| dc.description.abstract | This thesis focuses on GI and veteran dissent during the Vietnam War. While activism of the 1960s has been well documented by historians, particularly within the Vietnam-era antiwar movement, some voices are still less known. Students, hippies, and New Left activists are maybe most well-known for antiwar dissent, but active-duty soldiers and Vietnam veterans were an active voice within the antiwar movement. Drawing from primary sources like newspapers, memoirs, and interviews, as well as scholarly research from historians within the field, this thesis examines the active-duty GI movement, coffeehouses, and Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). Through these examples, this thesis seeks to demonstrate the work and influence of military and veteran activism during the antiwar movement and argue for the evaluation of the GI underground press, and VVAW as a collective voice within the movement. Ultimately though, this thesis seeks to amplify and honor the voices of young veterans who worked tirelessly to end the war in Vietnam and stand up for their fellow service members. Their contribution to the antiwar movement validated claims of injustice in the Vietnam War and provided space for veterans deeply impacted by the war. | |
