explanations about the ground war, the politics, and the protests back home in America.
F OR M ATURE R EADERS
Dispatches, by Michael Herr (New York: Avon Books, 1978). A classic journal of war. In Country, by Bobbie Ann Mason (New York: HarperCollins, 1986). A coming-of-age novel about a teenage girl whose father was killed in Vietnam and whose uncle is a Vietnam vet. Tears Before the Rain: An Oral History of the Fall of South Vietnam, by Larry Engelmann (New York: DaCapo Press, 1997). Voices of Vietnamese and Americans who were there. The Things They Carried, by Tim OâBrien (Broadway Books, 1998). A collection of twenty-two interrelated short pieces that together form a whole. All relate to the Vietnam War. Some are fiction; some are based on the authorâs experiences as an American GI in that war. The Unwanted: A Memoir of Childhood, by Kien Nguyen (Boston: Little, Brown, 2001). A memoir by an Amerasian who now lives in the U.S. about the devastating years following reunification in Vietnam, and the suffering he and his family endured. Vietnam: A History, by Stanley Karnow (New York: Viking Press, 1983). A comprehensive history of the war, with special emphasis on Americaâs role. Vietnam, Now: A Reporter Returns, by David Lamb (New York: PublicAffairs, 2002) A fascinating journey through modern Vietnam, told by a reporter who covered the war, then went back to live there in 1997 and discovered a whole new country. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places (New York: Doubleday, 1989) and Child of War, Woman of Peace (New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1993), both by Le Ly Hayslip. The author was a village child during the war and grew up to marry an American GI and live in the U.S.
R ECOMMENDED W EB S ITE
http://www.vvmf.org . Sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Click on âTeach Vietnamâ to explore a remarkable Web site that includes history, reflection, photos, and links with other quality, updated Web sites. Very well done and useful for students and educators.
A Web site search for âVietnam Warâ and âOperation Babyliftâ will bring up a variety of sites and information. Keep in mind that groups often have a specific agenda, and itâs possible that not all the information given will be reliable.
V IDEOS
Vietnam: A Television History. This Emmy-winning seven-volume series presents a detailed study of the war and its aftermath. Contains graphic material. Written by Andrew Pearson, produced by WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston. Precious Cargo. Produced for PBS, this documentary follows eight adoptees from Vietnam on their journey back to their homeland in search of their past.
M OVIES
Hollywood has its own versions of the Vietnam War. With the exception of Indochine, which views the coming war from the French perspective (and is in French with English subtitles), all of the notable movies listed here relate stories of American soldiers before, during, and/or after the war.
About the War
Apocalypse Now, Born on the Fourth of July, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, Hair (based on the musical of the same name), Hamburger Hill, In Country, Indochine, Platoon, We Were Soldiers. Because of graphic violence, parental discretion is urged.
About Vietnam
Cyclo, The Scent of Green Papaya, Three Seasons, The Vertical Rays of the Sun. These four fine movies have all been produced by Vietnamese directors using Vietnamese actors. They realistically portray Vietnamese culture.
S OURCES
Like many writers whose subject matter has been Vietnam, I found I could not do it justice until I actually visited that tiny country, experiencing for myself the landscape, the culture, the warmth of the people, and the ghosts of war. I believe that firsthand experience has brought accuracy of detail to many passages in this book.
In addition to the invaluable help of eyewitness accounts from Matt Steiner and from men and women Iâve cited elsewhere who were in Saigon and
F OR M ATURE R EADERS
Dispatches, by Michael Herr (New York: Avon Books, 1978). A classic journal of war. In Country, by Bobbie Ann Mason (New York: HarperCollins, 1986). A coming-of-age novel about a teenage girl whose father was killed in Vietnam and whose uncle is a Vietnam vet. Tears Before the Rain: An Oral History of the Fall of South Vietnam, by Larry Engelmann (New York: DaCapo Press, 1997). Voices of Vietnamese and Americans who were there. The Things They Carried, by Tim OâBrien (Broadway Books, 1998). A collection of twenty-two interrelated short pieces that together form a whole. All relate to the Vietnam War. Some are fiction; some are based on the authorâs experiences as an American GI in that war. The Unwanted: A Memoir of Childhood, by Kien Nguyen (Boston: Little, Brown, 2001). A memoir by an Amerasian who now lives in the U.S. about the devastating years following reunification in Vietnam, and the suffering he and his family endured. Vietnam: A History, by Stanley Karnow (New York: Viking Press, 1983). A comprehensive history of the war, with special emphasis on Americaâs role. Vietnam, Now: A Reporter Returns, by David Lamb (New York: PublicAffairs, 2002) A fascinating journey through modern Vietnam, told by a reporter who covered the war, then went back to live there in 1997 and discovered a whole new country. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places (New York: Doubleday, 1989) and Child of War, Woman of Peace (New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1993), both by Le Ly Hayslip. The author was a village child during the war and grew up to marry an American GI and live in the U.S.
R ECOMMENDED W EB S ITE
http://www.vvmf.org . Sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Click on âTeach Vietnamâ to explore a remarkable Web site that includes history, reflection, photos, and links with other quality, updated Web sites. Very well done and useful for students and educators.
A Web site search for âVietnam Warâ and âOperation Babyliftâ will bring up a variety of sites and information. Keep in mind that groups often have a specific agenda, and itâs possible that not all the information given will be reliable.
V IDEOS
Vietnam: A Television History. This Emmy-winning seven-volume series presents a detailed study of the war and its aftermath. Contains graphic material. Written by Andrew Pearson, produced by WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston. Precious Cargo. Produced for PBS, this documentary follows eight adoptees from Vietnam on their journey back to their homeland in search of their past.
M OVIES
Hollywood has its own versions of the Vietnam War. With the exception of Indochine, which views the coming war from the French perspective (and is in French with English subtitles), all of the notable movies listed here relate stories of American soldiers before, during, and/or after the war.
About the War
Apocalypse Now, Born on the Fourth of July, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, Hair (based on the musical of the same name), Hamburger Hill, In Country, Indochine, Platoon, We Were Soldiers. Because of graphic violence, parental discretion is urged.
About Vietnam
Cyclo, The Scent of Green Papaya, Three Seasons, The Vertical Rays of the Sun. These four fine movies have all been produced by Vietnamese directors using Vietnamese actors. They realistically portray Vietnamese culture.
S OURCES
Like many writers whose subject matter has been Vietnam, I found I could not do it justice until I actually visited that tiny country, experiencing for myself the landscape, the culture, the warmth of the people, and the ghosts of war. I believe that firsthand experience has brought accuracy of detail to many passages in this book.
In addition to the invaluable help of eyewitness accounts from Matt Steiner and from men and women Iâve cited elsewhere who were in Saigon and
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