The Soldier's Last Letter

Annotation

The country song "The Soldier's Last Letter" (Truth Records Inc. # TR-100) by Al & Roger Chort took an anti-war, anti-Nixon position, as well as looking at the home front perspective. It was released in El Monte, California, USA, Los Angeles County. The spoken-word introduction said that the song was dedicated to John D. Mendoz who died after six weeks in Vietnam:

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

The country song "The Soldier's Last Letter" (Truth Records Inc. # TR-100) by Al & Roger Chort took an anti-war, anti-Nixon position, as well as looking at the home front perspective. It was released in El Monte, California, USA, Los Angeles County. The spoken-word introduction said that the song was dedicated to John D. Mendoz who died after six weeks in Vietnam:"This message is being re-recorded in memory of Private John Mendoza, United States Army, who gave his young 19 year old life for America, after only 6 weeks in Vietnam, and sent home to his mother in a GI coffin. He faired better than most, he has a plaque in the park, in Southgate California. And to you Richard Nixon, president of the United States, send our boys home now, and don't be worrying about the blemishes on America's face, because America has many blemishes. Thank you, Al Chort".The introduction criticised President Nixon's policy of 'peace with honor', calling for the boys to be sent home, that their lives are more important than saving face. The body of the song took the form of the soldier's mother receiving her son's last letter before he died, writing from a muddy trench. It said the captain had just given orders to go back out into battle. The end of the song contained patriotic and religious sentiment: "dear God keep America free". John D. Mendoza was born 1 March 1947 and died 12 February 1968. He lived in South Gate, California, in Los Angeles County. The following was recorded about his death: "died through hostile action, multiple fragmentation wounds...Incident location: South Vietnam, Quang Ngai province". He was awarded a Purple Heart.12 Sources1Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund: JOHN D MENDOZA↩2honorstates.org↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: When the postman delivered a letter it filled her dear heart full of joy / But she didn't know till she read the inside, it was the last one from her darling boy / Dear Mom was the way that it started / I miss you so much it went on / Mom, I didn't know, that I loved you so, but I'll prove it when this war is won / I'm writing this down in a trench, mom, don't scold if it isn't so neat / For you know as you did, when I was a kid / And I'd come home with mud on my feet / The captain just gave us our orders and Mom, we will carry them through / And I'll finish this letter the first chance I get / But for now I'll just say I love you / Then the mother's old hands began to tremble and she fought against tears in her eyes / But they came unashamed for there was no name / And she knew that her darling had died / That night as she knelt by her bedside she prayed Lord above hear my plea and protect all the sons that are fighting... / Dear God keep America free This message is being re-recorded in memory of Private John Mendoza, United States Army, who gave his young 19 year old life for America, after only 6 weeks in Vietnam, and sent home to his mother in a GI coffin. He faired better than most, he has a plaque in the park, in Southgate California. And to you Richard Nixon, president of the United States, send our boys home now, and don't be worrying about the blemishes on America's face, because America has many blemishes. Thank you, Al Chort".

Notes

Truth Records Inc. TR-100-A, 45 RPM, "Non Profit", P.O. Box 102, El Monte, California; label headed "Free – T.R.I. to help"; "The Soldier's Last Letter", 3:55; voice Al Chort, guitars Roger Chort. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Anti-War · K.I.A. · Nixon

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]