Conclusion

Summary

The conclusion returns to, and completes, the story of Anne Gudis and Sam Kramer, whose fitful epistolary courtship was explored in earlier chapters. It also suggests why the Dear John letter has proven to be such a durable emblem of female betrayal in wartime, despite profound changes in US society and in American war-waging over the past century. Soldiers‘ and veterans‘ stories of abandonment and betrayal by female romantic partners are more than simply outlets for hurt feelings or bruised egos. They also underscore the chasm that many servicemen have felt between civilian society and those in uniform. As such, Dear John story-telling has elevated veterans‘ perceptions that men who jeopardized their lives for their country have been misunderstood and maltreated – not just by the women they loved and lost, but by the nation writ large.