Report and Analysis of Interview - Vietnam War - Assignment Example

Report and Analysis of an Interview With a Vietnam War Survivor History 352 Project May, Analysis of an interviewwith a Vietnam War Survivor Introduction The Vietnam War Survivor that I am going to write about is Thomas R. Jones of Springfield Illinois, USA. A personal interview with him is not possible, so I chose the second option of a first-hand account written by him in his own book which he had published on November 15, 20051. I believe this is a primary source of information which is tantamount to a personal interview. II. Content •What was this person's relationship to the Vietnam War?

Jones was only 23 years old when he was sent to Vietnam as a Corpsman in 1987. He considered that age already old compared with the rest of the soldiers who were only 18 and 19 years old then. A Corpsman provides medical services to its combat units and stations.2 Jones was trained as Corpsman in a school in San Diego, California, and had practiced combatant warfare in the jungle of the Philippines and at Camp Lejeune of North Carolina. He was assigned as a Senior Corpsman in the Third Marine Division, Reconnaissance Company in Vietnam.

As a member of the Recon Team, they operated behind enemy lines continuously for seven days a week. Although he said, there were enemy lines or territory, the directions were not clear, and he felt every place in Vietnam is an enemy’s territory. As a corpsman and during combat, he used his hands in an attempt to stop draining of the blood of his fellow soldiers who was hit in the combat. For that, he was fondly called “Doc”. •What were the subject’s personal views of the Vietnam War during the Vietnam Era?

To Thomas, a non-combatant unit where he was assigned was an easy prey for Vietnamese attacks because they target every man in uniform regardless of the unit and considered them as enemies. He felt Vietnam was a place of fear where death is succumbed by everyone, anywhere. To him, Vietnam is a dead zone. •From a contemporary perspective, what is this person’s general view of the Vietnam War? Vietnam has changed the perspectives of Thomas, from that of having respect for people to that of accepting killing of people as a natural act.

When he was in Vietnam, he thought of death as a possibility always. He thinks being in Vietnam during the war, makes one more patriotic, and the desire for news at home is great. Soldiers rejoiced on hearing American music and letters from home are more than valued. •How does the subject believe the Vietnam War impacted the evolution of the United States as a nation? After thirteen months in Vietnam, he returned to the United States, and served as Assistant Director for Illinois Department of Vietnam Affairs in the Governor’s Cabinet from 1981 to 1986.

He did not mention any impact of the war on the evolution of the United States as a nation; but the mere creation of a Memorial for the Vietnam War Veterans is already an appropriate tribute to the sacrifices of all the soldiers who had committed their lives for the sake of the nation. •What is your personal reaction to the subject’s responses? Where they what you expected? Were you surprised by any responses? I was surprised by the response that when the war is over, many soldiers who got home are “lost”.

They longed for home, yet when they were home, they could not adjust right away so they are “lost”. Thomas described the situation as a “metamorphosis of a man into a soldier and back of a soldier into a man”. He was lucky enough to be accepted by his family at once. Being “lost” is an aftermath of bad publicity that blamed the soldiers for the way the war was conducted, and because of this, they were hated by the public.3 I did not expect this attitude and I sympathize with the soldiers who offered their lives for they are bound by their duty to serve and people simply did not understand. III. Conclusion Nobody wins a war because it leaves bitter experiences to people involved.

Lives, personal properties and a huge amount of money are lost for both warring parties. The personal accounts of Thomas showed how hard it was to live in fear of death anytime. Living in the jungle amidst the sounds of bombs and gun shots is like a nightmare that even the bravest man would turn cowardice at a time. I felt the hurt of soldiers who were rejected by its own people who did not even experienced the dangers of living in war. Yes, I agree with Thomas that war changes the values of people who constantly lived in danger.

Long after the war is over; the nightmarish incidences will still linger in the minds of the soldier and will be a constant reminder of how they behaved during the war, as experienced by Thomas. Thanks to Dir. Thomas for sharing me his experiences which showed me how a man could change attitudes overnight when facing trials. References List Department of Veterans Affairs (2013). “ Aftermath”. Australia and the Vietnam War. Retrieved from Thomas, Jones. R. (15 November 2005). I am a Vietnam War Survivor.

Retrieved from Streissguth,Tom (1999-2013). “What is a Corpsman in the Marines”. Retrieved from