Glenn Bridges 10BT
Do you agree with this interpretation of the problems faced by the United States
Soldiers in Vietnam?
Source a was published 17 years after the War, (Vietnam; 1964-1975).In this time more information was made available, but witnesses accounts maybe inaccurate due to this lapse in time
The author is an American journalist, not a solider or frontline reporter, so his experience is not first hand. Consequently the text’s “slant” is different.
The title displays limitations; it’s likely to be biased as it refers to the My Lai massacre. When in four hours, on an early Saturday morning in March 1968, between 300-400 villagers were killed as a regular search and destroy mission went terribly wrong. Under official orders, Unit Charlie Company had details the area; My Lai, was housing Vietcong members and sympathiser the unit had also been instructed that the villagers had left for market as it was a Saturday; the unit were under the impression to kill all who were left. But in reality no Vietcong were found or killed, only villagers, as they hadn’t all left for market. The unit managed to obtain 6 Vietcong guns but no members. The title shows the authors opposing opinion to the war; this is more evidence of the source being bias.
Author Michael Bilton has used research in this source. As the source quotes; “recruits scored so low on intelligence…” This use of research shows is likely to increase the sources accuracy, although statistics can be manipulated. The quote does not focus on recruits’ average age of 19. This affected the military’s performance as recruits were immature, inexperienced in life. Consequently, objectives were poorly met .Immaturity is also important factor, as upon joining the army recruits to the U.S forces are instructed how they have the option of ignoring a direct order for the better interest of the objective, allowing recruits to think for themselves. Possibly if recruits had taken this into account during the search and destroy mission in My Lai, results may have been less disastrous. Age was an advantage though; recruits were fit/ healthy, able to meet physical demands.
