Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

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At twenty-four, Dang Thuy Tram volunteered as a doctor in a Viet Cong battlefield hospital in Quang Ngai Province. Two years later, she was killed by American forces near her post. Her diary, written between 1968 and 1970, reveals her deep devotion to family and friends, the horrors of war, her longing for her high school sweetheart, and her commitment to her country. The entries are at times raw and at others lyrical, expressing her dignity and compassion amidst the relentless chaos of war. After her death, an American officer discovered her diary while following orders to destroy documents without military value. Just as he was about to burn it, his Vietnamese translator urged him to save it, noting it already contained "fire." The officer defied regulations, preserving the diary for thirty-five years. In 2005, a copy reached Dr. Tram’s elderly mother in Hanoi, leading to its publication in Vietnam and sparking national interest. This poignant account offers a vivid and personal perspective on the struggles faced by previous generations during the war. Translated by Andrew X. Pham and introduced by Pulitzer Prize winner Frances FitzGerald, it is a powerful testament to hope and the fragility of human life, told from the viewpoint of an adversary yet resonating universally.