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How reliable are Sources F and G as evidence of the activities of US servicemen in Vietnam? - page 1
Keywords: gcse history coursework question three 3 source f g servicemen soldiers vietnam war
By exploiit on 19/06/2010
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 2 pages: 1 2The reliability of sources F and G are disputable. Both have an element of plausibility, and could prove very useful in providing information about the activities of U.S. servicemen in Vietnam, but they are shrouded with unknown factors.
Source F very patently represents opposition to the misconduct of American soldiers fighting in the war. It makes use of a lot of vulgar imagery in order to deliver a point, but the descriptions of these ‘happenings’ lead us to question a number of things. We are not told who our source has come from, or whether they had even served in the American army. As far as we are aware, this account is the work of a journalist. Whether serviceman or journalist, we wonder if one person could have witnessed (or performed) such acts “usually”. The motive behind reporting these atrocities is also questionable. Published in a well established American newspaper, the report is very quick to criticise U.S. technique in such an imperative war. As well as this, the date generates suspicion – it is from April 1965, before the Anti-War Movement, and during the time at which the war’s popularity was at its peak. This could be the emergence of some early anti-war activists. In this case, the serviceman or journalist in question is most likely sensationalizing his/her story. It is also possible that this is a genuine admission from a distraught soldier.
We are aware that the Americans committed many heinous acts while serving in Vietnam, which grants this source a slight authenticity (e.g. My Lai). However, further information within the source leaves us sceptical. We are told that “two Viet Cong prisoners were interrogated on an airplane”. This is of course contradictory to the fact that the Americans never tried to learn the language of the Vietnamese people. Any form of communication was close to non-existent. The source then goes on to explain that both Viet Cong soldiers were “thrown out of the airplane at 3000 feet”, despite the second answering the questions he was asked. This leaves us to speculate why the Americans would kill both prisoners.
Source G appears to be slightly more reliable than source F. This source is primary, provided by an “American soldier who fought in Vietnam”. The soldier recollects his experience of shooting his “first enemy”. Like in source F, the motive behind admission is uncertain. We cannot be sure whether this soldier is submitting
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