Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Over the next couple weeks, we will look at the Vietnam War from the perspective of those who fought in the war and from the perspective of historians:
1) Through the eyes of those who served there, in the letters they wrote home in the midst of the war [that is, through primary source material]
2) From the perspective of two historians who, looking back at the war, reach totally different conclusions about whether America should have been involved in the war [that is, through secondary source material].
"Writing about this kind of warfare is not a simple task. Repeatedly, I have found myself wishing that I had been the veteran of a conventional war, wih dramatic campaigns and historic battles for subject matter instead of a monotonous succession of ambushes and fire-fights. But there were no Normandies or Gettysburgs for us, no epic clashes that decided the fates of armies or nations. The war was mostly a matter of enduring weeks of expectant waiting and, at random intervals, of conducting vicious manhunts through jungles and swamps where snipers harassed us constantly and booby traps cut us down one by one."
--- Philip Caputo, Vietnam veteran and author of A Rumor of War
Instructions for part 1: You will be reading excerpts from Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam and then writing journal entries for each of the questions set forth below. The entries should average about one-half page each, which means your final product should be approximately 4 pages in length. Each set of questions is directed toward a specific chapter of the book, that examines different aspects of soldiers' experiences through the leTters dozen of these soldiers wrote at the time. You will not be reading entire chapters. What you should first do is examine the topic question and then SKIM through the letters in the chapter looking for portions of letters that address the question. Typically you should find 4 or 5 letters from a chpter that you will discuss. Each question should be answered in fully-developed paragraphs, with specifics from the letters cited in the paragraph, along with the name of the soldier and the page. For example, on question one, you might have this as part of your paragraph:
Desmond Barry described the war as frustrating, with long periods of boredom and short periods of extreme violence (pag 18).George Olson, on the other hand, said that he was afraid most of the time. (page 22)
The finished product will be equivalent to a quiz grade, so take your time and do a good job.
Chapter 1: In what ways were first impressions of Vietnam at odds with one another? In what ways were the first impressions similar? (pages 6-29)
Chapter 2: What appear to have been the greatest frustrations in this war for an infantryman? To what extent might these experiences have been influenced by the type of war in Vietnam (that is, guerrilla warfare rather than conventional warfare)? By the controversy in the U.S. surrounding the war? By the physical surroundings of the war? (pages 31-85)
Chpter 3: "I feel different now after seeing some horrible things, and I"ll never forget them. I can't say what I mean, but some of the things you see here can really change a man or turn a boy into a man. Any combat GI that comes here doesn't leave the same." Discuss this quote from one of the letters, drawing upon other letters. (pages 87-133)
Chapter 4: What are the similarities and contrasts in attitudes about the war between those in the rear and those actually at the front where the fighting is going on? (pages 135-167)
Chapter 5: What seems to have impacted soldiers the most -- the physical injuries or psychic (that is, mental) injuries? Or is it impossible to generalize about which was worse? (pge 169-209)
Chapter 6: What are some of the most common answers given to the question: "What am I doing here?" (pages 211-249)
Chapter 7: Unlike World War II, soldiers in Vietnam were on a "rotation schedule" and thus they knew exactly how long they would be in Vietnam. Based upon the letters, do you think this was an advantage or a disadvantage? Discuss. (pages 251-301)
Chapter 8: "Last Letters" are exactly that -- the last letters written by men who subsequently died. Choose the letter which had the greatest impact on you and discuss the reasons why. (pages 303-325)
Epilogue: This letter is the only one not written from Vietnm. Why do you think it was included? (pages 327-330)
1) Through the eyes of those who served there, in the letters they wrote home in the midst of the war [that is, through primary source material]
2) From the perspective of two historians who, looking back at the war, reach totally different conclusions about whether America should have been involved in the war [that is, through secondary source material].
"Writing about this kind of warfare is not a simple task. Repeatedly, I have found myself wishing that I had been the veteran of a conventional war, wih dramatic campaigns and historic battles for subject matter instead of a monotonous succession of ambushes and fire-fights. But there were no Normandies or Gettysburgs for us, no epic clashes that decided the fates of armies or nations. The war was mostly a matter of enduring weeks of expectant waiting and, at random intervals, of conducting vicious manhunts through jungles and swamps where snipers harassed us constantly and booby traps cut us down one by one."
--- Philip Caputo, Vietnam veteran and author of A Rumor of War
Instructions for part 1: You will be reading excerpts from Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam and then writing journal entries for each of the questions set forth below. The entries should average about one-half page each, which means your final product should be approximately 4 pages in length. Each set of questions is directed toward a specific chapter of the book, that examines different aspects of soldiers' experiences through the leTters dozen of these soldiers wrote at the time. You will not be reading entire chapters. What you should first do is examine the topic question and then SKIM through the letters in the chapter looking for portions of letters that address the question. Typically you should find 4 or 5 letters from a chpter that you will discuss. Each question should be answered in fully-developed paragraphs, with specifics from the letters cited in the paragraph, along with the name of the soldier and the page. For example, on question one, you might have this as part of your paragraph:
Desmond Barry described the war as frustrating, with long periods of boredom and short periods of extreme violence (pag 18).George Olson, on the other hand, said that he was afraid most of the time. (page 22)
The finished product will be equivalent to a quiz grade, so take your time and do a good job.
Chapter 1: In what ways were first impressions of Vietnam at odds with one another? In what ways were the first impressions similar? (pages 6-29)
Chapter 2: What appear to have been the greatest frustrations in this war for an infantryman? To what extent might these experiences have been influenced by the type of war in Vietnam (that is, guerrilla warfare rather than conventional warfare)? By the controversy in the U.S. surrounding the war? By the physical surroundings of the war? (pages 31-85)
Chpter 3: "I feel different now after seeing some horrible things, and I"ll never forget them. I can't say what I mean, but some of the things you see here can really change a man or turn a boy into a man. Any combat GI that comes here doesn't leave the same." Discuss this quote from one of the letters, drawing upon other letters. (pages 87-133)
Chapter 4: What are the similarities and contrasts in attitudes about the war between those in the rear and those actually at the front where the fighting is going on? (pages 135-167)
Chapter 5: What seems to have impacted soldiers the most -- the physical injuries or psychic (that is, mental) injuries? Or is it impossible to generalize about which was worse? (pge 169-209)
Chapter 6: What are some of the most common answers given to the question: "What am I doing here?" (pages 211-249)
Chapter 7: Unlike World War II, soldiers in Vietnam were on a "rotation schedule" and thus they knew exactly how long they would be in Vietnam. Based upon the letters, do you think this was an advantage or a disadvantage? Discuss. (pages 251-301)
Chapter 8: "Last Letters" are exactly that -- the last letters written by men who subsequently died. Choose the letter which had the greatest impact on you and discuss the reasons why. (pages 303-325)
Epilogue: This letter is the only one not written from Vietnm. Why do you think it was included? (pages 327-330)