V. VIETNAM WAR
Overview of the Vietnam War followed by a debate style activity in which
students
discuss whether or not we should be in Vietnam.
Introduction and Overview of Vietnam:
1. Video from History.com ‘The Road to War’ which gives a brief overview on America’s
decision to engage war in Vietnam (00:02:40)
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war
2. Copies of lyrics will be handed out to students for two songs, one an anti-war song,
and one from the point of view of the soldier. Both songs will be listened to, and
students will be asked to discuss freely the different sides of this controversial era. This
is a prediscussion to prompt the debate.
Protest Song: I Ain’t Marching Anymore by Phil Ochs
“This song stirred the blood when Phil Ochs performed it at anti-Vietnam War and Civil
Rights rallies. His song is from the point of view of a soldier as he is called on to fight
through America’s history, culminating in the atomic bomb attack on Japan. It became a
signature song for Ochs and was at its most powerful at the infamous Chicago
Democratic National Convention
in 1968 when members of the crowd burnt their draft cards during his performance.
Ochs also released a folk rock version. Other artists have covered the song, including
fellow singer songwriter, Arlo Guthrie, son of the famous Woody.”
(Source: TopTenz)
Listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv1KEF8Uw2k&feature=kp
I Ain't Marching Anymore
by Phil Ochs
Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying
I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore
Chorus:
It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all
For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brother
And so many others
And I ain't marchin' anymore
For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore
(chorus)
For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning
I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore
Now the labor leader's screamin' when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more.
Pro-War Song: Sergeant Barry Sadler’s Ballad of the Green Beret
Sergeant Barry Sadler’s Ballad of the Green Beret was a Top 40 hit during the early
rock and roll era because of its relationship with the early days of the Vietnam War.
During a time when the public opinion of the war was low, Sadler wrote these lyrics in
order to admire the soldiers in Vietnam. During the war, Sadler was injured by a booby
trap called a punji stick and was bedridden.
During his time in the hospital, he released the rights to Ballad of the Green Beret so
that his side of the story could be heard. The Green Berets are the US Army's elite
Special Forces unit, the unit to which Sadler belonged. He was filmed for television
singing his song at the hospital, and as soon as the tape was aired to the public, it
became a top hit. (Source: SongFacts)
Listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSmUOj_CnrQ
Ballad of the Green Beret
by Sgt. Barry Sadler
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Chorus:
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men we'll test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Trained to live, off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand to hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage deep, from the Green Beret
Chorus
Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her this last request
Repeat Chorus
Activity:
DEBATE: Opposing Civilian vs. Supporting Politician
1. Class with be split into small groups of three or four students and will be assigned to
either the opposing civilian role, or the supporting politician role. A character
background on their
perspective will be given to the group, as well as two different resources for them to use
in order to gain facts and claims for their given side of the debate.
2. Students will then be split in half, and each half will be given guidelines to help
support their argument (one for the opposing civilian and one for the supporting
politician).
3. Once students have gathered information, formed debate points, and reviewed the
debategrading rubric, groups will be matched for a debate.
Civilian Character Background:
Valerie Smith: 19 year old African American female and first year college student from
New York whose 21-year-old brother was recently killed in action in South Vietnam
during a helicopter mission after being drafted into the war. Due to the trauma of your
brother’s death, and your interpretation that the country should be putting its resources
into the domestic Civil Rights movement and not the Vietnam war, you are ANTI-WAR
and want the US to pull out of Vietnam AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Source:
Opinion Editorial Early on in the War:
http://www.newsminer.com/opinion/editorials/years-since-vietnam-war-early-innewspapereditorialnotes-the/article_1d9be196-b719-11e3-8b4f-001a4bcf6878.html
Politician Character Background
Lyndon B Johnston : As President of the United States, you believe that engaging in
war with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong was the right decision because the
domino-effect of Communism is a threat to the world and to America. Although it is clear
that this war is expensive, costing many lives, and increasing tension for the
Vietnamese people, continuing war
until a US victory is the only option in your opinion. You are PRO-WAR and believe that
US involvement is NECESSARY.
Source:
Lyndon B Johnston Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tf2xGb5Nsg
Leading Question:
As the war in Vietnam escalated, and the Viet Cong continued their intense guerilla
warfare, the U.S.’s involvement became more complex. Given the events during the
beginning of the war
and the public’s strong opinions as it continued, do you think the U.S. troops should
have stayed or pulled out?