A quarter of a century after the Fall of Saigon, Vietnam continues to exercise a powerful hold of the American psyche. No deployment of American troops abroad is considered without the infusion of the Vietnam question. No formulation of strategic policy can be completed without weighing the possibility of Vietnamization. Even the politics of a person cannot be discussed without taking into account his/her opinion on the Vietnam War. This obsession with Vietnam is perfectly national when viewed from a far. It is the only war that the United States has ever lost. It defined an era of American history that most rank with the depression as one of this nation's most traumatic events.(Warren, 1990)
             The Vietnam War, to me, is one of the most interesting wars in American history. It was once said, "it is like a shroud of a mystery wrapped inside an enigma."(unknown)
             Vietnam, Red China, and the spread of communism brought fear into the homes of many Americans, due to Red China and Russia tightening their strong hold on Indochina. The frequent media coverage on the poor South Vietnamese people suffering under communist rule aroused both fear and anger in America. Many feared that the "iron hand" of communism would slowly move from Southeast Asia towards the United States.(Sheldon, 1969) Feeling threatened and helpless, many American men volunteered to fight the war in Vietnam.
             My uncle served in Vietnam for three years. He was one of the many who went to fight the spread of communism, or so he thought. He explained to me why he volunteered to fight with this simple analogy:
             Being nineteen, naive, and eager to serve my country I volunteered to fight in Vietnam. I pictured what was happening over there as a killer approaching my house. My house was America. Around the house is a white picket fence and the killer is approaching the fence. I saw this coming and had to protect my family.
             He asked me i...