The impact of the war on ONE of the following:

• Vietnam veterans and families
• Indo-Chinese refugees
• Australian culture
• Australia’s relations with Asia

Students learn to:

• assess the impact of the war on the chosen study

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The impact of the war on Vietnam Veterans and families

From Textbook
Read p.267 "The impact of war"

• In what ways was the Vietnam War different from previous wars?

Read Sources 5.23 and 5.24.

• What impact did mines have on the Australian soldiers?

Read p.266-7 "The Vietnam veterans"

• What reception was given to returning soldiers? Why?
• In what way were soldiers affected by post-traumatic stress disorder?
• What other problems did some veterans suffer from?
• When and why was the Vietnam Veterans Association formed? What did it achieve?
• What other belated acknowledgements were given to Vietnam veterans (in 1987 and 1992)?

Websites
Add further details to your responses from the following Department of Veterans' Affairs website pages:

• The impact of the war on veterans
• The use and impact of Agent Orange and the government response to veterans' problems
• The 1987 Welcome Home Parade and the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial

Of further interest:
The nine rules for Australian Army Forces in Vietnam (Vietnam Veterans Association website):

Photos
Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Canberra
A beautiful photo of the Vietnam Memorial at Flagstaff Hill, Wollongong

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Activity - Role Play

Work in pairs

• The year is 1992.
• You are two Vietnam Veterans who reunite for the first time since the war at the official opening of the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra.
• Write a script in which you share your thoughts and feelings about the treatment of Vietnam veterans since the war and the impact the war has had on you and your families.