To my dear long-dead brother on Memorial Day 2013:
Once again, time to honor your memory with my words. You were only 20 years old when you left for Viet Nam and then came back in a box covered with thick glass. I could see you lying there in your dress uniform, with medals on your chest, but I couldn't touch you. They said the glass was because you died of "jungle fever" which could be contagious. Later, we tried and failed, over and over, to find our why you were awarded a purple heart and the bronze star if all you did was fall over dead on a combat mission in a swamp.