Portland Public Library

"War stories", false atrocity tales, swift boaters, and winter soldiers--what really happened in Vietnam, Gary Kulik

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

contains biographical information

index present

non fiction

"War stories"

bibliography

403859413

Gary Kulik

false atrocity tales, swift boaters, and winter soldiers--what really happened in Vietnam

War stories are mostly innocent fables and understood as such by both teller and hearer. They have been used for political and national purposes, and those about war in Vietnam were no exception, as evidenced in 2004 presidential campaign. John Kerry campaigned as a war hero. His opponents cast him as a liar and a traitor and their "war story" prevailed. War Stories delves into myths associated with Vietnam veteran's experience and looks at them through war stories they told and continue to tell. Kulik conducts a review of the Vietnam literature and interviews participants wherever possible, poking holes in war myths of people throughout the political spectrum. War Stories discusses how returning Vietnam vets were treated and delves into myths that atrocities were commonplace, that all veterans of that war suffer from PTSD, and that all are guilt ridden. Kulik's research and analysis of such stories lies at heart of this book's originality and provides a new perspective on Vietnam War for scholars, students, and general readers. His purpose in exposing such stories is not to deny or minimize American war crimes in Vietnam but to cut through cant of false stories so we retain our outrage at those that are true. As we are faced with future "war stories" from Iraq and Afghanistan and their likely exploitation, lessons learned in this book will be important--Publisher's description

Framing the war -- A nurse's tale -- Spit-upon veterans -- The Swift Boat Veterans and the "truth" -- The winter soldier investigation -- "This was what the war had done to us" -- False atrocities -- What happened in Quang Tri