Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam
i 'W?5? :TK^ •JMy ,:*w' T7&& ^r^?\ 'W
STUDY GUIDE
For Students in Grades 10 and up
Photograph courtesy of Dennis Mannion
Project • - B^X" •. Knowledge &. • . •.".•.".•.".•w. I" •".•."."."J •- •-•--•: Introduction For purchasing information about Welcome to HBO Project Knowledge. We thank you for your interest in our "Dear America: Letters Home From programs and welcome your opinions Our aim in making HBO's original Vietnam" or any other HBO Project and suggestions. programs available to schools, Knowledge titles please contact: libraries and institutions is twofold. Synopsis Over the years, we have received Ambrose Video Publishing thousands of requests for the use of "Dear America: Letters Home From 381 Park Avenue South HBO originals in educational settings. Vietnam" is an emotional chronicle of Suite 1601 We are convinced of the educational the Vietnam War told from the point New York, NY 10016 relevance and significance of our of view of the men and women who 1-800-526-4663 programs and of educators' needs for served there. Soldiers' letters home to such materials. We aim to satisfy friends and family tell the story. News those needs. footage, declassified Pentagon archives, home movies and snapshots We also believe that quality programs taken by GIs show the story; the on interesting topics will stimulate firefights, raids and rocket attacks students to observe and to think and seen in the film are real. Popular will encourage responsible citizenship songs from the 1960s and 1970s and promote the formation of opin provide a musical history of the era ions. We want students to defend their (see back cover). "Dear America: ideas. We hope to provide a context Letters Home From Vietnam" was co- for learning that both makes sense to written and directed by Bill Couturie students and enthralls while it and co-produced for Home Box Office enlightens. by Couturie and Vietnam veteran Thomas Bird, founder of the Vietnam Study guides such as this one have Veterans Ensemble Theatre Company been designed to help teachers focus (VETCo). It covers the time from the on each program's educational passage of the Gulf of Tonkin resolu aspects. They also provide students tion in 1964 to the repatriation of with questions and activities that will prisoners of war in 1973. The film is involve them in their learning process based on the book of the same name, while they grapple with difficult edited by Bernard Edelman for the issues. New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial HBO is a young company whose rapid Commission, and was inspired by the growth has resulted from a commit design for New York City's Vietnam ment to innovative ways of thinking Memorial. and doing business. We believe in those principles and hope to carry This study guide may be reproduced for educational use. them over to our involvement with the Research assistance and bibliography supplied by June Behrmann, M. Ed., for educational community. KIDSNET, the computerized clearinghouse for information on children's audio, video, radio and television in Washington, D.C
©1988 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved.
HBO Project Knowledge, 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 Goals of HBO Project Knowledge •To employ study and research skills says "There is no end to the war in 4. Point out the 17th parallel in Army of the Republic of Vietnam that can apply across the curriculum in sight." Vietnam and identify it as the line (ARVN)—America's South Vietnam the study of important social issues. Day 2—26 minutes that separated North and South ese ally in the war. •To encourage students to develop and Start tape at end of previous day's Vietnam. Tonkin Gulf Resolution—In August, defend their opinions. segment; stop tape after Lyndon 1964 President Lyndon Johnson •To encourage students to watch Johnson says "With American sons Previewing claimed that the U.S. Navy destroyer television critically and evaluate in the field far away, I shall not seek Activities Maddoxwas fired on by North information thoroughly. and I will not accept the