Kameron Ruth
Production Dramaturg
Mia Luparello
Production Assistant Dramaturg
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a twenty-year conflict (1955-1975) between the communist forces of North Vietnam and the US-backed South Vietnam. Set within and intensified by the Cold War, the war comprised conflicts across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3.8 million people, over half of whom were civilians.
Overview
09/1945 - Ho Chi Minh declares independent North Vietnam
07/1946 - Ho Chi Minh rejects France’s proposal for limited self-governance and the Viet Minh begins a guerrilla war against France.
03/1947 - President Harry Truman argues the US must assist nations threatened by communism.
01/1950 - The People’s Republic of China and the USSR begin supplying aid to the communist resistance fighters in Vietnam.
02/1950 - The United States increases military aid to France to assist its operations against the Viet Minh.
07/1954 - The Geneva Accords established North and South Vietnam, with Ho Chi Minh leading the communist North and the United States supporting the South.
12/1960 - the National Liberation Front is formed as the pro-communist insurgency in South Vietnam.
Timeline
05/1962 - President John F. Kennedy authorizes secret anti-communist operations in South Vietnam, sending helicopters and Green Berets.
01/1962 - the United States begins spraying Agent Orange and other herbicides over agricultural areas in South Vietnam.
1966 - President Johnson continues to increase US troops in Vietnam, reaching 400,000.
1967 - Prominent protests against the war begin in major cities around the US.
1968 - US soldier and Vietnamese civilian deaths continue to rise
12/1969 - The US launches the first draft lottery since World War II. US Troops reach a peak of 549,000.
01/1973 - The Selective Service ends the draft. President Nixon signs the Paris Peace Accords and ends American involvement in the Vietnam War.
From 1964 to 1973, 2.2 million American men were drafted into the military, representing around 25% of US combat zone forces in Vietnam. Due to the nature of the Selective Service, many men, often of lower socioeconomic status, volunteered to have some choice in which division they would serve. Other potential draftees purposely failed tests, sought refuge in university, or fled the country to avoid being conscripted. The Vietnam draft added to the rising antiwar movements and protests across the country.
By the end of American involvement in Vietnam in 1973, over 58,000 US soldiers were dead, while the surviving forces faced a hostile and unsupportive political environment upon their return.
The Draft
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For the first time in history, American citizens could watch a war in real time, thanks to photo and TV journalism during the Vietnam War. Journalists in the combat zone captured videos and photos of US troops that could be broadcasted to the American public later that day.
This unfiltered coverage of the war helped the antiwar movement by exposing the truth of US interventionism in the region and displaying the moral ambiguity of US operations.
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The Vietnam War is also unique in its relationship to film. The most popular imagery and understanding of the conflict come not from written accounts or even photographs, but rather from the infamous selection of films made on the subject. Popular depictions include The Deer Hunter (1978), Apocalypse Now (1979), Platoon (1986), and Full Metal Jacket (1987).
These films, among many others, range from sharp critique to arguable glorification of the war, while most of the ones mentioned are viewed as the most accurate.
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Though visual media was the most popular depiction of Vietnam, written accounts and publications often presented a more personal, informative characterization of the war.
Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried (1990) is one infamous chronicle describing the physical, emotional, and psychological tolls of the war. In contrast, Bao Ninh's The Sorrow of War (1993) features a North Vietnamese perspective on the horrific aftermath of the war.
Media Portrayal
War journalists photographing a body in Saigon (Source)
Platoon (1986), starring Willem Defoe, Charlie Sheen, and Tom Berenger (Source)
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is a tactical herbicide named after the orange band around its storage barrel. The herbicide uses dioxin which is one of the most toxic chemicals. It was used by the US Military during the Vietnam war to defoliate forests that provided coverage to their enemies. Agent Orange was the most commonly used herbicide used by the US Military out of the several different color-labeled herbicides in their possession. The US would end up using 91 million liters of this herbicide to defoliate the forests in the years 1961-1971.
Overview
Since its purpose was to defoliate areas of Vietnam, US forces destroyed approximately 3.1 million hectares of forest. These tropical forests and mangroves were very biologically diverse, and there has been substantial biodiversity loss in the past few decades. Vietnam is now one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.
