Books
Returning to the Beginning
Book in Progress
Photographs and text by Ted Engelmann
Returning to the Beginning is a story of one person's life that explores a personal search for identity from childhood and the impact of war.
Set in chronological order, with photographs and vignette stories, the author begins by recognizing his Great-grandfather's involvement in the Illinois Volunteers during the Civil War, his father's World War II experience in the South Pacific, and growing up as a Baby-Boomer in the 1950s through high school graduation in 1965.
The section covering the years 1966-1969, explores the author's military experience in the air force. Most of this section is dedicated to images made during his tour of duty in Viet Nam. Images of the author's base camp north of Saigon, near the Michelin Rubber Plantation, the war machinery, and the culture of Viet Nam create a direction for the rest of his life.
The section from1970-present covers the period of time when the author photographs the effects of the war throughout Viet Nam, the US, and our two major U.S. allies, South Korea and Australia.
Photographs of parades, memorial dedications, and issues of veterans in each country provide a record of what happened after returning home from the war in Viet Nam.
A final section, "Connecting the Wounds: from Viet Nam to Iraq," will be an examination of the daily living experience of soldiers in Viet Nam and an examination of how this experience compares to that of soldiers in Iraq.
The appendix to Returning to the Beginning will include a chronology of the war in Viet Nam, a page for the owner's personal chronology, and a series of maps: the world, the region around Viet Nam, North and South Viet Nam during the war, and the four military sections (Corps) of South Viet Nam during the war. These materials provide readers a means to connect geography with time and events.
A separate blank album will encourage the reader to create his or her own album of memories, whether he or she is a veteran or a relative or loved one of a Viet Nam veteran. The author's book provides an example of one person's story. When finished with the album, the reader is encouraged to donate their legacy to the Vietnam Center Archives at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, to become part of the growing collective history of the United States. This album will then become a permanent part of the history so that others might understand the full extent of our experience.
Filling the Gaps: Little Known Bits and Pieces about the American War in Viet Nam
Book in Progress
Photographs and text by Ted Engelmann
The main reason for this book is to help American students and educators understand a larger story about the American war in Viet Nam. Even in 2007, American students are generally taught that the United States alone fought North Viet Nam. Five other countries were willing to fight under President Johnson's "many flags" program.
As a result of the social and political chaos in America, I believe our nation experienced a form of Post Traumatic Stress Denial. We realized our government and military lied to the nation, the war in Viet Nam was traumatic, and, like an individual who has experienced an life-threatening emotional trauma, America slipped into a form of denial about what took place during that period of history. Some call it cultural amnesia.
Original photographs and anecdotal experiences speak to issues of the American War in Viet Nam which are not usually addressed by mainstream American textbooks; Filling the Gaps will complement existing textbooks and historical materials.
Starting with my tour of duty in 1968, Filling the Gaps has a unique collection of original photographs and anecdotal stories from many years of travel throughout the United States, Viet Nam, South Korea, and Australia. The photographs show parades, monument dedications, memorials, and the effects of the war on individuals who experienced the war, directly and indirectly.
The book will include some student activities. The activities will also include questions for teachers and students to stimulate critical thinking and to help understand various points of view. An example of one such activity is, the 7-Flag Chieu Hoi (Safe Conduct) Pass, in SocialEducation, page 363-365, October 2006, Vol. 70, No. 6, published by the National Council for the Social Studies.
|
