Module prepared Summer 1999 by Dr. Ernest Bolt and Amanda Garrett, University of Richmond graduate student in History. This online module is part of a course development project of the Associated Colleges of the South. The course at Centenary College is English 315: The American Experience in Vietnam. At the University of Richmond, it is History 398: The Vietnam Experience. At Rollins College, the course is Political Science 393: The Vietnam Experience.
Students at all three sites of this ACS-sponsored course should utilize all parts of this module during Week 5 of the course, 27 and 29 September.
ASSIGNMENT
Before the day of class discussion on People's War, all students must complete the reading assignments and examine all online materials for this module. Write responses to the Study Questions for Readings and bring those responses to class the day for discussion of this topic.
TRAN VAN TRA
Excerpts from Tran Van Tra's Memoirs
Other Activities of Tran Van Tra
Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam, 1969-1975
Related Sites
Article written by Gill Ott highlighting his interview with the famous General featured in the Viet Nam Generation Journal & Newsletter Volume 3, Number 4 (January 1992). The site is maintained by the Sixties Project, a group dedicated to "using electronic resources to provide routes of collaboration and make available primary and secondary sources for researchers, students, teachers, writers and librarians interested in the 1960s."
TRUONG NHU TANG
"Life in the Maquis," from A Vietcong Memoir (Library Reserve Reading)
NGUYEN TAN THANH
Why I Joined the National Liberation Front
VIETNAMESE WOMEN IN WAR
Vietnamese Women in War: A Review
TRAN VAN GIAU
TRUONG CHINH AND DAU TRANH
WAR IN THE VILLAGES AND TUNNELS
Professor Bolt's Commentary and Selected Photos
Related Sites
This link takes one to a sample entry from the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History. This three-volume encyclopedia, edited by Spencer C. Tucker, contains more than 900 entries, 150 primary source documents, 150 photographs, and 22 maps by over 138 contributors.
This site is a photo tour of Doug Huffman's year in Vietnam, from August, 1969 to August, 1970. Mr. Huffman was with the 25th Infantry Division, AKA Tropic Lightning, The Hawaiian Division.
This site, maintained by moons.com, contains several photos of the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex.
Visit to the Tunnels of Cu Chi
This site, which is currently under construction, gives a personal account of one traveller's visit to the tunnels of Cu Chi. The individual who maintains this site (unfortunately his/her name is not provided) is especially interested in the "Tunnel Rats" of Cu Chi.
STUDY QUESTIONS ON PEOPLE'S WAR READINGS
Click on the above heading to go to Study Questions for this module. Click on links below to go back to the online documents.
William Duiker, 62-80, 124-134 (Previously assigned); 138-208
Tran Van Giau, "Revolution is an Art"
Tran Van Tra, "Life in the Green Jungle"
Tran Van Tra, Poem
Tran Van Tra, Comments on Tet, 68
Truong Nhu Tang, "Life in the Maquis" (Library Reserve)
SOURCES ON THE OTHER SIDE
Related Sites
This site, maintained by Vets with a Mission, contains several "photo galleries" which feature various aspects of Vietnam. Be sure to click on the sections titled "The Other Guys" and "The Other Gals." These galleries contain photos of NLF soldiers, both male and female. Other sections include "The War Years" and "The Enemy Let Me Take His Picture," photos which appeared in Life Magazine in 1968.
Vets With A Mission is a non-political organization which seeks to alleviate the widespread suffering of the people of Vietnam. The group has a variety of projects which reach orphans, the poor, veterans, handicapped, lepers, drug addicts, and street children.
DISCUSSION INSTRUCTIONS ON PEOPLE'S WAR AND TRAN VAN TRA
Click on the above link to go
to a list of terms and abbreviations commonly used in course readings.
Students are expected to contribute other entries
as our study continues.
SAMPLE STUDENT WRITING