Vietnam War Experiences: Sorting Out Myth vs. Reality [S-13-55]
| Presenter: | Tom and Nellie Coakley, John Lancaster |
|---|---|
| Location: | SUNY Potsdam: Maxcy 104 |
| Classes: | 4 Sessions 2.0 hours |
| Dates: | Mon 2:30 PM 03/11, 03/25, 04/01, 3:45 PM 04/08 |
| Status: | CLOSED |
Print Info
LINK to a one-page SUNY Potsdam .pdf map pinpointing the exact Spring 2013 SOAR course locations by building and room (includes parking lot numbers)
Using class discussion, this course will revisit the Vietnam War through the eyes of the presenters and participants. Now, nearly 40 years after the end of US direct involvement in the war, there remains a great deal of difference of opinion (myth versus reality) over the war, often drawn along political lines. This course will try to sort objectively through these differences. Finally we will discuss Vietnam within the context of our most recent war experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. What comparisons can be made and what comparisons should not be made?
Tom and Nellie Coakley are Vietnam veterans. Both served in the Army – Nellie as a combat nurse and Tom as an infantry soldier. Tom was critically wounded, losing his lower left leg. After Nellie returned to the States she served as the head nurse at Walter Reed’s orthopedic and amputee ward for enlisted soldiers. It’s there they met. Nellie has served as a war trauma counselor for 28 years, working with clients from the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other peacekeeping missions. Tom has worked with amputees and prosthetic organizations and has taught war topic courses at St. Lawrence University. Both are frequent speakers in high school and college classrooms.
NOTE: A list of suggested books is posted on the “Vietnam War Experiences….” course page on the SOAR web site.
SUGGESTED BOOKS (not required):
America’s Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975. George C. Herring, 2001.
Light at the End of the Tunnel: A Vietnam War Anthology. Andrew J. Rotter, 2010.
Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation was Robbed of its Heroes and its History. B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley, 1998.
Boom - Talking About the Sixties: What Happened, How It Shaped Today. Tom Brokaw, 2008.
In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam. Robert S. McNamara and Brian VanDeMark, 1996.
If I Die in a Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me Home. Tim O'Brien, 1999.
Books available used on: www.amazon.com
Cap: 40.