Vietnam War

The exhibition More Than Self: Living the Vietnam War honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Vietnam War by sharing their stories from more than 800 oral histories preserved in the Kenan Research Center’s Veterans History Project.

The carnage of war in Vietnam found its way into American living rooms on the nightly news. Many opposed funding what they believed was an unjust war that diverted resources from social, racial, and economic problems at home.

As reports that U.S. prisoners of war were being mistreated in North Vietnam began to circulate, many of their families led efforts to force the U.S. government to pressure the North Vietnamese to account for all prisoners and missing personnel, ensure appropriate treatment, and negotiate for their return.

The North Vietnamese Army and the Việt Cộng made a formidable team. Some veterans who served closely with South Vietnamese forces believe they were effective and dependable allies, while others recall they lacked discipline and often refused to fight.

For the U.S., the mandate was clear: limit Soviet power in Southeast Asia and halt the spread of communism.

Regardless of where and how they served, the war in which they were engaged was dangerous. No place and no job was safe.

Beyond being drafted or volunteering, the Vietnam experience varied widely depending on a number of factors.

Between 1964 and 1975, nearly 3,500,000 men and women served in the United States armed forces in Southeast Asia. Each of them has a story to tell. Each story is unique.