Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
DEAR AMERICA CHARACTER COMPARISONS
Dear America
Character Comparison Chart
Characters: Rodney Chastant Frederick Downs
George Olsen Marion Lee “Sandy” Kempner
Similarities
Differences
-All of them are fighting voluntarily
-They all use slangs such as ‘dinks, Charlie’
-They all are glad to receive letters
-They all talk about their experiences on the field except for Rodney
-They talk about the harsh conditions they go through when carrying out missions
-They try to use metaphors in their letters to try and give their readers a slight understanding of what they are going through
-None of them wanted the ‘Purple Heart’ medal/award
-They are all proud of what they do
-All of them except Rodney had commented on how incompetent the higher ups are
-Rodney never told his parents about his experiences in Vietnam
-They have different roles from each other
-Fred has expressed in his letters on how much he hates the dinks.
-Sandy is very sarcastic about the meaning of “success” in a successful mission
-Only Fred survived the war
All of the main characters know why they are fighting and are doing it on their own free will. Among the four characters, Rodney Chastant is the most dedicated as he voluntarily extended his stay in Vietnam. Though most of them died, Fred Downs, the only survivor also suffered a major injury; his left arm was cut off and will have to make do with an artificial replacement. They are all proud on what they do and had no regrets on their actions.
The main characters have written a great deal about their missions; the weather, the exchange of fires, casualties etc. They used allot of metaphors in their letters to try and express their feelings or to simply give their addressees a small idea of what they are going through during their missions. The words “like” and “same” were commonly used to compare things.
All of the main characters are very disappointed with their higher-ups. They commented on the lack of competency of their superiors; “If there’s one thing I can’t abide, it’s an arm-chair leader who sends his men off to die on hopeless, meaningless operations.” (P.98 George Olsen).
Even all of these, Rodney Chastant still thinks that there is a small light up far ahead. Of the four men, only Rodney showed signs of positive thinking about the war. Sandy was the complete opposite of him since Sandy only focused on the wrong done by the Americans.
By Kimbo the Great
Character Comparison Chart
Characters: Rodney Chastant Frederick Downs
George Olsen Marion Lee “Sandy” Kempner
Similarities
Differences
-All of them are fighting voluntarily
-They all use slangs such as ‘dinks, Charlie’
-They all are glad to receive letters
-They all talk about their experiences on the field except for Rodney
-They talk about the harsh conditions they go through when carrying out missions
-They try to use metaphors in their letters to try and give their readers a slight understanding of what they are going through
-None of them wanted the ‘Purple Heart’ medal/award
-They are all proud of what they do
-All of them except Rodney had commented on how incompetent the higher ups are
-Rodney never told his parents about his experiences in Vietnam
-They have different roles from each other
-Fred has expressed in his letters on how much he hates the dinks.
-Sandy is very sarcastic about the meaning of “success” in a successful mission
-Only Fred survived the war
All of the main characters know why they are fighting and are doing it on their own free will. Among the four characters, Rodney Chastant is the most dedicated as he voluntarily extended his stay in Vietnam. Though most of them died, Fred Downs, the only survivor also suffered a major injury; his left arm was cut off and will have to make do with an artificial replacement. They are all proud on what they do and had no regrets on their actions.
The main characters have written a great deal about their missions; the weather, the exchange of fires, casualties etc. They used allot of metaphors in their letters to try and express their feelings or to simply give their addressees a small idea of what they are going through during their missions. The words “like” and “same” were commonly used to compare things.
All of the main characters are very disappointed with their higher-ups. They commented on the lack of competency of their superiors; “If there’s one thing I can’t abide, it’s an arm-chair leader who sends his men off to die on hopeless, meaningless operations.” (P.98 George Olsen).
Even all of these, Rodney Chastant still thinks that there is a small light up far ahead. Of the four men, only Rodney showed signs of positive thinking about the war. Sandy was the complete opposite of him since Sandy only focused on the wrong done by the Americans.
By Kimbo the Great
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
character profiles
Dear America- Character Profiles
Letter Writer: George T. Olsen
Military Rank: Specialist fourth class (Sp/4)
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 3rd of March 1970
Their Experiences:
• Graduated as a ranger LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol).
• Olsen experienced killing Viet Cong to protect himself and his comrades.
• As the world where he was stationed as being a “green world”.
• A member of a hunter-killer operation.
Their Feelings and Points of View:
• Olsen feels depressed due to the horrors he has seen in Vietnam.
• Olsen reflects his feelings on killing in war.
• These experiences have traumatised Olsen.
• He questions the war and are there any victors in war.
Their Relationship With Others:
• Olsen has a strong relationship with his friend ‘Red’, who Olsen has written most of letters to.
• Olsen describes his beliefs and feelings of the war to “Red’.
• Olsen is a intelligent man who craves for a good conversationalist.
Letter Writer: Frederick Downs Jr
Military Rank: 2nd lieutenant
KIA/Survivor: survivor, but was wounded 11th January 1968
Their Experiences:
• Experienced fighting a group of 60 Viet Cong.
• Seen many of his man being wounded.
• Survived a serious explosion that killed many of his man, and wounded many more.
• Lost his right arm.
Their Feelings and Points of View:
• Believed he was a lucky man surviving while many people were dying around him.
• Missed his wife, who he had proposed too.
