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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. What is the name of the base camp?

2. How many of the Vietcong are killed by the Americans?

3. Who is the enemy of American forces?

4. What is referred to using the acronym OCS?

5. Because the enemy knows the standard operation plan of the American troops, they often execute which technique to fight off the soldiers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the biggest problem with this plan?

2. Discuss Downs' situation at the base camp. Where is it located? What is the name of the platoon?

3. What is the plan for the base camp once the soldiers arrive on site?

4. Describe the scene when Lt. Frederick Downs arrives at the airfield for the first time.

5. Describe the area around the base camp and how it is different than Downs expected.

6. What type of personnel make up the platoon? What is the common bond between all of the men?

7. What is the issue with convoys traveling by the established road? What were the orders issued to the men?

8. How do the soldiers in the battalion refer to the Vietnamese and the Vietcong?

9. Who gives Downs details about his destination? What does the man say?

10. What is the basic plan for battle for the First Platoon? Would the platoon have any back up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how Downs must have felt arriving back in the United States after being in Vietnam. How would you have felt in the same situation? Which would feel stranger to you - arriving in the States or going home to your house? Explain. Also, write about how friends and family might treat you differently after you returned home from war. What kind of treatment would one expect? Would it be different depending on amount or extent of wounds? Would it be different if the wounds were physical or mental?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss in details Downs' experience in the Veterans Administration. How did Downs become involved with the VA? What type of work did Downs do? How long was Downs affiliated with the VA? What prompted Downs to take the promotion? What was the new job? What did it entail? How was the job directly related to Downs' own experience? Why did Downs travel back to Vietnam during this time? How did the trip affect Downs?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the statistics mentioned in the book. Explore the accuracy of the details. What other details should have been included? Which details may have been more pertinent? What else should have been said about the end of the war? How did the end of the war affect the hundreds of thousands of military personnel and their families? Were there any other wars in recent history that equaled the one in Vietnam?

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