1) Photo Caption: Battle-weary men of the 173rd Airborne Brigade resting atop Hill 875 following days of heavy fighting, 23 November 1967. A letter written by Sgt. Phillip Woodall of Alpha Company, 1/501st, 101st Airborne Division to his father, 52 years ago today, April 5, 1968.

2) April 5,1968, LZ (landing zone) Sally. "Dear Dad, I'm sick - very sick, bad stomach cramps, diarrhea and a fairly high temperature. I was evacuated from the field to recover. I've been listening to the Vietnam radio station.

3) They just had a news report special on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis. I realize how involved you are with the whole situation. I also realize how bad this makes Memphis look to the rest of the nation.

4) I'm sorry that the people in Memphis had to see all this. I heard President Johnson's speech but now I've got a story to tell. On Friday, March 29, in our AO just south of Hue near the ocean, we received small-arms fire from a village. Two platoons went into the village.

5) Our platoon maneuvered to the right, attempting to set up a blocking force so when the North Vietnamese Army were pushed out of the village, we could cut them off. My job was carrying the platoon radio. My platoon leader, Gary Scott, 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, was in command.

6) Lt. Scott, a Negro from Rochester, New York, graduated recently from the University of Syracuse. As the platoon moved toward the rear of the village, automatic weapons fire suddenly came from a nearby woodline. Lt. Scott and one other man was killed, another seriously wounded.

7) Lieutenant Scott was a fine man, a good leader, yet we could not understand the why's of this conflict which called him 10,000 miles from his home, to a land of insects, poverty and hostility - this conflict which killed him. Why?

8) Fighting for a people who have concern for the war, people that he did not understand, who knew where the enemy were, where the booby-traps were hidden, yet gave no support. People that he would give portions of his food to yet would try to sell him a Coke for $1.00.

9) People who cared not who the winner was - yet they will say he died for his country, keeping it free. Negative. This country is no gain that i can see Dad. We are fighting and dying for a people who resent our being here.

10) The only firm reason i can find is paying with commie lives for U.S. lives, Dad. Tonight the nation mourns the death of Martin Luther King. Not me. I mourn the deaths of the real leaders for peace, the people who give the real sacrifice, people like Lieutenant Scott.

11) Tonight as the nation mourns Dr. King, they drink their cold beer, turn on their air conditioners and watch their TV. We who mourn the deaths over here will set up our ambushes, pull our guard and eat C-rations.

12) I will probably get a Bronze Star for the fire-fight. Lt. Scott will get a Silver Star. That will help me get a job someday and it is supposed to suffice for Lieutenant Scott's life. I guess I'm bitter now Dad. This war is all wrong.

13) I will continue to fight, win my medals and fight the elements and hardships of this country. But that is because I'm a soldier and it's my job and their are other people depending on me.

14) That's my excuse. That's all i have, theories and excuses - no solutions. Your loving son, Phil.