On 6 June 1944, Allied forces began the liberation of Western Europe with the landings along the Normandy coastline. Last year I complained about how television (cough, History Channel, cough) barely noted the 65th Anniversary of the Normandy landings. This year, however, I have decided to allow history to literally speak for itself.
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Not wasting any time, I obtained two additional books on Australia’s Vietnam War experience. The books listed below should go along nicely with the other books I recently discussed.
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After debating on whether to comment on the History Channel’s new show, America The Story of Us, I must state that I cannot take any show seriously that has Puff Daddy (or whatever pseudonym he is currently using) explaining the Erie Canal and Irish-American labor. Furthermore, skipping the wars between the American Revolution and the Second World War makes me wonder what this television series is really about. Clearly if it was an worthwhile account of American history it would not be aired on the History Channel.
Normally I do not discuss the new books I acquire. However, considering my interest in the Vietnam War, and in particular Australian involvement, I am a little eager to list the works I have obtained in hopes of receiving suggestions for future purchases. The new acquisitions are an assortment of general histories and more focused works.
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Last week I attended my first Society for Military History (SMH) conference. For me, panels on the Vietnam War and counterinsurgency made me rethink my understanding and mental approach to my future dissertation topic. In particular, the wrong questions about the Vietnam War are being asked. Rather than arguing over whether the war was necessary or a grave mistake, historians need to move on. Questions pertaining to how the war was, and is, interpreted by the participating nations are in need of answers. For example, Thailand’s elites view the Vietnam War as a great military and economic victory. Thus scholars need to explain the varying interpretations of the conflict. In relation to my interest in American-Australian military relations during the Vietnam War-era, I now have a better idea of how to address the deep scholarship on Australia while avoiding outdated questions. Consequently, many more books have been added to my reading list.
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Synopsis
The purpose of Thompson Werk is to present the musings of a US War and Society doctoral student. Discussion topics principally center around the World Wars and Vietnam.
The opinions expressed on this site are not be confused with those of my colleagues, employers, friends, family, and/or anyone else associated with me.
Contact me with any comments, complaints, and/or questions.
Responses
- Robert: Everyone needs to see Vietnam,
- Ross Mahoney: Sounds like it is another
- Robert: My original post omitted the
- Robert: Hey Ross, Vietnam is a
- Ross Mahoney: Robert it looks like a
