Ohio University History graduate student Lindsay Kittle published her master’s thesis on “Gentle Warriors: U.S. Marines and Humanitarian Action during the Vietnam War” on OhioLINK.
Abstract: Although largely ignored in secondary literature, benevolent and humanitarian actions were an important part of the Marines’ experience during the Vietnam War. From the time the first Marines arrived in Vietnam in March of 1965, the Corp’s leadership pushed for a pacification-centered strategy aimed at securing the loyalty of the Vietnamese people. Civic action programs, therefore, were established to demonstrate the Marines good will. These programs laid the foundation for the Marines acts of humanitarianism. Many benevolent actions occurred as part of Corps’ programs, and many were initiated by individual Marines wishing to help the people of Vietnam. Their benevolence did not typify U.S. combat personnel in Vietnam, but their actions were an important part of the American experience in that war.
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