After 9 am on Monday, April 25, the final exam questions will be available here (under Readings and Handouts).

Schmitz, Tet Offensive, Ch. 4-5 (34 pgs)

To guide your reading:

What specific effects did the Tet Offensive have within the U.S. (starting in March 1968, that is, in Chapter 4…)?

What is the “television thesis” and how does Schmitz attempt to refute it? Do you find his argument convincing?

Schmitz, The Tet Offensive, Ch. 3 (34 pgs)

To guide your reading:

What were the Hanoi government’s goals in planning the Tet Offensive?

How much did the US know about the plans? What conclusions did they draw?

What were the “on the ground” actions and responses in the Tet Offensive?

What immediate effects did the Tet Offensive have within Vietnam? In the US?

Appy, Patriots excerpts (13 pgs)

To guide your reading:

What factors led to a blurring of clear combat boundaries during the Vietnam War?

Consider the highly advanced technology the U.S. had, including not only weapons but helicopters, construction equipment, rations, etc. How did this technology shape the experience of individuals in this war? (You could draw upon Ripcord as well as Appy in thinking about this).

What effects did the war have on Vietnamese society (including the experience of Americans in Vietnam during the war)?

What specific details left a lasting impression or had a lasting effect on these participants?

Nolan, Ripcord excerpts (43 pgs) (17 pgs)

To guide your reading:

Even before the battle starts, what clues can you find to the overall mindset of the soldiers at Ripcord? What were their daily concerns? How was their experience similar to or different from soldiers in other times or places?

What strategies and resources did each side have in the attack on Hill 902 during the siege of Ripcord?

What mistakes did the U.S. soldiers make leading up to the night attack?

How did the soldiers react during the battle?

Schmitz, Tet Offensive, Intro and Ch. 2 (37 pgs)

To guide your reading:

According to the introduction, what is Schmitz’ thesis? What other historical interpretations is he trying to refute?

Before the Tet Offensive, what strategies and views did US policy-makers have for the war, and on what grounds? What different views on the war were present in public opinion, and what arguments were made against the war?

The Good War excerpts (21 pg) here under Readings and Handouts

To guide your reading:

These excerpts are potential material for Paper #3. Although we will not have time to talk about all the details in class, you should “mine” them for material relevant to your chosen topic. The topics are: training; leadership; perceptions/interaction w/enemy; everyday life; effects of changing technology; long-term effects. What passages in the excerpts illuminate these topics?

The different interviewees are from different backgrounds and interacted with the war in different ways. What factors had the most effect in shaping their experience? That is, what things made the war most different for different people?

Is there an incident or anecdote that stands out to you? This can be a good starting place for your paper, but we need to move beyond “it’s just creepy” to “what does it show us about the effects of war on participants”? And then to finding other comparable material.

TWEAK FROM SYLLABUS: Adams, Best War Ever Ch. 7 (Life Cycle of a Myth) read only 130-138 (Inglorious Basterds paragraph) (8 pg)

To guide your reading:

In his final chapter, Adams attempts to trace the “Good War Myth”. How, when and why was it created? How did it develop? What explanation does he give for its rise and fall?
We will also spend class time taking stock of Adams’ book overall. Think back over major arguments (successful or not) and about points in the book that we didn't get to discuss in class.