About this item
The Vietnam War is largely recalled as a mistake, either in the decision to engage there or in the nature of the engagement. Or both. Veterans of the war remain largely anonymous figures, accomplices in the mistake. Critically recounting the steps that led to the war, this book does not excuse the mistakes, but it brings those who served out of the shadows.Enduring Vietnam recounts the experiences of the young Americans who fought in Vietnam and of families who grieved those who did not return. By 1969 nearly half of the junior enlisted men who died in Vietnam were draftees. And their median age was 21 -- among the non-draftees it was only 20. The book describes the "baby boomers" growing up in the 1950s, why they went into the military, what they thought of the war, and what it was like to serve in "Nam." And to come home. With a rich narrative of the Battle for "Hamburger Hill," and through substantial interviews with those who served, the book depicts the cruelty of this war, and its quiet acts of courage.James Wright's Enduring Vietnam provides an important dimension to the profile of an American generation -- and a rich account of an American War.
About the Author
James Wright is President Emeritus and Eleazar Wheelock Professor of History Emeritus at Dartmouth College. The son of a WW II veteran, he joined the Marine Corps in 1957, at age 17. He served for three years before entering Wisconsin State University-Platteville for his bachelor's degree, and a masters and doctoral degree in history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He joined the Dartmouth College History Department in 1969 and from 1998 to 2009, served as the college's 16th president.President Wright has worked with veterans since 2005 when he began visiting wounded Marines and soldiers in Washington, D.C. hospitals. In over thirty visits since then, he has encouraged the injured servicemen and women to continue their education. Wright was involved in the planning for the Yellow Ribbon Program that provided for private institutions to be included in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and he worked with the American Council on Education (ACE) to create a new educational counseling program for wounded U.S. veterans. This program still continues at Walter Reed Hospital.He serves on the Board of the Semper Fi Fund/America's Fund, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) , the Advisory Board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and the Campaign Leadership Committee for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Education Center.For his work with veterans, Wright was featured as "Person of the Week" on ABC World News and was recognized as New Englander of the Year by the New England Council. In 2009 he received a special Daniel Webster Award from the Dartmouth Club of Washington and the Veterans of Foreign Wars honored him with the Commander-in-Chief's Gold Medal of Merit Award. The New England Board of Higher Education recognized him in 2010 for his leadership on behalf of higher education and the advancement of educational opportunity.Wright and his wife Susan live in Hanover, NH.
