Working-Class War, by Christian G. Appy

Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers & Vietnam, by Christian G. Appy
The University of North Carolina Press, 1993
321 pages, plus notes, Bibliography and index, no photos
Library: 959.704 APP

Description
(The Cheyenne Library saw fit to put a sticker on half of the description of this book, so I can present only what Amazon.com has to say about it:
In his introduction, Appy (history, MIT) states, "Vietnam is not... merely a memory; it is a fundamental part of our history and, therefore, a fundamental part of what we are." What follows is an in-depth look at the "part of what we are" that is literally the living legacy of the war--the Vietnam veteran. The author has compellingly combined his experiences from interviews, participation in weekly veterans' "rap" groups, and examination of existing Vietnam-era literature to present two narratives. First, he examines the circumstances that created a fighting force in Vietnam made up predominantly of working-class young men. He then vividly presents readers with what participants of the war endured by synthesizing accounts of veterans with illustrative excerpts from novels, nonfiction works, and films concerning the war. Appy's achievement is conveying to readers insight into the war experience of Vietnam veterans. Highly recommended for all libraries.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Facing the Wal
1. Working-Class WAr
2. Life Before the Nam
3. Basic Training
4. Ominous Beginnings
5. The TErms of Battle
6. Drawing Fire and Laying WAste
7. A War for Nothing
8. What are we becoming?
9. Am I right or wrong?
Notes
Bibliography
Index