nomination Vietnamese boats as it patrolled the •To expand on students' oral and of my party for another term as your Ask students to describe the circum Tonkin Gulf. The incident gave written communication skills. president." stances under which Vietnam was President Johnson the opportunity Day 3—31 minutes divided. If students need extra help, to gain support for his policies in Objectives for Showing Start tape at end of previous day's review with them the following terms: Southeast Asia; he submitted, and "Dear America" in the segment; play through to end. Geneva Convention—In 1954 dele Congress approved, a resolution Classroom gates from nine nations came giving the president broad powers to Background together in Geneva, Switzerland to deploy U.S. forces in Vietnam as he •To provide students with a historical Information devise a peace plan for Indochina. saw fit. and geographical framework to help The Geneva Agreement called for an them understand the context in which Prepare students for the film by providing them with basic knowledge end to hostilities and stated that Using the Time Line the Vietnam War occurred. Vietnam would be divided "tempo about the Vietnam war and the events Hand out the time line in this study •To make connections between events rarily" at the 17th parallel to leading up to it. guide before beginning to show surrounding the war and the current separate the Vietnamese and the 1. Discuss with students the long "Dear America" and separate the state of international affairs. French who were struggling to history of conflict in Vietnam. Point class into three groups. Assign one •To help students see the time rela control the country. Communist out that British, French, Japanese day of the film, which corresponds tionships between events important to leader Ho Chi Minh would rule the and Chinese forces preceded the to one segment of the time line, to the United States' involvement in the north; French forces and their anti- United States in this region. each group. Have students take Vietnam War and other issues of the communist sympathizers would Remind students that the war notes on the important events, time. gather in the south. Elections were between North and South Vietnam music and the tone of the letters and •To encourage acceptance, understand to be held in 1956 to choose a was the result of a struggle brought personal insights of the soldiers as ing and respect for the men and leader who would unify the country. about by different groups vying for the war progresses. Tell students women who served in Vietnam. South Vietnam and the U.S. control of this small, strategically that their notes will be used to •To explore the relationship between declined to sign the agreement: located nation. create an expanded time chart that individual rights and social responsi South Vietnam opposed any should include information about the bility. 2. Use a world map to review the division of Vietnam while the U.S. day-to-day lives of American location and geography of Vietnam felt the agreement favored commu soldiers in Vietnam along with How to Show the using both distance from the U.S. nist countries. Videotape and latitude and longitude. Have factual information about the war. students identify neighboring National Liberation Front—The The total running time for "Dear Amer countries and important waterways political arm of the People's Libera See the section labeled Culminating ica" is 1 hour, 25 minutes. Show the including the Red River, Mekong tion armed forces, organized by Activities at the back of the study film over three class periods by River, Gulf of Tonkin, South China North Vietnam to emphasize such guide for more information about stopping the tape as described here. Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. popular issues as land reform and how this expanded time line may be Day 1—23 minutes 3. Review with students the geograph social justice. used to create a Vietnam memorial Start at beginning; stop tape as it ical areas referred to by the terms North Vietnamese Army (NVA)—The for your school. fades to black after Edwin Newman Indochina and Southeast Asia. Communist fighting forces of North Vietnam. 