• Witnessed man around him cracking under the pressure and extremities they witnessed in Vietnam.
•
Their Relationship With Others:
• Had a strong relationship with his girlfriend, who most his letters where to.
• Had a very close relationship with his comrades and his men that he looked after.
• Was very sad to lose his good friend Bill Ordway, who was killed 2 days after his accident.
Letter Write: Rodney R. Chastant
Military Rank: Captain
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 22nd October 1968
Their Experiences:
• Chastant was a volunteer, who after his original tour of duty he voluntarily extended his term of service because he had discovered his role, grasped its meaning and determined to see it through.
• Loosed his life in Vietnam, he was only 25 years old.
• Was promoted to captain of the United States Marine Corps.
Their Feelings:
• Believed in what he was doing Vietnam.
• Was very patriotic and a strong belief in Americas war against Viet Cong.
• Discovered most man didn’t believe they would win the war.
• Parents where sad that he extended his term of service.
Their Relationship With Others:
• Most of his letters were written to his mum and dad, showed he was a very family orientated person.
• Close to his comrades that he looked after.
• A helpful person who believed in the war in Vietnam
Letter Writer: Marion lee (“sandy”) Kempner
Military Rank: 2nd lieutenant
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 11th November 1966
Their Experiences:
• Apart of the marine division
• Kempner tells of how he and his comrades killed innocent civilians and burned houses.
• Killed by shrapnel, after being accidently tripped by a comrade.
Their Feelings and Points Of view:
• He was afraid of what he had witnessed while in combat in Vietnam.
• Helped the people in the villages and the children
• “It is a country of thorns and cuts, of guns and marauding, of little hope and of great failure.”
Their Relationship With Others:
• Most of his letters were written to his family (mum and auntie)
• Worked close with his fellow comrades, to help with the children of Vietnam.
• Very intelligent man, who got recognised by people who read his letters after his death and his letter written on 20th of October was seen for his philosophical nature and insight.
•
Letter Writer: George T. Olsen
Military Rank: Specialist fourth class (Sp/4)
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 3rd of March 1970
Their Experiences:
• Graduated as a ranger LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol).
• Olsen experienced killing Viet Cong to protect himself and his comrades.
• As the world where he was stationed as being a “green world”.
• A member of a hunter-killer operation.
Their Feelings and Points of View:
• Olsen feels depressed due to the horrors he has seen in Vietnam.
• Olsen reflects his feelings on killing in war.
• These experiences have traumatised Olsen.
• He questions the war and are there any victors in war.
Their Relationship With Others:
• Olsen has a strong relationship with his friend ‘Red’, who Olsen has written most of letters to.
• Olsen describes his beliefs and feelings of the war to “Red’.
• Olsen is a intelligent man who craves for a good conversationalist.
Letter Writer: Frederick Downs Jr
Military Rank: 2nd lieutenant
KIA/Survivor: survivor, but was wounded 11th January 1968
Their Experiences:
• Experienced fighting a group of 60 Viet Cong.
• Seen many of his man being wounded.
• Survived a serious explosion that killed many of his man, and wounded many more.
• Lost his right arm.
Their Feelings and Points of View:
• Believed he was a lucky man surviving while many people were dying around him.
• Missed his wife, who he had proposed too.
• Witnessed man around him cracking under the pressure and extremities they witnessed in Vietnam.
•
Their Relationship With Others:
• Had a strong relationship with his girlfriend, who most his letters where to.
• Had a very close relationship with his comrades and his men that he looked after.
• Was very sad to lose his good friend Bill Ordway, who was killed 2 days after his accident.
Letter Write: Rodney R. Chastant
Military Rank: Captain
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 22nd October 1968
Their Experiences:
• Chastant was a volunteer, who after his original tour of duty he voluntarily extended his term of service because he had discovered his role, grasped its meaning and determined to see it through.
• Loosed his life in Vietnam, he was only 25 years old.
• Was promoted to captain of the United States Marine Corps.
Their Feelings:
• Believed in what he was doing Vietnam.
• Was very patriotic and a strong belief in Americas war against Viet Cong.
• Discovered most man didn’t believe they would win the war.
• Parents where sad that he extended his term of service.
Their Relationship With Others:
• Most of his letters were written to his mum and dad, showed he was a very family orientated person.
• Close to his comrades that he looked after.
• A helpful person who believed in the war in Vietnam
Letter Writer: Marion lee (“sandy”) Kempner
Military Rank: 2nd lieutenant
KIA/Survivor: KIA on 11th November 1966
Their Experiences:
• Apart of the marine division
• Kempner tells of how he and his comrades killed innocent civilians and burned houses.
• Killed by shrapnel, after being accidently tripped by a comrade.
Their Feelings and Points Of view:
• He was afraid of what he had witnessed while in combat in Vietnam.
• Helped the people in the villages and the children
• “It is a country of thorns and cuts, of guns and marauding, of little hope and of great failure.”
Their Relationship With Others:
• Most of his letters were written to his family (mum and auntie)
• Worked close with his fellow comrades, to help with the children of Vietnam.
• Very intelligent man, who got recognised by people who read his letters after his death and his letter written on 20th of October was seen for his philosophical nature and insight.
•
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Character Study Suggestions
Who You Talkin About? is a useful post from the Blogging Through Year 12 webspace. If you can find time use these suggestions for character studies to enhance your classroom character studies activities.
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