Times of Change for Wednesday

Jack Smith by Ron Steinman
9 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

What challenges does Jack Smith face as a soldier in Vietnam? (a bulleted list is fine)
-he couldn't dig a foxhole deep enough because the soil was too hard
-there were dead bodies everywhere
-was the only person still alive among the Vietnamese and Americans in that clearing
-he was so scared from combat that he always was shaking
-the grass and ground were covered with blood
-losing friends to the war

How does Smith’s attitude toward war change?
At the beginning of the war, since not much was happening he was glad to sign up for the war to "become a man". Later on in the war after fighting in combat for a few days he was angry at any human that had anything to do with this battle. Although later on he realized that there is nothing that you can do to stop war, and although it is tough you have to get through it in order to move on.


I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag by Joe McDonald
2 pages - complete by Wednesday May 23

This song by Country Joe and the Fish became one of the first protest songs of the Vietnam Era. Read the lyrics to the song, and then respond to the following:

What is the song asking the “big strong men to do”?
To sign up fo the war, not to go to school, but just to risk your lives and fight.
… the “generals” to do?
They want the generals to go out and kill the Vietnamese people, and that you are only honored when you are dead.
… “Wall Street” to do?
There is a lot of money that you can make, by supplying the army with weapons.
… “mothers” to do?
They want mothers to sign thier sons up for the war, and to kill your son.

Write down four specific lines from the song that display sarcasm, cynicism, or anti-war sentiment.
"Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
"So put down your books and pick up a gun, We're gonna have a whole lotta fun."
"Open up the pearly gates, Well there ain't no time to wonder why"
"Be the first oe on your block, to have your boy come home in a box."