race, gender, class and war

Question 1

when was MLK assassinated?

Answer 1

April 4th 1968

Question 2

what was MLKs stance on the war?

Answer 2

king had been strong opponent of the war and he came out against it for three main reasons : the war was sucking money away from war on poverty, black and white kids dying for the country but can’t attend the same schools, the war was creating a culture of violence.

Question 3

what was the reaction by soldiers to MLKs death?

Answer 3

black soldiers were saddened and some whites were sympathetic. but other whites celebrated and wore KKK hoods. which resulted in black troops segregating themselves creating tension between them.

Question 4

what was the percentage of those who served working class?

Answer 4

76% of those who served were working class with 80% of soldiers having no more than a high school education.
working class were also 4x more likely to die

Question 5

what was the average age of a soldier in Vietnam?

Answer 5

19 years old compared to average age in ww2 being 26

Question 6

what was the average tour length of a soldier and what was the problem?

Answer 6

Tours would last 1 year which didnt give the soldiers enough time to learn the surroundings and adapt, which gave the VC the upper hand.

Question 7

what was the positive aspect of the military for black Americans?

Answer 7

black Americans had fought in all wars and was the most integrated institution, it also provided economic opportunity.

Question 8

what was did JFK do in relation to black Americans in the military?

Answer 8

appointed a commission to look into the welfare of black Americans in the military. it found that integration was done at token and people wouldn’t be promoted and were subject to discrimination.

Question 9

how did many black Americans see the military?

Answer 9

still saw it as the most integrated institution and found belonging and self worth and reenlist rates were high as 49% in 1967

Question 10

how was the black soldier portrayed in Vietnam?

Answer 10

they were seen as the good soldier, equal in bravery to their white counterpart.
got increased visibility in Time magazine cover.

Question 11

what were the figures in black soldiers casualties?

Answer 11

disproportionate number of black Americans killed as between 1961-66 20% of combat deaths were black Americans.

Question 12

how was the draft discriminatory?

Answer 12

less than 1/3 eligible whites were drafted yet 2/3 of eligible blacks were drafted.

Question 13

what was project 100,000?

Answer 13

this was the programme to send in men who hadn’t quite passed the training casualties among this was high and many were black.

Question 14

how did project 100,000 effect the working class and race?

Answer 14

those who couldn’t pass the tests were more likely to be killed and it was effectively killing those who had lesser education and was unfair on working class

Question 15

what was some of the discrimination within the military?

Answer 15

there was promotion bias, whites got promoted more than black men and recreational products were tailored towards whites.
black soldiers also received harsher punishments and racist putdowns. with them 2x more likely to be court-marshalled for similar white offences

Question 16

what happened after MLKs death in the US with race and the war?

Answer 16

after MLK’s death there were further race riots and the black power movement increased as the govt turned their back on the community, with militant black organisations condemning black efforts in the war.

Question 17

who was involved in the anti war movement and civil rights?

Answer 17

the black panther and SNCC involved in anti war.
Muhammad ali was called to fight in 1966 and he refused as part of his faith as a muslim. with many looking up to him and some older black Americans being unhappy with him

Question 18

what happened to Muhammad Ali in relation to the draft?

Answer 18

he was arrested for refusing to fight, he was convicted but didnt go to jail, he had his licence to box taken away and his title. he was acquitted in 1971

Question 19

how did the tension on military bases increase between races?

Answer 19

African Americans arrived with increased expectations, they self segregated and were less willing to tolerate discrimination, which led to increased violence. e.g kitty Hawk race riot incident in 1972 on ship.

Question 20

what was the tension on and off the battlefield?

Answer 20

racial tensions would often disappear when in combat as they were all soldiers facing death from an enemy, only back at base would tension flare up.

Question 21

what were the gender preconceptions of states of the Vietnam war?

Answer 21

america was seen as masculine whereas Asia seen as feminine

Question 22

what were the gender preconception of men and women during the war?

Answer 22

1. men seen as John Wayne figures, as warriors, Christian, with courage to protect the damsel, whilst also being the gentle warrior.
2. women seen as the girl next door, wholesome, caregivers, mothers and supportive
3. Vietnamese women seen as mysterious and dangerous, the dragon lady

Question 23

how did the VC incorporate women?

