Times Of Change - Next two readings

Jack Smith

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
- everyone was new
- couldn't find the Viet-Cong
- nobody was truly trained for combat

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
He didn't like war and all the killing. He wanted it too stop, and he even asked other soldiers to not kill the Vietnamese.

I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag

This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
To get Uncle Same (the US) out of a jam.
… the “generals” to do?
To go kill the communists (Reds)
… “Wall Street” to do?
To make money to fund the soldiers.
… “mothers” to do?
To send their children to Vietnam.
Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.
To have your boy come home in a box.
...peace can only be won When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.