05 E -V F T rrt CO CO CD CO LO CD CM •n- 03 CD CD CD CD CO CO -=1- CD C 3 LD CD rz cz n rz O OO CD E OO CD O) CJ C_) LO CM CD C3 C 3 •=3- CO r-~ o tZ 5 o CO CO CO Z3 CC) CO CM C 3 o3 CO C\l •^d- ^ a) r^ r~~ CD H- UJ CO CD 03 CD s? CD LD CNJ CO co" cre CD o CNJ LD o C\J rz *^r •^r co o CO s> q^ M- CD T3 03 > in CD CO O) CD CD 'd- CD u> o d r-~ ^r c-n CO co T— CO > CD CO CI u> CXI t m Cvl C3 CD CD rz ^ CO >* ^»C E CD rz cn o o OO o Z3 CD ca CD CD O CO rz E o oo Q3 CD E rz CD CO O "cO O F > E g X 03 CD C3 03 03 O CD E rz XZ a> CO E CZ > TZi o E > Q- E o T3 E CO CD rz CD CD CVS on CZL > rz "CD "rz £ o > CO CD ^Z ECD CT •> CD c- 03 rz CD o CO O > CO CD •a CO CD CD CD Z3 ro o CZL rz o •""_ o > TZS r•>z > tz CO O cz CD TZi O CO Z3 > O "rz CD cz zs c/> CD E > CD CD XZ CD co Q > CD -Q CO CD CO O o "53 O (Ti rz o rz c_ In: rz UJ H— CO D_ o o o CD CO CD >. rz CO rz rz CO *± rz * Q. o ZD o rz —CD CD 03 CO CD "53 TZS "55 T3 ro "53 •a CD o o CD co o CO CD CD o rz CD F CO To rz O rz rz O oo rz =3 co rz o CZ E rz o CZL O rz o 03 rz to cn "cO "cO CD "CO O CO > o o CD ro CD F o CD O o o CD en rz o T3 o TZS o -a rz rz O rz o rz TZS b rz o CO CZL o Z3 co CO CO Z3 c to o o CO rz :> < CO O o cn O o co CO o o 'o ro to CJ rz CO "O CD CO CJ CO CZ o o CD £1 CD > CD 03 Z3 oo rz E o E CD cz o o "CJ rz o CL rz CO CO rz rz CZL rz to CO X3 03 Q. o CO CO tz o o 03 T3 to CO rz i CO X2 CO F cn CD rz CO CD o CD > o =3 o 'xz =3 Z3 >^ CD CD -a CO 1 _Q o_ 03 E E rz Irz rz rz rz rz CZL rz rz CO CD E F E Q. CD I o 03 o CD rz oo F CD C3 rri C 5 C3 CC3 o o o CD rz rz "E -CD T3 o3 XJ " 5 03 CO CD 03 cn 03 •a rz O "a •a T3 O) •a > Q3 CD CD a CD rn -? O CD CZL Z3 rz CO CO CD CD O CD cz "co CD 'co 03 CZ n ° 03 CO *= o m CD >, 03 CD CO •a •a CD rz CD > CD TZ5 CD CO T3 03 •a E •a -O > CO rz 03 O •a b b o b X3 CD TZi o3 CZ 'cn rz "a rz CD T3 rz co E rz rz CD ro rz TZS o TZS .a TZi CO rz XZ CO cz CD O CCS .rz Z3 Z3 E CD CD TZ5 .rz CD CD Z3 CO CD D CD CD CO "cO CD CD CO oo D rz cn > CO ro 03 Z3 CO CO CO CO od CO 03 CD rz CO XZ) o o o 00 CL Z3 E CO TZi o 03 o oo CO Z3 o ZD 132 CD CO CO Q CO co CD _i£ j*: Q. Z3 CO 1S2 ZD JsT. 5 CO "O CD ZD g s: C/3 o Q. Q3 5 rz rz E co" 5 CO CO CD E co O o 5 UJ CO CO CO CO rz O rz rz CO X3 CO (— CO o rz 'o CO re TZS | CO CD "53 CD Q. CZL CD O CD CO CO m CD rz "a CO rz CO CO ^ s- CD oo CD CZL CD O E o zc •a 03 XZ! "O C/3 -r "cO CD 5 ° CO "CD -a CD CO CO CD rz CD> o CD CD CD CO o O CD CL CD XD > CD CD 'co rz C/3 CD > OO CO > Q_ Q TZ3 F rz 5 rz T3 CD cn CT> rz rz CD O >, o t- CD CO CD CD r •» C_ VT rz CD CD CJ CO -CZ CD ixC o rz rz o CD o F r-" _) C O cz O —( i3 o f CO F F =3 to cz rz CO rz 03 Z3 O D> F CD X CO =3 ) > cn ro o CO = CD O o CD CO CO o CZL CO OO CO rz OJ CD C E CD co CO "^ rz o to rz co 2! Q. XZ ^z rz CJ CZL 03 CD CD O CO CD CD 03 "cO CD TZJ -3 'oo o co E CD ZD CD rz CD "aj >• "zZS •a o3 CD .2 'cn CD -a CD rz Z3 rz "rz rz o cz tz- rz CD O OO CO CD CO ^Z! CO cn Z3 O XZ 1 —i O CO m CO CZ m T3 o CO F o o F > ro Q_ CO rz tz CZ CO o _a rz CZL CO T3 CD xz> -CD -a >i t CD F TZS CO XZ F CO rz F CO CD E
CD recn CO •a CZL D CD oo OJCD CNJ as CD CD CD LO ^J o rz co re CO CO rz o OJ CO o CL CD CD CO CD CO 03 O O CO CD x5 to CD T3 T3 53."^ CO C\J LO ro CD CD LO LO CD CD co 1_ ^3- 1_ r-- co" b i<: rz o. O0 CO CO CD & CNJ o CO oo co .:= E >-03 ±rei E XZ! CD .32 re> OO c > CO E -SEE E Q. E CZL re o co o .92 rO O CO = *= as CD > F F F rz F £= 2 rrez Z3 ro rr> CO on 03 O CD r~ r.. [ aj c~ CO rz CD CD CD ^> oj CD ^> CO > c3 1 j» j*: xz ZD re P re o re > > > > ° re co JZ: o § °-o CD rz 03 03 CD QJ CD C rz cz rz Z3 CZ 03 co •= o ^ rz .co o CJ rz E O CO r- 03 rz O C3 CD .^ 1— "re CO re E re OO re "53 TZi CO "53 CO "53 o "53 ro D) CD CD cz CD TZ5 CD T3 CD TZ! C/3 ,j>» E CO rz rz rz rz rz rz "I = o li: rz CD 03 CD >, o o o CJ m ^ CO _ ;>E F ro CO b CJ •a TD o as re o ror z o cz o a rz rrj o rz CO CD o TZ3 D T3 O o ""> X2 o o o o CD O o rz ao 2 C ) _re CO to rz aj CL CD CO T3 ^> JZ: .-^> _o TD g.