Answer 23

VC used women as troops in special divisions unlike the US

Question 24

how many American women served in Vietnam?

Answer 24

7500-11,000 as estimate as proper records weren’t kept, demonstrates the attitude towards women’s service

Question 25

what role did American women play in the war?

Answer 25

80% were nurses, other in the red cross or women’s army corps

Question 26

what was the womens army corps (WAC)

Answer 26

they were mainly admin jobs but also cartographers, and women had to dress to fit gender types.

Question 27

what were donut dollies?

Answer 27

they were female college gradates ages 21-24 whose purpose was to boost morale among the soldiers but sexual activity was discouraged and they were resented by the nurses and WAC and some got mixed reception from soldiers.

Question 28

why did some soldiers not appreciate the donut dollies?

Answer 28

some liked being reminded of home but others resented the sigh of women.

Question 29

how could women’s action in Vietnam be seen as progress?

Answer 29

seen as women taking step forward in liberation and being educated as nurses.

Question 30

how did the men challenge traditional masculinity with the draft?

Answer 30

many men avoided the draft out of fear of death or injury, and many didn’t want t o fight in a war miles away.

Question 31

how was avoiding the draft harder for working class and minorities?

Answer 31

They didn’t have the connections the middle-upper classes had and couldn’t influence in the same way, the draft was an order for the working class but a dilemma for middle class

Question 32

how many Americans approved of the draft?

Answer 32

in March 1965 it was 64% and by fall that year it had risen to 90%

Question 33

what was the difference in roles for conscripts and volunteers?

Answer 33

conscripts were more likely to be put in combat units, whilst volunteers had chosen roles which could be combat limited. the working class were more likely to be conscripts.

Question 34

how did the middle class avoid the draft?

Answer 34

some would use draft councillors to avoid service, others would join the national guard or ROTC, which had become full of senators sons.

Question 35

how would working class men avoid the draft?

Answer 35

some would attempt to be rejected by the system.
others would vanish as records of those who were poor and minorities were not kept as well and allowed them to disappear.

Question 36

how did college graduates avoid the draft?

Answer 36

they would get jobs or courses that would get them occupational deferments, this saw a record number of men apply for educational and teacher training.

Question 37

why did some men volunteer for service?

Answer 37

some joined to defend democracy and fight communism, others joined as they saw it as their duty as a man (John Wayne effect).
working class men joined as they had no viable education and no other employment opportunities.

Question 38

how did Cynthia enloe describe John wayne?

Answer 38

she describes him as the “globalised shorthand for militarised masculinity”

Question 39

how were Asian Americans within the army and press treated?

Answer 39

they would be harasses within their roles and stereotyped. one Japanese American soldier was forced to play a VC in combat training whilst other soldiers would use slurs.

Question 40

how did the US depict the gentle warrior?

Answer 40

magazines would publish pictures of soldiers helping civilians, building homes and schools, bringing clean water to villages.

Question 41

how many of the draft rejects in the project 100,000 were African American?

Answer 41

30% were black Americans and essentially used as cannon fodder

Question 42

what is an example of acts of racism from superiors towards black troops?

Answer 42

some would purposely make the black soldiers late for duty by not waking them up. others would sabotage promotion opportunities.

Question 43

why were African American soldiers excluded from specialised fields in the military?

Answer 43

they often required a written exam of which African Americans were more likely to not pass as they had lower education standards.

Question 44

what role did racism play in assignments?

Answer 44

African Americans were often given the worst assignments such as radio operators and would be a more open target for VC

Question 45

How had the re-enlistment figures of black Americans changed?

Answer 45

from 66% in 1966 down to 13% in 1970

Question 46

why did the re-enlistment rate of African Americans drop?

Answer 46

they believed the military to be just as racist as back home and saw that career opportunities were no longer an option

Question 47

why was MLK initially not openly against the war?

Answer 47

he thought it would appear unpatriotic, but then came out against the war as it took focus away from civil rights