Joan Baez, a singer-songwriter and activist pacifist, used her folk music as commentary on civil rights and universal nonviolence. Her song “Saigon Bride” was released in 1967 during the height of the Vietnam War, reflecting the horror and opposition to the conflict. The song was composed from the perspective of a soldier battling in the Vietnam War.
The song’s lyrics, which were interpreted by an interpreter as a song about the Vietnam War, were a powerful expression of the horror and opposition to the conflict. For millions of Americans, it was more than they could stomach the war’s costs—moral, strategic, in lives lost, and dollars wasted.
The song also featured the lyrics of Goodnight Saigon, which were about Marines in battle bonding together, fighting their fears, and trying to figure out how to survive. The song was released in 1967 as a protest song against the Vietnam War.
The fall of Saigon in April 1975 marked the end of the Vietnam War, with thousands of Americans and South Vietnamese evacuated to the United States and other countries. Operation Babylift, the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries, was the name given to the mass evacuation in history.
Baez’s song “Saigon Bride” was able to catch the attention of the public because it told the story of what it was like for the soldiers during the war. Other songs whose very titles were a protest themselves included Pete Seeger’s “Bring Em Home” and Joan Baez’s “Saigon Bride”.
📹 Saigon Bride (Joan Baez)
She also joined in other forms of protest, such as the Draft Resistance, an organisation run by her then husband David Harris.
When was the Tet Offensive?
January 30, 1968 Tet Offensive / Start date: On January 30, 1968, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops attacked South Vietnamese and American targets. The Tet Offensive changed the Vietnam War. On January 30, 1968, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched the Tet Offensive against South Vietnam and its American allies. The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military operations of the Vietnam War and a key turning point in the conflict. The Tet Offensive was a surprise attack during the Vietnamese New Year festival. Many South Vietnamese were caught off guard. The campaign targeted more than 100 cities and towns, including Saigon.
How did the last Americans get out of Saigon?
The Americans and their allies left Vietnam. They left their equipment and bases with the South Vietnamese. The last American troops left Saigon on March 29, 1973. The last POWs left on the same day. The two Vietnams were at war again, and combat resumed. Hanoi used 30 regular army divisions and Viet Cong guerillas to capture the capital in April 1975. The final death toll is still unknown.
How did Americans react to the Vietnam War?
Vietnam veterans opposed the war. But people also started to oppose the war. Many Americans opposed the war because they were against the violence and destruction. Some said the war was about Vietnamese independence or an intervention in a foreign civil war. Others opposed it because they felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable. Many anti-war activists were Vietnam veterans. This is shown by the organization Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Later protests. In April 1971, thousands of veterans protested at the White House in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of them threw their medals and decorations on the steps of the United States Capitol. By this time, many anti-war demonstrators displayed the flag of the Viet Cong, which alienated many who were morally opposed to the war.
Characteristics As the war in Vietnam got worse, more and more people were against it. This led to the formation of different groups.
Was the Vietnam War unpopular?
The Vietnam War was a war between the US and North Vietnam from 1961-1975. The US troops fought to stop North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam. The war was fought in a new way, with many casualties on both sides. As the war went on, more young men were drafted, and it became unpopular with the American public. News photos and videos showed the war at home. The Vietnam War was complex, and students may have trouble understanding the political issues and emotions involved. In this unit, students will read letters from Pennsylvania soldiers serving in Vietnam and analyze documents written by Americans. They will understand why the war was unpopular and empathize with soldiers and citizens. Use this unit after students have studied the war and know what it was about and what happened.
What are the most important questions to ask? How has social disagreement and collaboration helped American society?
How did soldiers feel about the Tet Offensive?
Once the surprise wore off, most attacks were crushed in a few days. Many soldiers said the fighting was some of the worst they’d seen. Soldiers who didn’t expect to fight, including cooks, radiomen, and clerks, fought hard in areas they thought were safe. The situation got worse in the north, where the Viet Cong and NVA attacked roads, waterways, and bridges, threatening supply lines. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division was cut off and had to be supplied by air for weeks. The attacks lasted into March. The worst fighting was in Hue. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces fought the enemy in the only urban battle of the war. Hue was anti-American, and the North Vietnamese wanted to overthrow the government there. They tried to capture Hue. The fighting was so intense that it took more than three weeks to recapture the city.
What was the effect of the fall of Saigon?
