The Things They The Things They CarriedCarriedby Tim O’Brienby Tim O’Brien

An inside view of the experiences An inside view of the experiences of of

Vietnam War soldiers.Vietnam War soldiers.

Take a moment to jot down Take a moment to jot down what you already know about what you already know about

the war.the war.► Facts:Facts: ► Facts:Facts:

The Root of the ConflictThe Root of the Conflict► There was no fixed beginning for the U.S. There was no fixed beginning for the U.S.

war in Vietnam. The United States entered war in Vietnam. The United States entered that war incrementally, in a series of steps that war incrementally, in a series of steps between 1950 and 1965.between 1950 and 1965.

► Fighting on one side was a coalition of Fighting on one side was a coalition of forces including the United States, the forces including the United States, the Republic of Vietnam (South), Australia, New Republic of Vietnam (South), Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.Zealand, and South Korea.

► Fighting on the other side was a coalition of Fighting on the other side was a coalition of forces including the Democratic Republic of forces including the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North) and the National Liberation Vietnam (North) and the National Liberation Front, a communist-led South Vietnamese Front, a communist-led South Vietnamese guerrilla movement (VC). guerrilla movement (VC).

► Conflict stemmed from Cold War fearsConflict stemmed from Cold War fears

The Key PlayersThe Key Players

►General William C. WestmorelandGeneral William C. Westmoreland: U.S. : U.S. military commander in Vietnammilitary commander in Vietnam

► President Lyndon B. JohnsonPresident Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ): One (LBJ): One of 6 U.S. presidents throughout the course of of 6 U.S. presidents throughout the course of the warthe war

►Viet CongViet Cong (VC): National Front for the (VC): National Front for the Liberation of South VietnamLiberation of South Vietnam

►Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh: President of Democratic President of Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North)Republic of Vietnam (North)

►Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem: leader of Republic of : leader of Republic of Vietnam (South) Vietnam (South)

► Secretary of Defense Robert McNamaraSecretary of Defense Robert McNamara: : chief planner of U.S. strategy in Vietnamchief planner of U.S. strategy in Vietnam

A New Kind of WarA New Kind of War► Guerrilla warfare - a method of unconventional Guerrilla warfare - a method of unconventional

combat by which small groups of combatants attempt combat by which small groups of combatants attempt to use mobile and surprise tactics (ambushes, raids, to use mobile and surprise tactics (ambushes, raids, etc) etc)

► New technology – helicopters, chemical weapons, New technology – helicopters, chemical weapons, radio/telephone communicationradio/telephone communication

► A Media War – for the first time, American’s on the A Media War – for the first time, American’s on the home front had a front row view of the war, thanks to home front had a front row view of the war, thanks to the televisionthe television Broadcast journalism Broadcast journalism MusicMusic

The War In 1968The War In 1968In the year O’Brien was drafted:In the year O’Brien was drafted:► The turning point of the war occurs as 84,000 The turning point of the war occurs as 84,000

Viet Cong guerrillas aided by NVA troops launch Viet Cong guerrillas aided by NVA troops launch the Tet Offensive attacking a hundred cities the Tet Offensive attacking a hundred cities and towns throughout South Vietnam. and towns throughout South Vietnam.

► Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy are assassinated.Kennedy are assassinated.

► During the Democratic national convention in During the Democratic national convention in Chicago, 10,000 anti-war protesters gather on Chicago, 10,000 anti-war protesters gather on downtown streets and are then confronted by downtown streets and are then confronted by 26,000 police and national guardsmen. The 26,000 police and national guardsmen. The brutal crackdown is covered live on network TV. brutal crackdown is covered live on network TV. 800 demonstrators are injured. 800 demonstrators are injured.

► Richard M. Nixon is elected president after LBJ Richard M. Nixon is elected president after LBJ decides not to run for a second term.decides not to run for a second term.

► In 1968, over a thousand men a month were In 1968, over a thousand men a month were killed.killed.

The DraftThe Draft

► In late July 1965, Johnson doubled the number In late July 1965, Johnson doubled the number of young men to be drafted per month from of young men to be drafted per month from 17,000 to 35,000. 17,000 to 35,000.

