Process Paper

Our NHD topic is the Vietnam War Draft. We went into detail upon the draft and how it

worked and the triumphs and tragedies that resulted during it. Our group picked this topic

because we were intrigued with the Vietnam War but thought that the topic was too broad and

we went into depth on one of its aspects. Our topic is important because it opens eyes on a topic

that isn’t too popular and people aren’t as knowledgeable on.

We found most of our research on reliable platforms such as abc-clio, because we found

these the most honorable. One of our most helpful sources was a book called “The Encyclopedia

of the Vietnam War” by Spencer C. Tucker. Although this book was more directed towards the

actual Vietnam War it gave us knowledge on our material and gave us a better understanding on

the war.

During the research portion of our project we had a lot of difficulties in finding research

on the draft. Although it is a very famous event it was one of many drafts in our history and due

to the insignificance of this one draft lead to a lot of less research done on it. It was very easy to

find research on the Vietnam War in general because it is a very famous dream but subcategories

of such a popular topic is always going to be harder to find.

This year’s theme was Triumph and Tragedy, and our topic fits perfectly within the

guidelines. The draft brough multiple triumphs and tragedies but a main triumph was an

increased military size and a tragedy was the forcing of men joining the war against their own

will. This topic is very important in today’s society because it shapes us as to who we are today,

without the vietnam war we wouldn’t have the draft that came with it and without the draft we

wouldn’t have half of the humbleness we have today. With any war it comes with death, a

realization, and experience. What seperated the Vietnam War draft from others is the numbers,
17,725 lives were taken and these were just draftees who unwillingly died for our country. We

have nothing but gratification towards the draft because if it wasn’t for all of these deaths it

wouldn’t have shaped us into who we are today and we wouldn’t be as powerful and united as

we are today.