The fall of Saigon marked the end of South Vietnam. The fall of Saigon ended the Vietnam War and reunified the country under the communist government of the North. People also left quickly during Operation Frequent Wind.
Why did so many people leave Vietnam after the fall of Saigon?
After Saigon fell, many South Vietnamese fled because they feared the new Communist government.
How did soldiers feel about Vietnam?
Abstract: In the 1960s and 1970s, young people shaped American society. Young people took part in the civil rights movement, fought for better education and equality, and called for a true democracy in American culture. The youth were passionate about what they believed in, and their actions shaped the future of America. One of the most remembered youth protests of the 1970s was the antiwar movement. The protests started peacefully but quickly turned violent. They included burning draft cards, antiwar music, and burning ROTC buildings. The Kent State shooting and Woodstock are part of the American memory of the Vietnam War and antiwar movements. The youth were breaking with traditional American society. They organized protests that upset older people. Students wanted an end to the war and a political agenda that reflected equality and democracy. The violence and tensions at home made soldiers in Vietnam think about why they were fighting abroad. Soldiers joined the antiwar movement by making underground newspapers and meeting in coffeehouses. Soldiers abroad wrote about confusion and guilt about their service. Some soldiers felt betrayed by their country. They said soldiers deserved more support because they were dying for freedom and doing their duty. At home, people were divided, and this led to more tension in the armed forces. Why did soldiers lose faith? How did antiwar groups affect soldiers abroad? How did the protests against the U.S. military affect soldiers in Vietnam? Did the protests affect the war? The American public influenced political and military decisions, but this paper will look at how antiwar movements affected soldiers on the front lines. During WWII, many Americans supported the war. Soldiers were heroes and got economic benefits with the GI Bill. During the Vietnam War, more people opposed the war than supported it. Soldiers became targets of protestors. This thesis says that antiwar movements and bad politicians made soldiers unhappy and caused the Vietnam War to fail.
Acknowledgments. I thank Dr. Susan Eckelmann Berghel for her help with editing, reading, and being a loyal supporter. She helped me succeed in my undergraduate research. I’d also like to thank Dr. Anne Tracy Samuel and Dr. William Kuby for helping me with my thesis. Finally, my parents, Robert and Darcy Fox, have helped me stay focused and motivated. I’m grateful for all my supporters.
Degree. B.A. Honors Thesis submitted to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
How did Americans respond to the Vietnam War and the draft?
The end of the draft and opposition. Conscription made young men and student protesters in the United States think less war was a good idea. Anti-war students burned their draft cards. People resisted the draft more and more as the war went on. In 1972, more people filed as conscientious objectors than were actually drafted. Some people who couldn’t avoid the draft left the United States for Canada. Up to 100,000 men left the U.S. during this period. The draft made people angry at the war, so Richard Nixon said he would get rid of it in the 1968 election. The draft ended in 1973. The last men were drafted on June 30 of that year.
How many civilians were killed at My Lai?
The My Lai Massacre was the killing of 500 unarmed villagers by U.S. soldiers in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968.
A map of North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War showing major air bases and the communists’ supply routes. My Lai was in Quang Ngai province, 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Quang Ngai city. The area was called “Pinkville” by U.S. soldiers because of the color used to show the crowded My Lai area on maps. By December 1967, Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade had arrived in Vietnam. “Pinkville” was known for being a hotbed of Viet Cong activity. In January 1968, Charlie was one of three companies sent to destroy the 48th Battalion, a very effective Viet Cong unit in Quang Ngai province. In February and March, Charlie Company lost many men to mines and traps, but it didn’t fight the 48th Battalion. After the Tet Offensive, the Viet Cong returned to guerrilla tactics and avoided direct encounters with U.S. forces.
How many Americans were left in Vietnam after Saigon fell?
After Saigon fell in 1975, about 50 Americans were left behind. Most were civilians or journalists. Later, they were put up in a hotel guarded by the communists. They were asked why they were there.
Why did people flee Saigon?
The fall of Saigon caused many Vietnamese to leave their country. The main reasons Vietnamese left their country were political oppression, poverty, and war.
Listening to this song made me think of all those young men who went to fight these rich politicians war,for what?many died,I didn’t go but one more year and I would’ve been next in line.These rich bastards didn’t have to go because they paid their way to college’s,anyways,I can only imagine,being in a foreign country risking your life not knowing if you’d ever come back home,it must of felt good to spend some time with a woman when ever possible.