Instructions: Let this presentation auto-advance By Larissa Koskie

The pressures from both sides of the American experience Tim STRUGGLES WITH THE REALITY OF HIS DRAFT NOTICE By Larissa Koskie

gives an Overview of the Vietnam War FIRST I will answer the question… SECOND This Presentation "What would I have done?"

Overview Of Vietnam

The Draft

Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam War was the longest war in which the United States took part. The Vietnam War began in 1959 and ended in 1975.

Vietnam was separated into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was communist, and they wanted to end U.S. support of South Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted to combine the two parts into one country. 2

North South

The United States and the South Vietnamese army tried to stop this from happening. 3

The last U.S. ground troops left Vietnam two months later. 5

The war officially ended on April 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam.

The Vietnam War was very unpopular in the United States. Many people demonstrated their displeasure with the war.

Unfortunately and unfairly, the people who were treated badly when they returned were the soldiers who had risked their lives to do the fighting. to the United States 8

The United States suffered 58,151 deaths during the conflict between 1964 and 1973 and there are over 2,400 soldiers still missing. There were 153,303 soldiers wounded, 9

Killed…, Let’s see that again… Wounded..

More than 58,000 killed, 10 million displaced from their homes 10 million displaced from their homes 300,000 wounded In Vietnam over 2 million dead, 4 million wounded,

A cease-fire was signed in Paris, 1973 War broke out again in the region, but North Vietnam's victory in 1975 ended the longest war in which the U.S. had ever been involved

Average age of American soldier drafted was 19 Ho chi minh was the North Vietnamese leader at the time Majority of soldiers were drafted-few enlisted  communist (aided by China)

Hold on, because here comes lots of commentary

Americans are known for being very patriotic and therefore, Soldiers who were drafted, though may not have supported the war in Vietnam, felt it was their duty to their country and people to fight. They may also have fought for fear of being seen as a coward or for fear of being seen as a ‘shame’ to the nation or their families and loved ones.

Not only did people feel an obligation towards the government and nation to fight in the Vietnam War, they also were pressured to support the anti-war movement. The soldiers drafted in the war may have been hesitant to go because of the number of people against the war, and again may not have wanted to be seen as cowards or ‘sheep’ that did whatever they were told to.

Between the pressures of the anti-war movement, and the people who did support the war in Vietnam, it is understandable why people like Tim O’Brien from ‘On the Rainy River’ may have been torn between the decision of pursuing their ‘duty’, or doing what they may have believed to be morally right.

"What would I have done?" Question 2:

If I were faced with the decision between following through with my conscription to fight in the Vietnam War or not, and possibly seeking refuge in another country such as Canada, I would seek refuge in another country because of my views against US involvement in the war in Vietnam. I would not choose to show support for the US by fighting on behalf of them, if it was not something I agreed with.

The End By Larissa Koskie

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