Summary of Kathleen Belew's Bring the War Home

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The war worked to radicalize and arm paramilitary groups in the post–Vietnam War period. It brought racism, military training, weapons proficiency, and a readiness to continue fighting home with many veterans. #2 The Vietnam War was also distinct from other wars in that it was a conflict with a local, civil conflict and an enemy comprised of highly motivated guerrillas and partisan soldiers. This created high levels of despair among the troops. #3 The Vietnam War completely changed the way Americans viewed their military. It was the first real test of an integrated army, and the racial violence that plagued soldiers of color in combat and at home signaled the incompleteness of this transformation. #4 The discourse surrounding the Vietnam War shifted in the 1980s to emphasize the mistreatment of veterans by the government and by civil society. The idea that the nation had wrongly rejected, failed to honor, and impugned veterans created an emphasis on healing and memorialization.