To Natalia Aldana, Pioneer Editor in Chief,

I am a CSUEB student and I recently just gave your paper a serious look. My father is a Vietnam veteran, and I want to thank you and Cherie Vargas for shedding light on the issue. We are stuck in a war where more and more people continue die at alarming rates on both sides of the issue, whether civilians or armed military. My father has dealt with severe mental trauma as long as I have known him, and my mother and I have suffered as a result of a war he valiantly fought on behalf of our country. He was used as a tool for personal gain by those in power of the time, and the situation we are in now is no different. My dad came from a long line of military men, but he has told me how proud he is of me for not following that path any more. Your article just emphasizes a growing issue in our community and in the country we all live in and I really hope your words make a difference. Our country needs to do more for veterans, especially if they are becoming homeless more and more and more and more come back from Afganistan and Iraq. The beginning was amazing, especially how you emphasized the fact that they are told they are heroes when they are leaving but when they come back after the war is finished and done with it is so easy for people to go on with their lives and just forget about them. This is so true, and I really want to extend my appreciation to you and The Pioneer for this article. I’m glad to see my school’s paper is taking a stand on issues like this and I regret not really paying attention earlier. I will definitely continue to read the paper. Hope this e-mail (letter) throws some positive reinforcement your way, I’m sure you guys handle a lot of criticism as well being a newspaper and all, so I wanted to take the time out to show you one student appreciates your work.

Good luck, and on behalf of my dad, thanks,
Eric Andrew Calloway
Business Administration [Major] Oakland resident