Christian Appy argues that the Vietnam war was a “working class war” because 80 percent of those enlisted came from working class or poor backgrounds (251). Appy believes the reasoning for this is that working-class young men were directed towards military enlistment, as young men from the upper classes were sent to higher education. Additionally, more prosperous families were able to avoid the draft (252). Those who fought in Vietnam were taken from the bottom half of the social structure. Urban centers and rural areas full of working class men sent large numbers to fight (254). While geography often delineates these divisions, class is the largest divide revealed out of the numbers of those who fought in Vietnam. The draft and the pressure from the draft were important as the war lengthened (260). Only 20 percent of those who fought in Vietnam came from white collar, middle-class backgrounds. 12 percent of those enlisted came from farming communities, which is double the 5 percent of farmers that made up the American population (258). 80 percent of those fighting had no more than a high school diploma (259). The lack of appreciation for those fighting and the class divide likely led to the demoralization of the army in Vietnam.

DeGroot discusses the demoralization of the army in Vietnam. For the troops that went to Vietnam, training was non-existent, troops were constantly on the move, and air mobility was the answer to guerrilla warfare (262). Because of this, troops were sent into chaos every time they went to battle. Deathly moments passed as troops waited for help, and when contact was made with the enemy, soldiers fired indiscriminately and often ran out of ammo (263). The chaos of battle and contradictions from leadership led to soldiers being unsure of what they were fighting for. Men became desensitized to death, and healthy men were destroyed (264). There was a level of social detachment necessary. Due to the low morale, drugs and a lack of respect for authority became a problem. Soldiers felt betrayed as innocent men became scapegoats (267). DeGroot believes that the disintegration of the army was the consequence of what happens when “good men are used for corrupt purposes” (266).

I do believe that class distinctions still exist in the military today.  I think military recruiters often prey on working class, lower class areas. The promise of the GI Bill, taking a financial responsibility off of kids that want to go to college, is likely a big draw for those who are working class. Appy mentions farming and rural areas as being centers where large amounts of enlistees came from. I grew up in a rural farming area, and we had military recruiters in our schools at least once or twice a week. They were either in our P.E. classes with us or in our cafeteria during lunch periods, trying to get students to sign up to enlist after graduation. I’m unsure if this happens everywhere, but it felt a little predatory.