In one of his innumerable letters to the Echo, Trevor Murdin informs us he does not particularly like Americans.

My late father, who lived through two world wars and served as an infantryman throughout one of them seeing much combat, was very pleased and not a little relieved at the entry of the USA in both of them.

Should it be suggested the USA was a somewhat late entrant, I would further advise that the USA lost as many of its sons in the four years of its participation in World War II as did the entire British Commonwealth in the six years of its participation.

Furthermore, at the request of the post World War II British Labour Government, the Ameri- cans stationed forces in the UK and elsewhere in Europe to help combat the Russian menace of that time.

Mr Murdin might reflect on these actions before pontificating.

Mr B Thomas
Banyard Way
Rochford

...Trevor Murdin does not particularly like Americans, but not all Americans are the same, it being such a vast country.

I had contact with Americans on the North Sea oilfields during the 1970s.

I was one of the youngest British crew in my early twenties. When contact was made with one group of American workers they were incredibly soft spoken and polite, but I never once heard any of them laugh.

They were, to a man, Vietnam veterans deeply affected by the conflict.

I fear for all the young soldiers, ours especially, who will soon be coming home from Iraq if not exactly defeated, demoralised and unwanted in a land where our very presence is now making things worse, to a country where their cause has long been unpopular.

They will be likewise damaged in some measure and be in need of help and understanding.

I hope they get it.

John Haran
Broadway West
Leigh