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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. After the failure of this person's second mission to Vietnam in 1966, this person begins to side with John Paul Vann's view of the war effort.

2. Which war is John Paul Vann sent to first, where he is promoted to the rank of Captain in 1950?

3. John Paul Vann and Daniel Ellsberg drive to which location and become the first Americans to do so in over a year?

4. How does John Paul Vann's mother make money for herself?

5. Which one of the twelve U.S. generals stationed in Saigon feels the need to visit the site of the Battle of Ap Bac to assess what went wrong?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did General Harkins feel the way he did about John Paul Vann's report?

2. How and where did John Paul Vann die? Provide details.

3. Was John Paul Vann content to fulfill his new duties? Why or why not?

4. One of the unique features of the Vietnam War was the war correspondent (a special type of journalist) that went to the war zone and reported on what was happening there. How did this affect how the U.S. military commanders conducted the war?

5. What was John Paul Vann's strategy for turning the war in the United States' favor? How did this differ from the U.S. policy at the time?

6. What were some of John Paul Vann's assigned duties upon his return to Vietnam?

7. How did John Paul Vann react to the ARVN "victory" at Ap Bac? How did General Harkins accept John Paul Vann's assessment?

8. Which parent did the majority of the household chores in the Vann home? Why?

9. Who was the most influential and first real friend that John Paul Vann had? Why did this person have such an impact on John Paul Vann's life?

10. What new war tactic, employed by the U.S. marines in 1965, particularly disgusted John Paul Vann and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What were some of the staple foods in the Vann home? How did this particular diet affect the health and psychological well-being of the children? Which of John Paul Vann's parents was the primary cook and provider? Why?

Essay Topic 2

In many respects, Vietnam was considered to be the first "helicopter war". Based on your readings, do you think this is an accurate description? How did John Paul Vann and other commanders make use of "choppers" in the book? Please give 2-3 examples.

Essay Topic 3

Besides the Battle of Ap Bac, the text cites the Tet Offensives of 1968 as a significant point in the Vietnam War. Please explain the following: What were the Tet Offensives? Why were they reported as successful? In what way did the Vietcong's attack plan change from their overall strategy for the war? Do you think this gamble paid off for the VC military commanders? How were these attacks reported by the American media?

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