History1

A detailed Summary of History1

Most people in our society think of the Vietnam War as a tragedy, or a negative time in our history that was later viewed as a misstep. These comments are true and most-certainly conventional. However, does the average person realize how large of an impact it had on the men who fought? When questioned on the Vietnam War, it can be rightly assumed that many Americans would know that it lasted over a decade. Maybe even a few would know that over 14,000 U.S. troops were killed in 1968, alone, (Appy, 7). The reality is that factual information such as this can only take you so far. It is not until we feel the experience through personal accounts, do we fully understand the Vietnam War.

Since the beginning of time the concept of war has had a negative connotation. Every war in United States history has been directly related to the brunt of the conflict, the front-line, the blood, the gore, and the mounting deaths. Vietnam never escaped, and will never escape from its horrifying side.

Over the course of the Vietnam War nearly 45,000 men were labeled as K.I.A. (killed in action). In addition to the recorded number of deaths, tens of thousands of men are still considered to be missing in action, (Appy, 29). Today, thousand

commanders took when American lives were in jeopardy, (Appy, 230).

Jim Calbreath was an in-country medic at the 18th surgical hospital in Danang. For Calbreath, the war was an entirely different experience, a more informal experience.

Nevertheless, the immense homesickness and all of the discomforts were not the most important themes Calbreath mentioned, yet did not explain. The most prevalent theme among these types of Vietnam soldier accounts dealt with alcohol consumption and smoking marijuana.

and I mean it was baking! A few guys died from sunstroke.

The guilt of Pete Childress and other Vietnam veterans is so severe that it affects them for the rest of their lives. Stories like these make the war much more dramatic then it seems at first glance. The brunt of the war was real and we have the stories to account for much of that side. Yet, the men who were not roving through the jungle describe the war in a very different manner. These were the men in the background; the men who comprised most of the American force.

out to the Buddhist temple near the base. It was very

then, that I knew. I put my arm around him, and we sat together

aggressive tactics and would not take the kind of risks earlier

By 1969 American soldiers commonly viewed the emphasis

His day began with a 6 a.m. wake up, where he was generally covered in sweat, due to the horrible climate. After putting on his "blood stained" fatigues he went to the mess hall for breakfast, which usually consisted of "rotting food" and "disgusting coffee." There were just a few of the small discomforts of the war. After breakfast he would begin his twelve-hour shift in the hospital tent. His day was mostly a monotonous routine. Calbreath would usually spend his time thinking about his life back home, including he woman who was supposed to be waiting for him to return. His duties in the hospital did not cover a large range. His patients were usually suffering from malaria or minor injuries. At around 7 p.m. Jim's relief would show up and he'd rush out to dinner and then on to the EM club for what he considered to be "the fun of the war."

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Approximate Word count = 2506
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History