22/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [6/22/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [7/3/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [7/3/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [7/13/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [7/13/1967]Empty envelope postmarked 7/24/1967Empty envelope postmarked 7/24/1967Letter from Simonelli to Mom and Dad [9/1/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Mom and Dad [9/1/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [9/9/1967]Letter from Simonelli to Billy, Cathy, and Lisa [9/9/1967]Letter to Simonelli from Carolyn and Robert [7/18/1967]Letter to Simonelli from Carolyn and Robert [7/18/1967]Letter to Simonelli from John Siliato [10/1/1966]Letter to Simonelli from John Siliato [10/1/1966]Selective Service Notice of AcceptabilitySelective Service Notice of AcceptabilitySpecial Orders Number 5Special Orders Number 5Special Orders Number 64Special Orders Number 64Unit Order Number 9Unit Order Number 9Special Orders Number 154Special Orders Number 154General Orders Number 567General Orders Number 567General Orders Number 934General Orders Number 934Special Orders Number 279Special Orders Number 279Letter of AppreciationLetter of AppreciationPort Call InstructionsPort Call InstructionsSpecial Orders Number 110Special Orders Number 110Memo: Transmittal of Promotion OrdersMemo: Transmittal of Promotion OrdersMovement Order Number 18Movement Order Number 18Military Pay VoucherMilitary Pay VoucherPhysical and Mental Status on Release From Active ServicePhysical and Mental Status on Release From Active ServiceLetter from Personal Affairs Officer [3/15/1968]Letter from Personal Affairs Officer [3/15/1968]Memo: Transfer from Ready Reserve to Standby Reserve [5/1/1970]Memo: Transfer from Ready Reserve to Standby Reserve [5/1/1970]Department of the Army memo: "Once a Soldier"Department of the Army memo: "Once a Soldier"Department of the Army memo: Transfers Between Reserve Control Groups or UnitsDepartment of the Army memo: Transfers Between Reserve Control Groups or UnitsPamphlett from the burial service of P.F.C. Robert Wayne Ruhl [7/28/1966]Pamphlett from the burial service of P.F.C. Robert Wayne Ruhl [7/28/1966]"Silent Night" Christmas menu and pamphlett"Silent Night" Christmas menu and pamphlettCollection of Vietnamese MoneyCollection of Vietnamese MoneyVeterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congresshttps://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.25749/DLC-AFC2022-10-31loc.natlib.afc2001001.25749