Times of Change- Second Set of Readings

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)

. He, as well as his comrades, were inexperienced in the ways of war, as they were usually from 18 to 20 years old and only had basic training, which made it even harder for them, in particular, to fight a foreign, hidden enemy.
.His platoon had to use bayonets and machetes in order to clear the jungle foliage for a base camp.
.The extreme melange of emotions concerning the knowledge that you will almost certainly not be returning alive, as reiforced by the plethora of body bags prepared for America's fallen soldiers, is certainly difficult to deal with.
.Facing the frustration that comes with the loss of soldiers without even spotting the enemy, which was a product of VC booby traps.
.Adjusting to the realties of the war's dangers, and having a difficult time concealing himself from enemy fire, as the ground was very hard, and not easy to dig through (the feeling that he was not in control).
.Worrying about an ambush from the North Vietnamese forces and having to march through the elephant grass and dense jungle, without knowledge of where the booby traps are.
.Attempting to concentrate during an ambush, enough to help heal fellow soldiers while not getting shot, when machine guns are rapidly firing, which causes great confusion.
.Staying still and pretending to be dead, while directly under the enemy's nose and in front of the line of allied firing, in order to remain alive.
.Bandaging one's self without aid while removing one's self from the line of fire.
.The feeling of being trapped, which happened when he was caught between enemy and freindly fire, and when he decided to light the cigarette, even though he knew that doing so might cause the enemy to see the smoke and kill him (vigilance, as well as being able to keep his head straight).
.Not having control over his fate, in the case of the mortar fire, and when the American aircraft came to drop napalm and bombs on the enemy (they could easily hit him as he was in the generally vicinity of the enemy). He had to trust that his luck would continue.
.Experiencing the fear of almost being hit by napalm, while he witnessed the pain it caused other Vietnamese and American victims, and the intense anger to know that all his friends are dead (after the ambush).
.Witnessing the carnage after a battle, with the stacked up dead bodies and the blood covering everything.
.Resorting back to the death of friends, the bonds that Smith formed with his fellow soldiers was strong and the sadness that followed their deaths was hardly tolerable. Those wounds would never heal, those painful memories would stay with him, and he would truly understand the significance behind the Vietnam Memorial.


How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?

When he joins the army around the age of 18 he thinks, like most other young men who volunteered, that the army is just a way to prepare for life and mature, and that life as a soldier was filled with glory. By the end of his time in Vietnam, Jack Smith realizes that the soldiers don't fight wars for the reasons he once assumed, but end up forming strong bonds of friendship (making them a band of brothers, which unites them). He finds out that a soldier doesn't fight for Uncle Sam or for his family back home, but that he fights for the man fighting right next to him, knowing that his comrade is doing the same. Toward Vietnam in particular, Smith thinks, when retrospecting over the loss of the war, that the war itself was pointless, in that it caused so much suffering for no purpose (don't we trade with that country now).


This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?

The song is asking "big strong men" to fight for America over in Vietnam.

… the “generals” to do?

The song is asking the "generals" to think quickly, and to chase and kill all of the Northern Vietnamese soldiers, and VC.

… “Wall Street” to do?

The song is asking "Wall Street" to monetarily support the US forces so that more bombs can be produced to dropped on the concealed enemy forces in Vietnam.

… “mothers” to do?

The song is asking "mothers" to help send their sons, quickly, off to the conflict in Vietnam.

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.

. So put down your books and pick up your gun, We're gonna have a whole latta fun.

. Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

. Be the first one on your block To have your boy come home in a box.

. What are we fighting for? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam: