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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 was the purpose of Kerry's unauthorized trips to Saigon?

2. What television show did Kerry refuse to debate O'Neill on?

3. How was Kerry's first wound treated?

4. What does Kerry claim his nickname was in Vietnam?

5. How was Kerry perceived among the other Swiftees during his time in Vietnam?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened in the infamous sampan incident, where a mother and her child were found, and how did Kerry respond?

2. What were the events surrounding the first Purple Heart medal that Kerry received, and why do the authors question its validity?

3. What were Kerry's reasons for choosing the Swift Boats to serve on?

4. How did O'Neill finally have the chance to debate Kerry in 1971?

5. How did Kerry initially try to avoid serving in the war?

6. What does Captain Plumly report about Kerry's service, and how does that correspond to the reports of his trips to Saigon?

7. Why is it important to understand when the problems between O'Neill and Kerry began?

8. What is the significance of O'Neill's suggestion that the readers of the book view the video of the debate between him and Kerry?

9. What was the length of a normal tour of duty, how did Kerry's time in the war compare to it, and how did the other officers regard his actions?

10. What did O'Neill first do to challenge Kerry on his testimony, and how did Kerry respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

O'Neill's opposition to Kerry's actions began over 30 years before Unfit for Command was written.

1) Describe the circumstances for the basis of O'Neill's objections.

2) What were the circumstances surrounding the debate between O'Neill and Kerry, why did it take so long to schedule the event, and how was the venue chosen?

3) What was the end result of the debate? Why did the crowd react the way they did? What important suggestion does O'Neill make to the readers about the debate, and why? What does Kerry's lack of evidence in the debate illustrate with regards to the claims he has made against the military?

Essay Topic 2

What are the questions the authors ask at the end of the Introduction? Why are the answers to them critical to the effectiveness of the authors' main points? What do the authors hope to accomplish with the rest of the book? How have they proven their sincerity in the Introduction, and how does that make them more credible?

Essay Topic 3

The three Purple Hearts that Kerry received are used in different ways throughout the war and in the political arena.

1) Describe the 3 situations that led up to the Purple Hearts being awarded, the conflicting reports, and similarities between them.

2) How did Kerry use the medals to be released from the military and what did he do with them upon returning to the U.S.?

3) How do the medals become part of his political career and what is the shift in his attitude towards them? Is that change sincere or just another attempt to further his career? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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