Connecting With Bernard and Nelda
Bernard and Nelda wrote over 200 letters to each other during his time in the Army, 1968-70, and married just 4 months after his return from Vietnam. Their letters became the basis of their book, War and Love, which was published in December, 2025.
In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, they had a small, intimate family celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Below is a picture of that gathering.
Buie, Noel (daughter), Bernard, Nelda. ~ Katie, Olivia, Kitri, Jonathan (son), Caleb, and Makenzie.
Bernard and Nelda all dressed up for a special date just days before he left on May 27, 1969, for Vietnam. This was the date he gave her his class ring to wear.
After writing to each other for over a year, Bernard and Nelda were very much in love and certain they wanted to be married. They married on 9/4/1970.
Her mom had been concerned Nelda would not finish nursing school if she and Bernard got married. However, Nelda finished her BSN degree at UT Memphis in May, 1972 and continued school through the summer to complete a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner course. She graduated Magna Cum Laude.
About
Mission
Our personal letters were never written to be shared with others, but they became a testimony to God’s faithfulness during war, fear, and separation. War And Love is our testimony and we hope it will encourage others to find faith in Jesus.
Vision
-to demonstrate how love and faith can sustain us through very difficult times
-to allow others to see the Vietnam War in “real time” through the eyes of one soldier and the girl back home waiting for him to return
-to encourage others to reflect on their own relationships, past and present
-to inspire others to consider the value of letter writing
Homer, AK, USA
Bernard and Nelda first moved to Alaska when he retired early to volunteer as dorm parents at Alaska Bible Institute in Homer for six months. They ended up staying 4 years.
During that time, they flew across Kachemak Bay in a small 4-seater airplane many Sunday mornings to teach children’s church while Pastor Ray Arno held church services in the village of Port Graham.
Nelda also served as a part-time school nurse in Nanwalek for 1 year.
Vietnam
Wasilla, AK, USA
Wasilla Alaska
Memphis, TN, USA
Kona, HI, USA
Pryor, OK, USA
Orange City, FL, USA
Wilmington, NC, USA
Band of Brothers
Christian cafe offering fellowship, mental-health support, Bible studies and mentorship, plus BBQ eats.
