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As I continued reading along with the article provided by Mrs. Wakelin, I noticed a handful of reoccurring themes and terms throughout the article. I noticed that the author, Sonia Benson, seemed to be completely opposed to all American involvement in Vietnam. As I continued to read alongside the article, I was able to recount a variety of anti-war commentary, listing only the negative aspect of the war in a harsh tone. After reading, the author mainly wrote an article designed to persuade readers into believing that American involvement in Vietnam War was absolutely unnecessary and for individuals to frown upon the said war. Readers also see multiple counts of mentioning the North Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh, and the South Vietnamese leader, Ngo Dinh Diem.
After reading the article, I gained a new vision slightly to why American involvement was unnecessary. I also wonder what could possibly keep American soldiers sane as the Vietnam War kept escalating. I'm also curious on how anti-war protests played out in the United States and if they were effective. I also have curiosity on opioid use during the Vietnam War since I've never really heard of it before.

Extra police were on duty in case of trouble during today's anti vietnam war demonstration.. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/172_414997/1/172_414997/cite. Accessed 17 May 2017.

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In my research about the conflict in Vietnam many peasants were killed by all sides. Ngo Dinh Deim who was the leader of south Vietnam was not a great leader that the US hoped for. He was a harsh dictator that killed a lot of his people. As the war escalated and the us got involved many times the army would kill entire villages of women and children because they didn't know who was part of the Vietcong , On the other side the Vietcong would kill those who did not support them so all of the civilians were caught in the crossfire of the battle to control Vietnam.
One topic i would like to know more about is the My Lai massacre where us soldiers killed 300-500 civilians.
The My Lai Massacre, the mass murder of 347 to 504 unarmed citizens of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), almost entirely civilians and the majority of them women and children, perpetrated by US Army forces on March 16 1968. Women and children in My Lai, Vietnam, shortly before US soldiers shot and killed them.s Source Report of Army review into My Lai incident, book 6, 14 March 1970.. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/300_2284310/1/300_2284310/cite. Accessed 17 May 2017.

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Two terms that I have noticed many times while researching the Vietnam War were The French and guerilla warfare. As Vietnam was a colony of France, the French military occupied many parts of Vietnam. This disturbed their independence, and caused them to become heavily reliant on their mother country. Almost all of the blame for the war was placed n the French government by the Vietnamese. Guerilla warfare was an essential skill in this war because of the country's geography. Knowing the land and how to use being in their own turf greatly benefitted the Vietnamese army and their allies.
One topic I am interested in pursuing further is how Diem's catholic background in a prominently Buddhist society affected the war.

VIETNAM WAR: VIET CONG. - Members of a South Vietnamese Special Forces unit remove a Viet Cong from his hiding place during fighting near Saigon, 6 June 1968.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1696724/1/140_1696724/cite. Accessed 17 May 2017.

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I've noticed many reoccurring terms related to the different visions for Vietnam from different political figures. Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem were two opposing forces of the Vietnam war with Minh leading the North and Diem leading the South. Both of these political figures were trying to achieve the same goal, independence, but they had separate methods of reaching this goal. Minh was communist and Diem was a dictator, so neither side was good in our eyes, but The United States decided to back the South Vietnamese (Diem) in the war because of our goal of containing communism. The United States wanted to prevent the spread of communism, however the U.S. was not completely for Ngo Dinh Diem's policies either.

I would like to learn more about the individual battles that took place in the Vietnam war. I'm interested in learning about different strategies of was including the guerrilla warfare used during this time. Since Vietnam is such a well forested and unique terrain, it would be fascinating to learn about different techniques, advantages, and strategies of the war.

VIETNAM WAR: JUNGLE, 1967. - Troops of the 4th Infantry Divison on search and destroy operation 'Paul Revere IV,' near Plei Djfreng, South Vietnam, late 1966.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1696425/1/140_1696425/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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In an odd parallel to the Revolutionary War (hehe synthesis), the articles we've been provided hold guerilla warfare accountable for the defeat of the vastly superior forces of the American military at the hands of the underdog Viet Cong. The American forces were outlasted and outmaneuvered by crafty, home-field defense, as the literal and cinematic material we've seen so far has described.

I hope to learn more about what steps the U.S. took to surmount this underhanded attrition-style of warfare, and why the Viet Cong strategy eventually prevailed, as well as what exactly said strategy was. Were the VC making it up as they went, or was there an overarching stratagem, and did it involve the turning point Tet Offensive? What kinds of fortifications did they use? Was this the sole reason for victory, and was American administrative neglect of this a factor in the American/South Vietnamese defeat?

