Image – Vietnam Zippos

Vietnam Zippos Page 987

Chapter 28

Vietnam Zippos

In 1965, journalist Morley Safer and his CBS crew filmed US soldiers torching the grass huts of Vietnamese villagers.  Disturbing footage of “Zippo raids,” named after the Zippo lighters issued to US troops, enraged LBJ and supporters of the war effort and fed growing public concern over US involvement in Vietnam.  Soldiers engraved their Zippo lighters with messages of hope and despair.

Questions for Analysis

1. Examine the Zippo lighters.  What response do you have to them?

2. Think of other conflicts that American soldiers have been involved in.  In what other ways would soldiers record their emotions or feelings?

 
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