March 28, 2024

CSM Studies War during 50th Anniv. Year of Vietnam

Posted by the College of Southern Maryland
PAX IIIveterans

The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be remembered at the College of Southern Maryland this academic year with various discussions, readings and special events to be held on all three campuses.

A roundtable discussion and a Connections presentation will be held Nov. 15 from 4 pm – 5 pm, with author Andrew Lam, who will read from his short story collection “Birds of Paradise Lost,” about Vietnamese immigrants who fled the country and moved to San Francisco, and his book of essays, “Perfume Dreams,” on the Vietnamese-American experience.

Also this month, CSM is presenting “The Things They Carried” as part of its Vietnam War Commemoration program, 11 am to 7 pm, Nov. 11 to 15 in the Center for Business and Industry, Besche Oil Conference Room, BI-124, La Plata. The exhibit features items saved and collected by soldiers during the Vietnam War, many of whom are current CSM students, faculty and staff.

“During and after Vietnam, many veterans felt that they were never really welcomed home by the country. Displaying these mementos now is a way of sharing their memories and personal histories with the community,” said CSM Professor Wayne Karlin, a Vietnam veteran.

See items used daily by soldiers including a Vietnam-era helmet, a flak jacket and a full set of green jungle utilities worn by the Army and Marines. Additional items include heat tabs used to heat C Rations in the field, a folding mess kit, medal and award certificates and correspondence, surrender leaflets, South Vietnamese paper and coin money, combat photos, medals and ribbons from the Vietnam War and more.

CSM’s Vietnam War-related events include bringing writers to the campuses for readings and discussions. Additional events are planned for April and May, including a panel discussion about the diverse experience of the diverse groups impacted by the Vietnam War, and an additional Connections series event.

Wayne Karlin, an American author, CSM professor and a Vietnam veteran, is helping coordinate activities at the college. He said the college became involved when a student veteran, David Hollar, wrote to CSM President Brad Gottfried urging the college to take part in the commemoration. “[Hollar] said that this is something that we should be doing and the president agreed,” said Mr. Karlin, teaches and writes on the Vietnam War and its history.

Mr. Karlin’s work includes Wandering Souls, Marble Mountain, War Movies: Journeys to Vietnam, The Wished-For Country, Prisoners, Rumors and Stones, Crossover, Lost Armies, The Extras, and Us.

 

Leave A Comment