Vietnam War
Vietnam War
Embedded Files
During the Cold War, the U.S. Government was deeply concerned about the global spread of communism and its potential threat to democracy. In Vietnam, the United States made a strategic decision to combat communism by providing financial support to South Vietnam, which was aligned with Western allies such as the United States. On the other side, North Vietnam and the Communist organization in South Vietnam, known as the Peoples Liberation Armed Forces, were fighting to establish a Communist state in Vietnam.
The Peoples Liberation Armed Forces, also referred to as insurgents or Viet Cong by Americans and their South Vietnamese allies, posed a significant challenge to the efforts of the United States. In response, U.S. military advisers were deployed to Vietnam to train and assist South Vietnamese troops. Eventually, the United States escalated its involvement by deploying troops to directly engage in combat against North Vietnam and the Peoples Liberation Armed Forces.
The conflict in Vietnam resulted in the tragic loss of 58,279 U.S. military personnel before the official end of U.S. combat operations in 1973. This period of history serves as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of ideological goals.
The Vietnam War mural is unique as it depicts personal accounts from the Brothers Like These writing group.The "Brothers Like These" started in 2014 with the goal of providing a platform for Vietnam veterans with PTSD to express their experiences through writing. It was initiated by Joseph Bathanti, a Creative Writing Professor at Appalachian State University and then North Carolina Poet Laureate, and Dr. Bruce Kelly, a primary care physician at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville.
Top Left: A Veteran goes thru this box of memorabilia recounting being in a helicopter crash. (Memories and the last mission-Brothers like These book)
Bottom Left:
The C-141 Starlifter played a vital role in transporting wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War, serving as the primary aircraft for aeromedical evacuation.
Top Middle
Helicopters in the Vietnam War, particularly those involved in troop transport during combat assaults, used white phosphorus (WP) rounds as a visual signal to the pilots. (Helicopter-Brothers like These book)
Bottom middle:
Jungle fighting was a significant and challenging aspect of the Vietnam War. The dense, humid, and often impenetrable terrain presented a unique set of difficulties for both sides.
Top Right:
U.S.S. Implicit was an Agile-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent the safe passage of ships. The Implicit was also used for "Market Time" patrols. During her time during the War, her crew had boarded more than 1,000 junks and sampans for inspection. Also important was her support of small South Vietnamese naval craft under fire from enemy shore batteries.
Bottom Right:
Watchtowers/Guard towers: These were employed to secure military installations like base camps and Fire Support Bases (F.S.B.s). They provided elevated positions for soldiers to observe enemy movements and defend against attacks. While offering a good vantage point, they also made the occupants a target.
The evolution of a mural
The "Brothers Like These" book weaves the remarkable voices of unimaginably brave soldiers who gave their all during the Vietnam War. These are stories and poems, large and small, funny and heartbreaking — not just invaluable to succeeding generations of soldiers, but to every citizen of our country, and beyond.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse