1. Bellwork 9/18/12  Vietnam Facts  Please take out your homework. Record three facts from your neighbors about the Vietnam War.

2. “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” ~Jose Narosky 18 Sep. 2012

3. Time for a Little History…  Record the following in your Bellwork journal  Who: North Vietnam (Communist) vs. South Vietnam. France and U.S. were involved.  When: 1957-1975 (Longest war U.S. has taken part)  Why & Why: North Vietnam tried to take over South Vietnam. Conflict started in 1946. Vietnam was a French Colony Vietnamese fought France for control of Vietnam.

4. More facts…  Why continued…  Vietnamese won control in 1954.  Vietnam was split into two countries—North and South  Civil war broke out.  Based on anti-Communist Cold War Policy of Harry Truman, U.S. sent aid to France and South Vietnam. Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand also aided South Vietnam.  China and Soviet Union gave North Vietnam war materials, but not troops.

5. Impact of War  Military deaths = approximately 1.3 million  Divided Americans  Some supported war and fight against Communism  Others strongly protested war No risk to U.S. Felt U.S. supporting corrupt government  By 1967 many upset about war due to high cost and new taxes to support war. Gilbert, Marc Jason. “Vietnam War.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.

6. Impact Continued…  Draft  11 million enlisted or drafted into war  16 million evaded draft Legal—deferment, enroll in university, start a family and claim hardship, medical. Illegal—burn draft card, not enroll, run from US, desertion.  Gilbert, Marc Jason. “Vietnam War.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.  McCann, Jolene. "draft evasion." American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

7. Just Another War Story?  O’Brien blurs the lines of fact and fiction to tell his story.  Happening-truth vs. story truth (write this down!!) Happening-truth=facts as they happened Story-truth=emotional truth

8. Questions to Ask  How much can we trust the authenticity of this novel?  How important is it whether or not all the facts are true?  Why might this style be best suited for a book about war?

9. The Things They Carried  The language is, at times, crude, offensive, sexual, or shocking  The content is, at times, gory and disturbing  The emotions portrayed are deeply personal and often troubling  Discuss with maturity and sensitivity

10. Book Checkout  Please pick up a book and record your name and book number on the paper  If you think there is any damage or unusual wear on your book, record that in the condition column, please!  These need to be with you in class every day, please!