American+Soldier+in+Vietnam

Mara Peoples May 26, 2011 History 8-4

The American Soldier in Vietnam

==== Throughout the year, we spent some time learning a bout and reflecting on the life, challenges, impact, and sacrifices of the men and women who served the United States in our various military conflict. While we do not have a great deal of time to spend on the soldiers in the Vietnam War, it is important to examine their experience to understand the conflict, their sacrifice, and the honor they deserve ... especially with Memorial Day coming on Monday. Please spend some time this evening examining some of the resources below, and come to class tomorow with thoughts, ideas, and questions about the soldiers that served in Vietnam. ====

ONCE YOU ARE DONE BROWSING - Select one  of the following options and post it in your online notebook ...

1) Write a sincere letter to an anonymous solider who served in Vietnam. discuss what you think about their service, the challenges they faced, and the sacrifices they made. 2) Create a [|wordle] that describes the life and legacy of American soldiers in Vietnam. Include words that discuss the historical part of their service as well as your feelings about their service. Select colors and size of words to fit your mood and your message. 3) Compose a poem or song lyrics that describe the service of American soldiers in Vietnam. The lyrics can go to a specific song or be an original song of your own. 4) Create a brief annotated [| voicethread] with images of soldiers isn Vietnam and your reflection on their service and sacrifice.


 * Sources ...**

[|In the Trenches]  from PBS' //Vietnam Online// ==== [|Guerilla Tactics - An Overview]  from PBS' //Battlefield Vietnam// ==== ==== Videos from the History Channel - [|Vietnam's Underground Warfare]  / __[|History Rocks: Vietnam Soldier] __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> / <span style="background-color: initial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|A Soldier Comes of Age] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">/ s(not the irony of the name of the man being interviewed) ====

[|History Channel Images from the war -]
==== [|Vietnam - Chasing Charlie reading.PDF]Vietnam - Chasing Charlie - a great reading from Interact ==== ==== <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taft's <span style="background-color: initial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|videos and photos] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> from the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam - check them out! ==== [|Letters Home from Vietnam] - from the Wisconsin Historical Society

Hover over the animation below to learn more about the tunnel system use by the VietCong.

If you are really interested, you can check out the series [| "Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam"] on YouTube. It's powerful (and mature) stuff, and split into 9 episodes .. but if you want to know what it was like to be a soldier in Vietnam, this is the best resource.

To the song Vox Populi by 30 Seconds to Mars media type="file" key="08 Vox Populi.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Verse 1: They were sweating and crying While they were fighting and dying Waiting and wanting for the battle to end And when they go back home they are wishing That they will be welcomed in

Verse 2: They want to fly they want to win They just want this war to end No more are they just little boys They are grown men, who fought, who died And lost the innocence inside

Verse 3: Drops dropping all around They can hear all of the gun The dead bodies lying on the ground Bu they are all proud as can be To know they have served our country so gallantly