The following article appeared in The Herald on July 26, 2004. Posted by permission.

NEW BRITAIN - During the turbulent 1960s, when angry groups protested the Vietnam War, Christine Balint ("Mrs. Vietnam" to her detractors) kept up her correspondence with area men fighting in Southeast Asia.

One day a Marine to whom she had written, but never met, knocked on her Ellis Street door. When she saw he was upset she invited him in for tea.

He handed her a jacket he had worn with the word "Vietnam" on the back. He had come from a local bar; its patrons saw the jacket and tried to start a fight.

"I want you to have it," he told her. "It’s trouble for me."

She took the jacket. Years later when he returned for a visit she insisted he take the jacket back.

"You were single when I wrote to you," she said. "Now you have children who have children. I want them to have this. This is your family history."

"Mrs. Vietnam: The Christine Balint Vietnam Letter Collection" is a feature story in the spring issue of Connecticut History. The article, by Shaun Patrick Roche, a graduate student at Central Connecticut State University, recounts Balint and her late husband’s letters of encouragement to Connecticut men stationed in Vietnam. The piece includes excerpts from letters from various fighting men and Balint’s response to them.

Roche writes that her letters "were life lines to young Connecticut men who were living half-a-world away and longing for any connection to home, to Connecticut."

"I had been aware of Christine Balint’s work for quite some time," said Dr. Matt Warshauer, associate professor of history, CCSU. "I met with her and asked what she was going to do with her collection of letters."

Balint thought about his question and in 2002 decided to donate it to Central where it would be cataloged and placed in the library. Warshauer worked with Roche to craft a strong first draft for Connecticut History.

The bi-annual publication is a production of the Association for the Study of Connecticut History (ASCH). The publication has been in existence since 1974. It includes original research articles on Connecticut in all periods-from its founding to contemporary history. It also includes essays on primary source documents. Much of the financial support for the journal comes from the Connecticut Humanities Council.

Because the letters from servicemen were written to Christine Balint they became her possession. When she donated the collection to Central she signed over permission of use and permission for the university to retain the collection.

"I think hers is fascinating story," Warshauer said. "It’s remarkable how little has been done on Vietnam that is a regional or community-focused study."

Roche says aside from learning how to conduct a successful oral history and weave the documents and interview into an article, "it was the most rewarding experience in my time as a history department graduate assistant."

Balint told Roche she found great satisfaction providing any help she could to servicemen, whether it was a simple letter, or assisting with VA benefits.

"For some time the journal has been viewed by many people as an academic journal," said Warshauer. "But, my hope for the future of the journal is that if people want to tune in to what’s going on historically in the state, if they want to know the most recent books, and the museum exhibitions, this is where they’ll find all that out."

Color will be added to the fall issue. Every issue will focus on a specific museum in the state. There will also be a section for secondary teachers. A teacher will write up a curriculum guide to accompany the article.

ASCH Membership ($30) includes subscription to the journal. For further information visit the association’s Web site at http//asch.ccsu.edu.

©The Herald 2004. Posted by permission.

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