September 29, 2005
By Valerie Orleans

Mary Kay Couch, associate professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics, became interested in the literature about the war in Vietnam after visiting Vietnam and talking to her students, many of whom lived in or near Little Saigon.

This fall, she is teaching Literature About the War in Vietnam, a class that focuses on a balanced view of what both sides thought about the war. This is the third time she has taught this course.

“I usually have about 35 students in each class, some of whom are Vietnamese,” she said. “Vietnamese students add an important dimension to the class because they often share what their families tell them about the war.

“Other students have fathers who served in Vietnam, and some of these men suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. That greatly affected their family lives, so they have other perspectives.”

One of Crouch’s goals is to get students engaged in projects that fit their interests and incorporate themes from the war in Vietnam.

“One semester, I had a Latina student who became interested in the experiences of Mexican-Americans who fought in Vietnam and wrote a wonderful paper about her research. It’s always exciting to see what students develop,” said Crouch.

Class readings include Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” Michael Herr’s “Dispatches,” Ron Kovic’s “Born on the Fourth of July,” Graham Greene’s “The Quiet American,” and North Vietnamese author Bao Ninh’s “The Sorrow of War.”

Unfortunately, Crouch has discovered that there are more books available by American authors than Vietnamese authors, primarily because many books by Vietnamese authors haven’t been translated into English yet.

“I also include short stories, poetry and a small book that describes the history of the war,” she said. “I include works from a variety of sources, but in essence they all say the same thing: The war was awful for both sides.”

In addition to the readings, students view films such as “Platoon” and “Letters Home From Vietnam,” which shows in heartbreaking detail how many families received letters...only to learn later that their son or husband had been killed.
Crouch also shows a film that describes the French influence in Indochina and how that affected the history of Vietnam.

One of the highlights for students is when Vietnam vets come to class to share their experiences and show photos.

“This is one of my favorite classes to teach,” Crouch admitted. “I enjoy it because the students learn so much and because of what they teach me.”

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