View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Diem engages in an ambitious campaign that redistributes _______________ from the Buddhist farmers to the Catholic refugees fleeing North Vietnam.

2. During 1962, much of South Vietnam is __________.

3. Which intelligence officer, assigned to work with Vann, lives by the motto "know your foe", setting up an elaborate system of informants and launching an exhaustive data file on the Vietcong?

4. How are the Viet Minh perceived by many of the Vietnamese people, especially in light of their victory over the French in the First Indochina War?

5. President John F. Kennedy proposes _______________ as a way to deal with possible peasant uprisings spurred on by the Vietcong.

Short Essay Questions

1. John Paul Vann retires from the military in 1963, only to go back to Vietnam with the AID in 1965 and serve until his death in 1972. Based on what we've learned from "The Funeral" section, why do you think he does this?

2. What do the many guerrilla-style hit-and-run missions of the Viet Cong teach them about the nature of their enemies, the South Vietnamese and the Americans?

3. How many Viet Cong were at the radio tower position at Ap Bac and what were the actual combat conditions there?

4. Why is General Huynh Van Cao's chief-of-staff, Lt. Colonel Bui Dinh Dam, selected, even though he is a North Vietnamese and General Huynh Van Cao is a general for the South?

5. What is the preliminary intelligence report given by Jim Drummond and the eavesdroppers in the Otters concerning the size and capabilities of the VC force at Ap Bac?

6. What features of John Paul Vann's burial at Arlington stood out?

7. What are some of the difficulties in getting the South Vietnamese prepared to engage the Viet Cong?

8. Discuss the significance of John Paul Vann's promotion to senior adviser for a corps region. How is this significant?

9. What is one of the secret desires of the American military advisers with regard to the Viet Cong's fighting tactics?

10. In 1962, what is the United States' stated primary role in Vietnam?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There were many reasons why the United States decided to directly involve our military in Vietnam. Chief among them was the performance of the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN). Briefly describe the condition of the ARVN that prompted many American advisers and military intelligence personnel to recommend "sending in the Marines"? If the United States hadn't sent in fighting men and women, how do you think South Vietnam might have fared on its own?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways was John Paul Vann's relationship with his Vietnamese counterpart, Huynh Van Cao, indicative of all the early pre-war operations of the ARVN? How much of a role do you think language played in the various events that transpired? Would things have gone better had John Paul Vann and Huynh Van Cao been more relaxed in dealing with one another?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample