Depths of Tragedy in the Working Class War - Book Report/Review Example

Depths of Tragedy in the Working War Introduction The Vietnam War is considered one of the most tragic wars in history. The shock that occurred, the political decisions and the responses from the soldiers created several complications in both Vietnam and America. In the book, Working Class War: American Combat Soldier and Vietnam, there is an understanding of what happened during the Vietnam War. The author provides insight into how this shaped and changed global history for both Vietnam and America. More importantly, the author recounts the details of Vietnam Veterans and the tragedies that they lived through while fighting the war. Displaying the information of the book creates a deeper insight into the circumstances that were surrounding the war as well as what this led to for the nations involved in the political tensions. Summary of Working Class War The main thesis of the author is to present information about the Vietnam War and how it shaped several men in America. The focus of the book is to recount the details not only of the political and historical surroundings. More importantly, the author gives insight into the soldiers and men that were a part of the war and how the circumstances in Vietnam led them into a different understanding of politics and their position in society. The author uses information from Vietnam veterans, support groups, interviews and journals from those who participated in the war. Compiling this information together gives the reader insight into what the war was really about and is able to show a sense of respect to the Vietnam veterans that were in the war. The author’s conclusion is that he believes that the war was one that was a waste of lives, time and only led to several who now live in tragedy as Vietnam veterans because of the political agenda of the time. The main question that the author points out is based on the loss of lives and the legacy of the Vietnam veterans. The author looks at this as a recognized sacrifice of thousands of men that are continuously remembered. However, the author also states that the legend and recounting of the Vietnam veterans places new questions into the modern day wars, as well as the need to understand why so many died with this war. The author refers to this as the demoralization of the war, specifically because the recounting of the missions and the responses that most had were lacking in meaning or responsibility. At the same time, the author recognizes that those that survived the Vietnam war are still trying to find an explanation and understanding of the war and what they lived for. Most live in states of shock and paralysis from the details of what occurred as well as the feeling of not achieving any goals or missions within the war (1-9). One of the reasons why the author points out that the war became pointless with the inability to be effective within the war was because of the mentality of the soldiers. The theme that the author uses is based on the concept of the working class war in which men were pulled out of their jobs to fight in a war. This was partly based on the lack of soldiers from World War II as well as the drafting that began to occur as a result. Most of the men that fought in the Vietnam War were drafted from outside of the army instead of going in voluntarily. More importantly, most were lower class men from the suburbs who were in college or had just graduated from college. Using this social status and recruiting men instead of taking volunteers was one of the main problems of the war, as it created a specific mentality of those that were forced to fight in the battle. Those who were recruited and the life before Vietnam was based on the working class with the need to work in factories and to survive without the wealth and riches other had. Focusing on this type of recruitment, as noted from the author, was one of the mistakes made from the government and toward the battle (Appy, 11-85) The author moves from this basic component of life before the war and into the way that American soldiers were trained to fight in the war. The basic training, beginnings of the war and the way in which the first battles were approached are all considered while recounting details of those that were a part of the war. The stories that are recounted with the training and first battles is noted by the author as one that created a different mentality of those that were recruited. The basic training, for instance, is one that doesn’t show how the men were brought into the army to fight a battle that was patriotic in nature. The details given show how the commanders and officials would create psychological toughness and barriers that were designed to tear the men down that were fighting. The abuse given in both basic training and at the beginning of the war was known to have an impact on the soldiers, not only from the side of fighting, but also because of the way that the troops began to train those that were in the war (86 – 205). The author then moves into the heart of the Vietnam War and what it led to for the Vietnam veterans. The sections that the author focuses on with the different battles and the details of what occurred show a different side to the history of the Vietnam War. The author points out that training the working class for battle and leading them into the high end technology of the war led to fights and battles that the men were not trained to fight in. A main theme of the author is pointed out in these sections as he recounts the battles fought and how it became a loss of lives that led to no end for America or Vietnam. The stories that are recounted for the rest of the book are based on the tragedies of those who died in Vietnam, as well as the shock that the veterans have remained in since this time frame. It is through these several stories that the author is able to point out that the political agenda and the focus of the way that the working class was used created more tragedy than success. Most don’t believe that the war was worth fighting and the veterans that have lived through the experiences have a feeling that the war was senseless and have led to only tragic memories and problems with the Veterans (206 – 321). Critique of the Working Class War The thesis that the author provides is one that is valid and carries several strengths. This is first seen through the approach that the author takes. Instead of pointing out only the historical events of the war, the author depicts the details as seen through the eyes of those that experienced the war. Doing this allows the author to observe what occurred in the war from a different perspective while moving beyond