VIETNAM WAR: VIET CONG. - Members of a South Vietnamese Special Forces unit remove a Viet Cong from his hiding place during fighting near Saigon, 6 June 1968.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1696724/1/140_1696724/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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After reading about and researching the Vietnam war, I have seen very politically oriented militaristic term used repetitively. Terms like 'communism' , 'advisers' , and 'civilians' were used heavily. The Vietnamese leader at the time (Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem) were talked about continually.
Through my research, I have been more and more interested in how the war affected civilian life, both on the Vietnamese and American side. I would like to look further into the use of chemical weapons on Vietnamese citizens as well as the protests that took place on American soil.
Anti-war Protests Outside The 1968 Democratic National Convention. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_894381/1/115_894381/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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After reading and organizing the sources we have been given so far, I noticed the word independence reoccurring in many of the articles. The overall goal of the Vietnamese was independence, even though it took a long time for this to happen considering the country had split into two sections (North and South Vietnam). Communism and anticommunism were also two major factors that lead to conflict and contradicting and unsuccessful leaders, like Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem.
I am interested in learning more about the Vietnamese civilians during the war and how they handled this tough time. I also want to know more their interaction with the American forces and if they felt these forces were needed or just making the conflict worse. Economically and politically the Vietnamese were struggling and I would like to know how they coped with this and if/how they received aid. It would also be interesting to analyze the civilians post war and if things got better or worse especially the children and women of the time.

Orphaned north vietnamese children, early 1970s.. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/300_274515/1/300_274515/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Some reocurring terms that I found were 'American values' and the Viet Cong/Viet Minh. The United States originally supported Diem because he did not violate their anti-communism values. Although, Diem did turn out to be a brutal dictator who violated other American values, such as torturing and killing civilians. As Diem started to lose popularity, the Viet Cong formed to unite under Communist rule. Although, the Viet Minh were formed at a similar time because they wanted to keep the division within Vietnam. Even though the US did not agree with Diem's style of ruling, they fought against the Viet Cong because they opposed Communism even more.

I am interested in learning more about the ideologies and values of the Viet Cong and Viet Minh. I would also like to learn about the fighting styles of the two groups.

Viet Cong Attack. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_2743914/1/115_2743914/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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As I read about Vietnam many themes arose. One very prolific theme that I saw was this reoccurring concept of "Americanization". With in the articles, this cry of how the U.S began going down this slope into involvement into the war. Then once fully submersed in the war things got ugly. Carpet bombings became a norm, along with thousands of dead civilians. This is the result of the U.S involvement, once gain to contain communism. Since the first Red Scare, the U.S had been in the crusade for the end of communism. This brought us into Vietnam and led to a very nasty ending. Overall there was an intense presence of Americanization and the U.S trying to contain communism.

I would like to learn more about the use of drugs and soldiers in the war. Due to the prevalence of drugs during this time, and how so many of the soldiers didn't want to be there. I am curious on the statistics and effects of drug use during the war.(Due to Britannica not having such images I will do another topic)

I am also interested in the use of various traps used by the Vietnamese in the war.

South Vietnam guerilleros setting up a trap., October 1966, Vietnam war. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/170_2985840/1/170_2985840/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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While reading the article regarding the Vietnam War, I noticed that the Viet Cong was mentioned quite frequently. This group, the Viet Cong, supported Ho Chi Minh's idea of a communist Vietnam. The Viet Cong were regarded as the 'bad guys', but the author of the article reminds us that the United States of America committed just as many atrocities of war as the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese.

I would really like to collect more information on the battle tactics of the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. These groups fought in the style of guerrilla warfare, because they knew their land better than the Americans did. I think it's interesting that the tactic Americans used to win the Revolutionary War was used against us to win the Vietnam War.

