Introduction“Working Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam” is a book written by Christian G. Appy. The book examines the class difference between soldiers who were drawn into or participated in the Vietnam War. The author attempts to demonstrate that working class youth bore more burdens in the war than those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. To prove his point, Appy includes various statistics in his book. Furthermore, the book contains real experiences of Vietnam veterans from different backgrounds. Content Summary In the first two sections, the author gives several reasons why working-class youth ended up in the army. Many working class people ended up in the army because of their patriotic culture and poor economic conditions. Many working-class young men ended up enlisting because they couldn't afford college or because they didn't have jobs. The author also tells us that the “Selective Service System” is biased. Rich young people took advantage of health care, employment, and college deferrals. Working-class youth cannot afford to go to college or get medical exemptions. The attempt to use unskilled and unemployed youth in the war seems unfair to the author. Recruits from American territories, African Americans, and the children of workers and farmers constituted the highest percentage not only among those enlisted but also among the wounded and deceased. Appy also explains that enlisted men were given bonuses equivalent to one-third of the average household income of African American families during the war (Appy 22). The author also provides a statistic that high school dropouts were three times more likely to be drafted than college graduates. A......middle of paper......am War is not just history but the fundamental part of our history. Therefore, it must be taken seriously. Only if we take it seriously can we avoid making the same mistakes again. It also teaches how war policies and authorities can blind us to the real reason behind war. It is also important to know the enemy and plan accordingly. It can be clearly seen that the most advanced technologies can go wrong if accompanied by failed strategies. Most importantly, it pushes readers to reconsider their definition of just war. Most important of all is “Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam” by Christian G. Appy which teaches us how education and economic advantages can help us face the worst. Works Cited Appy, Christian G. Working-class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 1993. Print.