°- =j & ° r/o Qre CL c_ E CL c_ CL rz rz O CD CD x: CD CO CD > Q_ CD -CrO _o 03 o re CD re 'co O o re i—i i— CO 0SJ0 re CD O CD o CD rz CD CD E D rz CD rz rz ST cz rz rz 4= "^ = ° re • r>o , ro > ro O 0J C J « S rz o rn CO ra TD CO CO CO S.CDf i T3 1 •a TZi r- T3 CO rO T3 cn^2 .td CD LO ro CO g» " CD CD CD CD CD O rz CO cz rz CZ rz co o T3 co TZi T3 cn rz co^ = I o c5 E 03 = CL -> E re o O 03 E CZ CD E "E "^ ^ "2 TTJ rz O TZ! TZi rz rz TD CZ 03 *-' > rz "^ 03 'CO XZ L^ rerz CO X3 xz cn O D » -^ CD Z3 CD D CD Z3 _CD Z3 CD F od •e CO to oo o CD CO 52 co CO CO 03 c: - H rz o "> a> a. T3 rz o o rz o E rz o o CO rz o « g" CQ t ' — (- rz "o 03 o ZD 132 o ZD 132 ZD 132 "o ZD 132 00 tz rz 5 o 5 CD re CD CO o a: -a E CO = o ¥> «= CO CO 1 | 1 rz o Q CO XD. o CD CD > "- F n (/) r H> CO • rz O o o J CO T3 *j ZD 1 LO CD o XZ o > re cn cn CO CD CD ^ — (— CO re CD F CD CD •g = oo re o cn re xz.92 ^
12 13 Bibliography The Music of "Dear America" Caputo, Philip. A Rumor of War. Karnow, Stanley. Vietnam. New York: Each of these songs appears on the soundtrack of "Dear America: Letters Home New York: Ballentine Books, 1978. Viking Press, 1983. A monumental From Vietnam." Have students find out when each song was popular and plot it on An ex-Marine officer reflects on his analysis of the Vietnam War. their expanded time chart. Students may prepare a musical presentation entitled 16 months in Vietnam; awarded the "Music of the Vietnam Era" for the class or to be presented upon the opening of Pulitzer Prize. Kovic, Ron. Born on the 4th of July. your school's Vietnam memorial. New York: Pocket Books, 1977. A "Gimme Shelter" Center for Social Studies Education, wounded Marine sergeant's reflec "Are You Experienced?" Rolling Stones Jerold M. Starr, Director. The Lessons tions on his experiences in Vietnam. The Jimi Hendrix Experience of the Vietnam War. Pittsburgh: "Going to a Go-Go" Center for Social Studies Education, Lopes, Sal. The Wall. New York: "Back in the USA" I Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 115 Mayfair Drive, Pittsburgh, PA Collins Publishers, Inc., 1987. An MC5 15228, (412) 341-1967. A comprehen evocative photographic essay on "Grace" sive high school and college curricu Washington, D.C.'s Vietnam Veterans "The Beat Goes On" Country Joe and the Fish lum on the Vietnam War. Memorial. Sonny and Cher "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" Edelman, Bernard, ed. Dear America: Summers, Harry Jr.. Vietnam War "Blue Christmas" is Bob Dylan Letters Home From Vietnam. New Almanac. New York: Facts on File, Elvis Presley York: Pocket Books, 1985. A collec 1985. An authoritative source book on "I Shall Be Released" tion of very personal letters from the military, political, diplomatic and "Born in the USA" The Band soldiers, nurses, and other personnel social aspects of the Vietnam War by Bruce Springsteen in Vietnam. a colonel who is a combat infantry "No Expectations" veteran of Korea and Vietnam. "A Change is Gonna Come" Rolling Stones Emerson, Gloria. Winners and Losers: Sam Cooke Battles, Retreats, Gains, Losses and Terry, Wallace. Bloods: An Oral "Once I Was" Ruins From a Long War. New York: History of the Vietnam War by Black "Eighteen" Tim Buckley Random House, 1977. A report on the Veterans. New York: Random House, Alice Cooper effects of Americans on the Vietnam 1984. Twenty black soldiers talk about "Signed D.C." ese and the effects of the Vietnam their experiences in Vietnam and their "Family Affair" Love War in America. difficulty readjusting to civilian life. Sly and the Family Stone "Silent Night" Herr, Michael. Dispatches. New York: "Five to One" The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Avon, 1988. Personal commentary The Doors Orchestra and memorable stories from Esquire magazine's Vietnam correspondent. "Fortunate Son" "Under the Boardwalk" Creedence Clearwater Revival The Drifters "For What It's Worth" The Indochina Institute publishes teaching "Walk Like a Man" Buffalo Springfield materials, posters and a newsletter on The Four Seasons "Who's Doing What in the Field" of Vietnam-era events and the life of the "What's Going On?" generation. Write to: „ f Marvin Gaye The Indochina Instititute George Mason University "Wipe Out" Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. The Surfaris
14 15