Attack In Binh Dinh. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_2725916/1/115_2725916/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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From this article, I found many reoccurring terms. One of the terms I found was control. This came up countless times, as whether it be France, the US, or even Vietnam itself, many countries seemed to be fighting for control of the country. Another reoccurring term I found was negotiation.  In this time, many negotiations had to be made in order to prevent the circumstances from becoming worse.
As for a topic I would like to learn more about, I am interested in learning about the antiwar movement. Reading about this movement, I found it to be very unique, as resentment towards the government was prevalent in every age and class. I found the information regarding the protests and the government's efforts to hide the issue to be especially interesting, which is why I would like to learn more about it.
Vietnam Protesters. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_893447/1/115_893447/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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VIETNAM WAR: VICTIM, 1969. - Do Chuc shows his gnarled hands while describing the massacre performed by American soldiers in his village, Truong Khan (or An), in April 1969. Photograph, November 1969.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1704776/1/140_1704776/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Some recurring terms I see are oppression and anti-war sentiment. From French to Japanese political powers, Vietnamese peasants struggled against authoritative rule; this trend continued with the establishment of new governments under rulers such as Ho Chi Minh and Diem. These leaders fought for independence for Vietnam but took land from as well as the lives of many people. The involvement of the United States in these affairs, from supporting the dictatorship of Diem to supplying troops which raided villages, ultimately resulted in the deaths of millions and resentment against U.S. forces. These devastating trends led to anti-war attitude amongst citizens in both Vietnam, whose populations were the main victims of the war, and the United States, whose citizens were witness to this mistreatment. Similar to how many Vietnamese were forced into the Viet Cong by Ho Chi Minh, Americans were drafted into fighting in the Vietnam War and declared anti-war feelings through protest, including burning draft cards, as displayed in the picture below.

I would like to learn more about the anti-war protests in the United States such as the Kent State Incident and various peace marches. I would also like to learn the effect peace efforts had on political decisions in Vietnam.

Draft Card Burning. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_2727586/1/115_2727586/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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As I research the Vietnam War, I notice repeating occurrences of the terms Viet Cong and communism,  along with Americanization and stalemate. Americanization connects directly to the Viet Cong because the United States was attempting to prevent the spread of communism. America’s decision to interfere changed the civil war in Vietnam, modernizing it with new technology and tactics, but also causing greater Vietnamese citizen blood loss. The communist Viet Cong were also a very powerful force fighting against the US in the war, and this led to many stalemates. It was clear the Vietnam War would not be easily won for either side.

Additionally, I am interested in the Tet Offensive because with this move, the Viet Cong violated traditional war practices. Fighting rarely occurred on holidays during times of war, and I wonder why the Viet Cong chose to launch such a well thought attack on a holiday.

Tet offensive, south vietnamese plaf (people's liberation armed forces) soldiers firing on enemy troops in south vietnam, 1968.. Photograph. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/300_271662/1/300_271662/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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A term that came up frequently was civilian casualties. continued on next post.

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A term that is frequently used is the Viet Cong. They were supporters of North Vietnam and they like to use guerilla warfare and they also launched the Tet Offensive.
I'm interested in looking into the My Lai massacre.

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A reocurring term I found was control. France, Japan, and the United States all participated in the fight for control over Vietnam, on top of the powers inside of the country.

I want to learn more about how the war affected the citizens of Vietnam and the role they played in the war.

VIETNAM WAR: BURNING HOME. - Near An Khe, a Vietnamese woman attempts to save her house burnt by the U.S. First Cavalry Division on a search and destroy mission. hotograph, 1965-1966.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1662317/1/140_1662317/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Throughout the reading, a few terms that I noticed that seemed to be a common theme were "Americanization" and military and monetary aid.  All of these terms discuss the growing American involvement in the Vietnam War.  As the war progressed, the American draft sent greater and greater numbers of troops to Vietnam.  Under Kennedy, the United States hoped that through their economic and military aid they could support Ngo Dinh Diem's government to keep stability in South Vietnam.

One topic that I am interested in learning about is the support for the war in the United States.  I am interested to know if the antiwar movements were at all related to the changing of presidents and if Kennedy's assassination and the overwhelming fear that came afterwards created more of an antiwar sentiment than before. I would also like to know if there were any major protests in the United States and what impact they had on the overall outcome of the war.

VIETNAM WAR: ARTILLERY. - Soldiers at a U.S. Army installation near Chu Lai, Vietnam, firing a cannon, 1966.. Fine Art. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/140_1638063/1/140_1638063/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Throughout the reading and learning of the Vietnam War,  a term that has caught my eye over and over again is guerrilla (warfare). It is used to describe the way the Viet Cong fought their battles against the US; in small groups that launched surprise attacks.These attacks were unlike anything US soldiers have faced, in which they were not prepared for. Another term usually associated with “guerrilla” is “communist”. The Viet Cong was a strong communist organization who stood their ground as the war unfolded on their own land.
I would like to know more about the Viet Cong and their strategies of war that kept them fighting and their forces strong. I would like to learn about more specific attacks and battles fought between the Viet Cong and the United States, like the My Lai Massacre.

