The Vietnam War in American childhood / Joel P. Rhodes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rhodes, Joel P., 1967- author.

Series:

Children, youth, and war

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Children--United States--Social conditions--20th century.

Children.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Influence.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects--United States.

Children and war--United States--History--20th century.

Children and war.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Children.

United States--Social conditions--1945-.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (276 pages).

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2019

Place of Publication:

Athens : The University of Georgia Press, [2019]

Summary:

"For American children raised exclusively in wartime - that is, a Cold War containing monolithic communism turned hot in the jungles of Southeast Asia - and the first to grow up with televised combat, Vietnam was predominately a mediated experience. Walter Cronkite was the voice of the conflict and grim, nightly statistics the most recognizable feature. In seeing the Vietnam War through the eyes of preadolescent Americans, the book suggests broader developmental implications from being socialized to the political and ethical ambiguity of Vietnam. Although youth during World War II retained with clarity into adulthood many of the proscriptive patriotic messages about U.S. rightness, why-we-fight, heroism, or sacrifice they were indoctrinated with during the war years, conversely, Vietnam tended to breed childhood ambivalence, but not necessarily of the hawk and dove kind. This unique perspective on Vietnam continues to complicate adult notions of militarism and warfare, while generally lowering expectations of American leadership and the presidency"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A sort of nebulous sad thing happening forever and ever : childhood socialization to the Vietnam War

Why couldn't I fight in a nice, simpler war? : comic books and Mad magazine

Who bombed Santa's workshop? : militarizing play with commercial war toys

One of the most agonizing years of my life : knowing someone in Vietnam

Mom tried to make it for us like he wasn't even gone : father separation and reunion

God bless dad wherever you are : POW/MIA

How come the flags around town aren't flying at half-mast? : Gold Star children

Yes, I am My Lai, but My Lai is better than Viet Cong! : Vietnamese adoptees and Amerasians.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-8203-5612-3

OCLC:

1126807493