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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What phrase best describes the bulk of the soldiers in the South Vietnamese Army?
(a) Cannon fodder.
(b) Combat ready.
(c) Underprepared and untrained.
(d) Grizzled veterans.

2. John Paul Vann is born during what era?
(a) The Spanish-American War.
(b) The Great Depression.
(c) The Alaskan Gold Rush.
(d) The 1950s.

3. Ngo Dinh Diem is very afraid of ________________.
(a) A coup d'etat.
(b) Dealing with the Chinese Communists.
(c) Being on the losing side against the Vietcong.
(d) Flying.

4. How far off (in miles) from their intended landing zones are the ARVN paratroopers eventually dropped?
(a) One and a half miles.
(b) One half mile.
(c) Two miles.
(d) One mile.

5. The helicopters that carry the ARVN troops to the battle location are affectionately known by what name?
(a) Cobras.
(b) Flying Bananas.
(c) Hogs.
(d) Pack Mules.

6. Ho Chi Minh lived in which country (other than Vietnam) prior to the Vietnam War?
(a) France.
(b) The Philippines.
(c) China.
(d) Italy.

7. President Ngo Dinh Diem is made president of South Vietnam by the _______________.
(a) Viet Minh.
(b) People of South Vietnam.
(c) United Nations.
(d) American government.

8. U.S. military ships are fired on during a routine mission in this body of water:
(a) Indian Ocean.
(b) South China Sea.
(c) Bay of Biscay.
(d) Gulf of Tonkin.

9. John Paul Vann requests the following equipment to help the M-113s navigate across the various canals in the battlefield:
(a) Bulldozers.
(b) Portable bridges.
(c) Amphibious troop carriers.
(d) Half tracks.

10. During the early 1960s, the Vietcong forces are _______________ in comparison to the ARVN troops.
(a) Unmotivated.
(b) Superior.
(c) Greatly inferior.
(d) Easily slain.

11. This person is an influential figure in stabilizing the national government of the Philippines during the 1950s and was sent to South Vietnam to see if he could do the same there.
(a) John Paul Vann.
(b) General Edward Lansdale.
(c) General Douglas MacArthur.
(d) Secretary of State Robert McNamara.

12. The name for the pro-North Vietnamese forces based in South Vietnam is the ___________________.
(a) People's Liberation Army.
(b) The Resistance.
(c) Communist Army of South Vietnam.
(d) National Liberation Front.

13. On what date do the American advisers and ARVN military commanders begin planning the offensive at Ap Bac?
(a) December 28, 1962.
(b) January 2, 1963.
(c) July 4, 1962.
(d) December 25, 1963.

14. What word best describes John Paul Vann's physical size?
(a) Dangerously thin.
(b) Small.
(c) Towering.
(d) Portly.

15. Approximately how many pages are in the famous "Pentagon Papers"?
(a) 1,100.
(b) 300.
(c) 5,000.
(d) 7,000.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT a prominent religion practiced in South Vietnam?

2. Which of the following is another aspect of John Paul Vann's personality mentioned in "The Funeral"?

3. Which of the following is true regarding the interrogation tactics of the Vietnamese and Cambodian "Rangers"?

4. John Paul Vann is a risk-taker to such a degree that other soldiers were amazed at his bravado (or foolhardiness). How is this personality trait described by those that knew him?

5. On which day is the funeral of John Paul Vann held?

(see the answer keys)

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