► On August 31, he signed a law making it a On August 31, he signed a law making it a crime to burn a draft card. crime to burn a draft card.

► Today, the Selective Service System remains Today, the Selective Service System remains in place as a contingency planin place as a contingency plan

► A conscientious objector is one who is A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles. religious principles.

► Deferments for those making progress toward Deferments for those making progress toward a degree.a degree.

Some quick facts and statsSome quick facts and stats

► 58,148 Americans were killed and 304,000 58,148 Americans were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served.wounded out of 2.59 million who served.

► The average age of those killed in Vietnam was The average age of those killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years.23.11 years.

► 50,274 were enlisted, average age 22.37.50,274 were enlisted, average age 22.37.

► The average infantryman in the South Pacific during The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year, thanks to about 240 days of combat in one year, thanks to the mobility of the helicopter.the mobility of the helicopter.

Even More FactsEven More Facts

►One out of every 10 Americans who served One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. Although the in Vietnam was a casualty. Although the percentage who died is similar to other percentage who died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300 percent higher than in World War II. 300 percent higher than in World War II. 75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely 75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled.disabled.

►Men under the age of 21 killed: 61% Men under the age of 21 killed: 61% ► POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity). POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity). ►Wounded in action: 303,704 Wounded in action: 303,704 ►Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of

combat deaths in Vietnamcombat deaths in Vietnam

The Anti-War MovementThe Anti-War Movement

►On college campuses:On college campuses: draft card burnings draft card burnings at Berkeley, Kent State massacreat Berkeley, Kent State massacre

►Music:Music: Bob Dylan and other artists Bob Dylan and other artists► Individual protests:Individual protests: Buddhist monks, Buddhist monks,

copycat protests on U.S. soilcopycat protests on U.S. soil►House Un-American Activities House Un-American Activities

Committee: Committee: investigated suspected investigated suspected communists communists

Where in the world is Where in the world is Vietnam?Vietnam?

The War In PicturesThe War In Pictures

► Left: Vietnamese Air Force T-28 Skyraiders, flown by U.S. Air Force pilots, Left: Vietnamese Air Force T-28 Skyraiders, flown by U.S. Air Force pilots,

drop napalm on Viet Cong targets. drop napalm on Viet Cong targets. Photo Credit: Larry Burrows, 1962 (Photo Credit: Larry Burrows, 1962 (LifeLife.).) ► Right: "Murder of a Vietcong by Saigon Police Chief." Vietnam, 1968.Right: "Murder of a Vietcong by Saigon Police Chief." Vietnam, 1968. Photo Photo

Credit: Eddie Adams. Copyright AP.Credit: Eddie Adams. Copyright AP.

So… what’s your opinion?So… what’s your opinion?

One of the most controversial statements One of the most controversial statements of the entire war, is made by an American of the entire war, is made by an American officer who states,officer who states,

"We had to destroy it in order to "We had to destroy it in order to save it”save it”

referring to a small city near Saigon referring to a small city near Saigon leveled by American bombs. leveled by American bombs.

His statement is later used by many as a His statement is later used by many as a metaphor for the American experience in metaphor for the American experience in Vietnam. Vietnam.

The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried►Fiction… or is it? See dedication pageFiction… or is it? See dedication page►Verisimilitude is achieved by a writer or Verisimilitude is achieved by a writer or

storyteller when he presents striking storyteller when he presents striking details which lend an air of authenticity details which lend an air of authenticity to a tale. to a tale.

►Told as a series of related vignettesTold as a series of related vignettes►Not in chronological order (be aware of Not in chronological order (be aware of

place and time)place and time)► Is as much about writing as it is about Is as much about writing as it is about

the soldiers in the warthe soldiers in the war►O’Brien is our narrator and main O’Brien is our narrator and main

charactercharacter

Recurring ThemesRecurring Themes►Physical pain vs. mental anguishPhysical pain vs. mental anguish

►Loss of innocenceLoss of innocence

►Courage, heroism, and valorCourage, heroism, and valor

►Fear of shameFear of shame

►Truth in storytellingTruth in storytelling