Legacies of the Korean and Vietnam Wars

ByIsaiah RamosRicardo OrePorfirio Lule

&Paul Rendes

Titles

Soldier – Anthony B. Herbert with James T. Wooten

– Isaiah Ramos

If I Die In A Combat Zone Box Me Up and Ship Me Home – Tim O'Brien

– Ricardo Ore

Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers – Daniel Ellsberg

– Porfirio Lule

SoldierBy

Anthony B. HerbertWith James T. Wooten

Anthony B. Herbert

Anthony B. Herbert attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before he retired at age 41, according to the book.

The book is like an autobiography of his life written down by James T. Wooten.

Herbert starts his story right at the moment of retirement and then rewinds back to his earliest memories, including his first shotgun which used to fly apart with each shot.

He always wanted to be a soldier since he was a child.

In 1941, his two older brothers marched off to war in WWII. He wanted to follow, but he was only 10 years old.

May 10, 1947, Herbert managed to join up in the army at Ft. Dix as a paratrooper recruit. He was 17 years old.

In 1950, he finally got to see his first action in Korea.

Relevance Herbert fought hard and bravely for his country during the Korean War,

becoming one of that war's most decorated soldiers, as well as a decorated soldier of the Vietnam War.

However, during his time in Vietnam, he began to notice the atrocities of the US army and began to fight against them.

One incident in the book mentions that the Army ignores certain statements from soldiers who were on the ground trying to evacuate, listening instead to a radio man's negative that no incident occurred. An example of openly ignoring facts of events simply to keep moving on.

Also, Herbert, as a very efficient and by-the-book soldier, is increasingly disliked by the brass, having to suffer now with entering new platoons with a bad reputation before he even begins.

Later, at Fort McPherson, he finds his car rigged to blow and a witness claims it was military personnel working on the car only moments before.

All this leads him to start trying to fight against the Army, but with no real victories.

If I Die In A Combat Zone Box Me Up and

Ship Me HomeBy

Tim O’Brien

Tim O’Brien

Tim O'Brien, drafted to the U.S. Army (1968-1970) as apart of 3rd platoon, Alpha Co., 5th Battalion. 46th Inf., as an infantryman.Born into a military family, his father was an infantryman in World War II and his mother was apart of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).His hometown of Worthington, Minnesota was heavily populated by many men and women who had either served in World War II or the Korean War.O’Brien earned his B.A. Degree in Political Science from Macalaster College shortly before being drafted. O’Brien was apart of the infamous Americal Division who is associated with the horrific My Lai massacre in So. Vietnam.His stance on the war, he heavily opposes the war and throughout the book voices his opposition of the war.O’Brien’s tour of duty ended in 1970 where upon returning to the states, enrolled at Harvard University for graduate school. Three years later he released this novel.

Pentagon Papers & Vietnam• Deeply Deeply patrioticpatriotic and idealistic and idealistic Cold Warrior Cold Warrior is slowly changed by personal experience in is slowly changed by personal experience in

Vietnam, he becomes an Vietnam, he becomes an active dissidentactive dissident exposing gov’t exposing gov’t SecretsSecrets

Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers• 7,000 pg Secret study of Vietnam from (7,000 pg Secret study of Vietnam from (1945-19681945-1968))

Key PointsKey Points• Vietnam war could Vietnam war could notnot be won by the be won by the U.S.U.S. • EscalationEscalation would lead to massive U.S. would lead to massive U.S. casualtiescasualties• U.S. would be unable to withdraw without national humiliationU.S. would be unable to withdraw without national humiliation• High degree of High degree of miscalculationmiscalculation, , bureaucratic arrogancebureaucratic arrogance, and , and deceptiondeception on the part of U.S. on the part of U.S.

policymakers.policymakers.

Historical Significance:Historical Significance: Watergate ScandalWatergate Scandal- Top U.S. Officials involvement revelations- Top U.S. Officials involvement revelations Increased Increased Dissidence--Dissidence--Loss of confidence in “Loss of confidence in “the systemthe system”” New York Times v. United States— held that the 1st Amendment is absoluteNew York Times v. United States— held that the 1st Amendment is absolute End of Vietnam WarEnd of Vietnam War

Relevance to the war

This is an autobiographical novel as it is a first hand account of the Vietnam War through the eyes of the author Tim O’Brien.Many instances in the novel that points out that not only are there Americans at home are opposing the war, but there are also soldiers on the front lines opposing the war as well.Shows the extent of the draft as it plucked out many young men from small cities such as Worthington, MN. Those few who were not drafted were enrolled college students. Also many instances of soldiers admitting that they thought of becoming Conscientious Objectors. This was a growing trend in the U.S. as many Americans refused to fight in the war and would flee to Canada as a safe haven to avoid fighting. Constant question being asked by soldiers, Why is a war without a clear reason being fought? Many believed that lives should only be put on the line if there are certain fundamental principles being threatened.

Secrets:A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers

Daniel Ellsberg• (1954-57) Marine company

commander

• (1962) Harvard Ph.D in Economics

• RAND Corp Strategic Analyst

• (1964) Pentagon official -"Top Secret" clearance