The Era Known As The Vietnam Era

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Tyler Caudill

Mrs. Bratt

English 10 research paper

Hamburger Hill

The era known as the Vietnam era was a time of change and protest in the U.S. when we think about it the Vietnam war inspired a great change in how we lived life from day to day. It instilled new music and attitudes that our country hadn’t witnessed before. Hippies and rock and roll music were just a few of the results that came from the Vietnam war.

Hill 937 or better known as Hamburger Hill was one of Vietnam’s more famous battles. Hamburger Hill also known as operation Apache Snow was the second of a three part operation to put control back in U.S. hands. Hamburger Hill or Dong Ap Bia "Mountain Of The Crouching Beast" was located 1 mile from the Laotion border. Even though the hill had virtually no strategic significance the operation called for the use of 10 battalions of both American and South Vietnamese soldiers. What started out as a simple search and destroy operation ended up transforming into a grueling 10 day battle that resulted in the death of almost 100 Americans injuring 400 more. Even with a 70% casualty rate the U.S. forces were not deterred. They continued to push onward to the summit of the hill encountering heavy NVA opposition. Trudging through waist high elephant grass and thick jungle was bad enough; however heavy bombing and continuous rain turned the hillside into a near vertical mud covered slip n slide. It was a challenging battle that took a heavy toll not only the north vietnamese but had a devastating effect back home in the U.S. . The battle was deemed pointless by Senator Edward Kennedy and that statement was deemed correct by the American people. After the battle protests were occurring more and more frequently . The American populace had had enough of this senseless fighting and were doing everything in their power to make sure that their voices were heard. It worked because shortly after the battle President Nixon started withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam. (Nash, Tim) Hamburger Hill didn’t just affect the troops involved, its repercussions were felt around the world.

The battle of Hamburger Hill had a major impact on the way Americans live their day to day lives in todays world. Without the war in vietnam we would not have been introduced to rock and roll, fast cars and loud music. It created an era that quite frankly we should bring back to this world, people were more open minded , free spirited and overall just better people. In today’s world its all about making money and getting promoted, back in the day all that mattered was the fact that you were alive to live another day with the people you cared about most. The war instilled that attitude into the returning veterans who spent day to day seeing friends and good friends at that killed in front of their eyes. I’m not saying that we should have another Vietnam im just saying that even though we were going through a tough time the war still had a positive impact on the way we live life today. Without the war we would not be the people we are today . I’m thankful for the fact that as Americans when times are tough we get together and trudge on through the darkness pushing forward until we see the glimmering sunlight of better times. (Caudill,Tyler)

Some popular myths associated with the Vietnam war was that every soldier stationed in Nam was a cold hearted drug doing combat hardened vet. When you ask anyone what they picture when you talk about a Vietnam soldier a majority of them would give you the same basic description... they see a sleeveless commando with an ammo belt strung around his chest carrying a rifle and smoking a cigarette. These stereotypes were mostly correct which. However a few were known to be stretched to the extent of being totally exaggerated. Being a soldier in Vietnam was a tough business. If you were going to live to see tomorrow you had to do anything and everything you had to do to survive. They were put through hell day after day which is why people were under the impression that every soldier there did some kind of drug, be it marijuana or heroin. That is not accurate at all, only about 20% of soldiers smoked Marijuana. Most only smoked occasionally and few lit up daily with heroin being less popular but still used by a handful because of it low cost and easy accessibility.

Along with the soldiers there was another breed of people fighting the war in Vietnam. Peace and love was preached all over the U.S. by hippies who were against the war and were doing there best to make a change in what was happening . They inspired a new genre of music that can still be felt today. Elton John, The Monkees, The Beatles and Elvis Presley were just a few of the iconic musicians that erupted from this era. (Caudill, Tyler)

In my opinion everyone should care about this event because it was a major historical event in our country’s history. It not only showed its people that we were capable of helping out other countries if they needed it but it showed that we have a tendency of sticking our noses were it doesn’t belong. The U.S. is like the worlds older brother, we look out from a distance and let them do there own thing and when we think they cross the line we step in and remind them who has the final say. In a way its a catch 22 kind of situation. Countries can rely on us to be there to bail them out when they need it but that can only go so far. We can’t step in to referee every little dispute that pops up between sore countries and Vietnam was a prime example of that.

The battle of Hamburger Hill was a near pointless assault that resulted in many good soldiers dying in vain. For the U.S. that was the line that was set for us, and we crossed it. That battle was a prime example of the very reasons we step in to help out other countries who can’t quite defend themselves when the time comes. By needlessly jeopardizing the lives of our troops to make a statement that we are better than the opposition we became no better than the scum we feel we need to keep in line. The people back home in the U.S. knew we went to far and so did the president. That battle made this proud country of ours hang our heads in slight shame. We started withdrawing troops and keeping our noses clean for a while after that. We knew we couldn’t afford another senseless slip up like that. The more senseless mistakes we make the worse we make ourselves look and the worse we look the weaker we look. By looking weak we suggest that we are not on our toes and thinking clearly enough to properly utilize our troops which therefore leaves the opportunity for a bitter enemy nation to try and strike us at home. (Caudill,Tyler)

If this event were to of never occurred the world would have been drastically changed from the world we know it as today. Without the war we would not have had hippies, wouldn’t have felt the heartache from a war that devastated so many and would not have been forced to work together and get through this hardship. The pain felt by millions around the U.S. was captured and turned into music that helped to unite the country as a whole. Music was the heart and soul behind the force that helped us win the war. In the U.S. music was what kept people going... in Vietnam music was the difference between giving up right then and there and pushing forward, taking that extra step even when they thought they couldn’t go a step farther. Knowing they had atleast a handful of people who still supported them gave them that little extra that kept them going. Without the Vietnam war, without Hamburger Hill, without the hardships , without the music we wouldn’t have had the influences and inspiration that greatly changed the U.S. Whether you realize it or not, Hamburger Hill didn’t just effect the troops involved, its repercussions were felt around the world.