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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. How does Kerry's gunner, Stephen Gardner, describe the sampan incident?

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

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

4. Out of the few months Kerry spent in Vietnam, how many of them were for training purposes?

5. How often did the charges Kerry reported supposedly occur?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did one of Kerry's suggestions affect the Swiftees when they were ordered to employ Psychological Operations against the enemy?

2. How did the assignment of the Swift Boats change, what was Kerry's response, and why did the other officers consider him to be a problem?

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

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

5. 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?

6. 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?

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

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

9. What was the content of Kerry's testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and why did it anger O'Neill so much?

10. How was Kerry awarded the Silver Star?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Following Kerry's testimony, many soldiers in Vietnam experienced the backlash from it. Describe three ways that Kerry's speech was used against the soldiers in the war and why it was an effective tool for the enemy. Also, explain the effect Kerry's testimony had on the soldiers who were returning home and the reception they received.

Essay Topic 2

What was the open letter from the Swift Boat Veterans to John Kerry? Why was it announced, and what was its purpose? How did Kerry respond to the letter? Why was it significant that the letter was issued in 2004 and by Rear Admiral Hoffman? What is the importance of the number of signatures on the letter and who participated or endorsed it?

Essay Topic 3

After reading Unfit for Command, did the authors achieve their objective? Why or why not? Describe 3 examples of the strongest and most convincing parts of their presentation. Is this a book that every voter should have read before the 2004 election? Overall, did O'Neill and Corsi prove beyond a reasonable doubt that their positions were accurate and worth bringing to the attention of the American people? How?

(see the answer keys)

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