Working-Class War

American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam

By: Christian G. Appy

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Paperback | 26 February 1993

At a Glance

Paperback
378 Pages

Edition Type
New edition

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 15.24 x 2.54

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$117.99

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No one can understand the complete tragedy of the American experience in Vietnam without reading this book. Nothing so underscores the ambivalence and confusion of the American commitment as does the composition of our fighting forces. The rich and the powerful may have supported the war initially, but they contributed little of themselves. That responsibility fell to the poor and the working class of America.--Senator George McGovern

"Reminds us of the disturbing truth that some 80 percent of the 2.5 million enlisted men who served in Vietnam--out of 27 million men who reached draft age during the war--came from working-class and impoverished backgrounds. . . . Deals especially well with the apparent paradox that the working-class soldiers' families back home mainly opposed the antiwar movement, and for that matter so with few exceptions did the soldiers themselves.--New York Times Book Review

"[Appy's] treatment of the subject makes it clear to his readers--almost as clear as it became for the soldiers in Vietnam--that class remains the tragic dividing wall between Americans.--Boston Globe

Industry Reviews

There really is no other study that accomplishes what Appy has done.Lloyd C. Gardner, author of "Approaching Vietnam: From World War II Through Dienbienphu, 1941-1954" "Working-Class War" is gripping, thorough, and compelling.Walter H. Capps, author of "The Unfinished War: Vietnam and the American Conscience" "There really is no other study that accomplishes what Appy has done.Lloyd C. Gardner, author of "Approaching Vietnam: From World War II Through Dienbienphu, 1941-1954"" ""Working-Class War" is gripping, thorough, and compelling.Walter H. Capps, author of "The Unfinished War: Vietnam and the American Conscience"" No one can understand the complete tragedy of the American experience in Vietnam without reading this book. Senator George McGovern Definitive and engrossing."Commonweal"

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Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction Facing the Wall	p. 1
Working-Class War	p. 11
Life before the Nam	p. 44
Basic Training	p. 86
Ominous Beginnings	p. 117
The Terms of Battle	p. 145
Drawing Fire and Laying Waste	p. 174
A War for Nothing	p. 206
What Are We Becoming?	p. 250
Am I Right or Wrong?	p. 298
Notes	p. 323
Bibliography	p. 343
Index	p. 355
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Working-Class War

American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

ePUB

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