Near Nha Trang, Vietnam.. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/137_3058827/1/137_3058827/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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While reading the article, I noticed a certain idea multiple times. Throughout the article, the author includes his dislike for the american involvement in Vietnam. Many times, the author included details about American tragedies involving the unnecessary death of American soldiers  or the massacre of innocent Vietnamese citizens. The author also seemed completely against Ngo Dinh Diem and all of the atrocities he commited against his citizens.

Personally, I would like to learn more about the involvement of the Navy in the Vietnam War. Before reading about the USS Maddox and other war ships in this article, I was unaware there was any involvement of the Navy at all. I would like to read more about the Naval conflicts between the US and the North Vietnamese enemy.

Vietnam War, US patrol boat, photo. Photo. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/109_239287/1/109_239287/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Foreign policy was brought up many times in the research I've done. It was a large contradiction in America on how involved the country should be in others' affairs. Communism is obviously a popular topic here as well. All countries involved were strongly for communism, against it, or the country was splitting up because of it.

I'd like to learn more about
the styles of war used by each country and how that gave them and advantage or disadvantage compared to other countries and their own resources.

Vietnam Marines. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica, 25 May 2016.

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Some terms I noticed reoccurring throughout my research are two terms, Vietminh and Viet Cong. The Vietminh were Vietnamese patriots who had support from the US and their ruler was Ho Chi Minh. The US stopped supporting them, claiming they were Communists, and supported the French instead, The Viet Cong were South Vietnamese who supported the North Vietnamese; they wanted the two countries to join under Communist rule. The Viet Cong used guerilla strategies and launched a surprise assault in Jan. 1968, the Tet Offensive.
I would like to know about how involved the citizens were in this war and what happened to them during these years, and how their lives were ultimately affected.

Viet Cong Attack. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_2743914/1/115_2743914/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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While reading about the Vietnam War, I've noticed many reoccurring themes. Some of the most mentioned being Communism in North Vietnam, and Anti-Communism in South Vietnam. Also, many names are brought up again and again like North Vietnam's leader Ho Chi Minh, and South Vietnam's leader Ngo Dinh Diem. One thing I would like to research and look into further is the My Lai Massacre because of the raw brutality the United States showed. It catches me by surprise every time I read about the things we did to Vietnam's innocent civilians which is why I would like to research it further.
The My Lai Massacre, the mass murder of 347 to 504 unarmed citizens of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), almost entirely civilians and the majority of them women and children, perpetrated by US Army forces on March 16 1968. Women and children in My Lai, Vietnam, shortly before US soldiers shot and killed them.s Source Report of Army review into My Lai incident, book 6, 14 March 1970.. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/300_2284310/1/300_2284310/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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Some terms that I have noticed reoccurring while reading about the Vietnam War were the French, communism, the Viet Cong Ho Chi Minh, along with various mentions of massacres conducted by American soldiers.

I am interested in learning more about what people back in America were doing once the war sentiments turned bitter. It's interesting, I think, how the vote for the war was nearly unanimous, yet many people later disagreed.

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A reoccurring theme that I notice, especially with the roots of the Vietnam War, was wanting power and independence from oppressive leaders. The Vietnamese wanted independence from the French. North Vietnam was ruled by Ho Chi Minh, an oppressive communist, and South Vietnam was ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem, a brutal dictator who tortured and killed his own people.
One thing I would want to learn more about would be what exactly was happening in America's home front during this war. I am aware that there was support for the war at first and slowly that support decline to rioting and protests against the war but I'd love to learn about specifics regarding the civil rights movement at that time. And while we're on the topic of civil rights, what about the innocent civilians in Vietnam? How did they react to the incessant massacres and bombings by the US?
Stop The Killing. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_878032/1/115_878032/cite. Accessed 16 May 2017.

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One term that I see reoccurring throughout my research of the Vietnam War is the term "guerrilla". It is often used to describe how the Viet Cong were able to defeat the United States military even though they were a group of farmers. One topic I would like to learn more about would be the structure of the Viet Cong including the various tunnels systems they created and the traps they set.

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I have noticed the names of various leaders and a lot of document titles.
I am interested in defoliation of trees and the  effects of using chemicals during Vietnam.
Defoliation Flight. Photographer. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016.
quest.eb.com/search/115_2731009/1/115_2731009/cite. Accessed 15 May 2017.

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What terms do you see re-occurring throughout your research into the Vietnam War?
What topic would you like to know more about ? Include an image from Imagequest about this topic. Include the citation in your note.