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

2. What do the Swiftees say that Kerry's actual nickname was in Vietnam?

3. Why does O'Neill think Kerry agreed to serve in Vietnam?

4. What kept Kerry's unacceptable behavior from his superiors?

5. How was Kerry's first wound treated?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. What is an example of the report that Kerry lacked the nerves for combat and often would overreact to situations?

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

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

7. What were the circumstances around the award of Kerry's second Purple Heart, and how does it parallel the first?

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

9. What question did Lt. Ted Peck ask of Kerry shortly after he returned home, and why is Kerry's response revealing?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

O'Neill gives a first hand account of the Swift Boat Veterans Reunion in 2003.

1) Describe the events of the reunion, Kerry's reception and actions, and how they compared with the other Swift Boat Veterans' reception and actions. Why is that contrast significant?

2) Who is Joe Ponder? Why does O'Neill think he had the most memorable moment of the reunion? How does Ponder's part in the reunion add to the doubt the authors are showing as far as Kerry's credibility is concerned?

Essay Topic 2

Kerry's testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is the catalyst for much of the book's objection to his ability to be the Commander in Chief.

1) Detail the statements made by Kerry, how they were perceived at the time, and why O'Neill and the other veterans objected to them so fiercely. Which ones were the most offensive or damaging? Why?

2) Who was the Committee made up of, and why was that important in their purpose and receptiveness to Kerry's testimony?

3) Who was responsible for writing Kerry's speech and how do Kerry's claims about it demonstrate his dishonesty?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Kerry's actions in the sampan incident. What was the setting for it and why is that relevant? What should Kerry have done differently? What were the results of his actions and the significance of the people in the sampan? In an attempt to explain the situation, who does Kerry blame? How did Kerry report the incident and what were his reasons for doing so? Why is the sampan incident one of the most effective examples of how the authors' opinion of Kerry is substantiated?

(see the answer keys)

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