Military Culture During World War II and the Vietnam Conflict

This research project undertook the question of whether or not a culture shift occurred in the United States Armed Forces in the years between World War II and the Vietnam Conflict. Firsthand veteran experiences were used along with After Action Reports to give a more complete picture of military life than was otherwise available. The firsthand veteran experiences came in the form of written correspondence, memoirs, and personal interviews done in conjunction with the Veterans History Project and the Library of Congress. All interviews included in this study were performed by students at Northern Kentucky University and highlight local veterans of World War II and the Vietnam Conflict from several branches of the United States Armed Forces including the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. The project did not attempt to favor the culture of one time period over the other, but rather highlighted the similarities and differences between the two