the history and into the perspectives seen by those that lived through the tragedy. Looking at personal stories, veterans’ attitudes and the perceptions of those outside of history and politics is effective in this book. It allows one to move outside of the factual information and to create a questioning of what the war was about, while having a deeper understanding of the tragedy that resulted from the working class that was sent into the war. The format that the author uses not only provides a different perspective to the book but also helps to prove the thesis of the Vietnam War. The main dilemma in the Vietnam War was not based on the political and historical agenda that is often conveyed in the literature studied. More importantly, are the several lives that were affected when they were fighting in the Vietnam War. The shock that the survivors have lived through as well as the several deaths that were caused can be seen through the details that the author provides. Using personalized stories and creating a deeper understanding of the controversy that was surrounding this provides a different level of insight into what was occurring during this time. The author allows the reader to relate to the individual lives and the effect that occurred from the war on more than a political level. The several stories that the author conveys as well as the way that he shows what happens can be questioned by the reader by looking at the viewpoint of the soldiers. More importantly, the author is able to show how this is a timeless theme toward what happened. One of the attributes of this book is based on the questioning of whether the war was worthwhile or not. The author shows some bias in his belief that the war was not worthwhile and caused more damage to the country than good. The thesis that the author provides is further seen in the several stories of those that had to fight. For instance, the author shows the mentality of the veterans in response to the war. At one side, the soldiers show a sense of duty, pride and responsibility for showing their patriotic duty. However, he also notes that most question what the purpose was of fighting in the war. Allowing the veterans to speak also creates the same questioning by the reader, specifically by questioning what the effects of war are. The lives of the veterans were dramatically changed because of this, most which were never able to completely recover from a war that may have not shown usefulness. The theme that the author shows is not only effective in providing detail about the Vietnam War. The timeliness of this book can also be associated with the current time frame and the wars that are continuing in the Middle East. The reader is able to make the same assumptions about the attitudes and the questions that the veterans speak about in this book. For anyone that understands the political agendas and controversies of the current war is also a deeper set of insights into the current war. One of the main achievements of this author is with the ability to use the past history to relate to the current tensions and problems. One is able to question whether the current war is worthwhile, specifically because of the same confusions with the political agenda and the moves that are being taken. While these several points toward the thesis show legitimacy and are effective, there are also some weaknesses to the book. The main weakness is seen in the author’s bias about the war and his belief that it was not effective in achieving a political purpose. This is portrayed through the eyes of veterans and through the independent thoughts and stories throughout the book. However, there is not the ability to see the other side of the Vietnam War. Since it is focused solely on the individual stories, as well as how they combined with the times, it can also be seen that there is a bias toward what was happening. The political agendas, historical understanding and the alternative perceptions toward the time all create a different viewpoint toward the Vietnam War. Many would disagree with the viewpoint of the author in relaying that the war was for only the working class and did not achieve any purpose. Instead, many would state that it provided more opportunity for the political state of the US and was a war that had to be fought. The alternative viewpoint of the author about this historical time frame is one that is left out specifically to show the tragedy of the Vietnam War. However, for the reader to create a true understanding of the several layers and complications of this time period, more than these stories need to be told. The depth of the Vietnam War, tensions of the time and the surrounding environment would all need to be considered. More importantly, there would be the need to understand and question why the politicians decided to take the approach that they did. Recruiting the working class and the poorer individuals who could not afford college, for instance, may have had an alternative purpose. More importantly, the training camps and the way that the soldiers were treated may have occurred for a reason. To completely understand the depth of the Vietnam War and what happened, the agenda and intention of politicians and the militia would have to be portrayed as well. This perspective would provide a stronger thesis for the book and would allow the reader to see a complete viewpoint of the concepts given to the reader. Conclusion The conflict of the Vietnam War is now considered as one of the most tragic and controversial wars of this time frame. The political agenda as well as the response from society created a questioning of the legitimacy of the war as well as problems in understanding what the war was truly being used for. In the book, “Working Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam,” Appy presents the conflict that was a part of the Vietnam War. More importantly, he shows the individual outcome from the veterans that survived through the war. The questions and the observations made show the effects of this war as well as a broader question of what the purpose and usefulness of the war was. Showing this main question and relating it to the tragedy of the veterans and how they have suffered then creates a continuous questioning to the reader of political agendas and purposes behind war. One is not only able to perceive the controversy of the Vietnam War, but can also relate this directly to the current events and the way in which politicians are creating scenarios for current wars that may have the same adverse effects. Works Cited 1. Appy, Christian. Working – Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam. The University of North Carolina Press: North Carolina, 1993. Read More