Environmental Effects
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Agent Orange uses a chemical called TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-para-dioxin). This chemical is extremely toxic and has led to numerous diseases and conditions linked to exposure. The half life of TCDD can be up to 20 years in a human body, explaining its lasting effects on those exposed. The US military's use of Agent Orange still has lasting health problems in Vietnam today.
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AL Amyloidosis: a disease in which an abnormal protein [amyloid] enters organs or tissues
Bladder Cancer
Chronic B-cell Leukemias: cancer that affects white blood cells
Chloracne: a skin condition that looks like common forms of facial acne
Type 2 Diabetes
Hypertension
Hodgkin's Disease: malignant cancer that leads to progressive anemia and enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver
Hypothyroidism: when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones
Ischemic Heart Disease: heart disease that leads to reduced blood flow to the heart
MGUS
Multiple Myeloma: cancer of plasma cells
Parkinson's Disease: a disorder of the nervous system that leads to muscle movement issues
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory Cancers
Soft Tissue Sarcomas: cancers in body tissues
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Both children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans have reported health issues. Some heath issues found in children of veterans are:
Spina Bifida
Neurological Disorders
Autoimmune Disorders
Cancers
Some health issues linked to grandchildren of verterans include:
Reproductive issues
Birth Defects
Developmental Disorders
Medical Effects
Media Coverage
In the mid 1960s, concerns about the effects of Agent Orange began to rise, but it wasn’t until US military veterans returned home with various illnesses that Agent Orange became such a public crisis. A documentary entitled Agent Orange, the Deadly Fog was released by CBS in 1977. The documentary was based on Maude deVictor’s, a counselor at the Veterans Administration (VA) of Chicago, work and inquiries surrounding the effects of Agent Orange and the VA’s response. Because of DeVictor’s work, many veterans learned about the links between Agent Orange and the illnesses they were experiencing. Additionally, Paul Reutershan, a helicopter chief during the Vietnam War, went on the “Today” show and shared his story with their large audience before passing away in 1978 due to cancer.
Vaudeville is a theatrical form popular in the 20th-century United States. It consisted of various forms of performance (e.g. dance, animals, puppets, etc.), typically burlesque and comical.
Vaudeville
Vietnam Veterans
With over 2.7 million US troops having served in Vietnam, Vietnam Veterans make up a large percentage of surviving US veterans to this day. Because the war was extremely unpopular (around 70% of the population disagreed with it), returning service members faced stigma and shame from their communities. This, in addition to the lasting effects of Agent Orange and high rates of PTSD, continues to impact veterans to this day. Currently, around 50% of homeless veterans fought in the Vietnam War.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs provides compensation/reparation, healthcare, insurance, housing loans, and other benefits for all veterans, as well as Vietnam-specific services, especially regarding Agent Orange exposure. However, many veterans report poor treatment, limited accessibility, and a lack of information about benefits.
Treatment of Veterans
Elder Care
With over 170 medical centers, hundreds of facilities, and more than a thousand outpatient clinics, Veterans Affairs is the largest healthcare system in the country. All veterans qualify for extensive medical coverage and benefits, including therapy, prosthetics, cancer care, exams, and more. However, studies reveal that over 1.5 million veterans are uninsured and not receiving health care from VA services, with veterans of recent wars (including Vietnam) reporting the highest levels.
Veteran Healthcare
Veteran Mental Health
Across all wars and conflicts, veterans report higher rates of PTSD, anger outbursts, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. All these issues and more contribute to their struggle to adapt to day-to-day life and complicate relationships with their friends, family, and community. This also can result in substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, and a higher likelihood of committing suicide.
Gender
Transgender & Genderqueer Identities
Transgender: someone who identifies as a gender different from the one assigned at birth.
Cisgender: someone who identifies as the gender assigned to them at birth.
Genderqueer: an umbrella term referring to those identifying with a gender outside, between, or a mix of the male-female binary.
Transmasculine: someone assigned female at birth who identifies partly or fully with a masculine gender (nonbinary, transman, etc.).
Nonbinary: someone who identifies as a gender outside of the male-female binary (similar to/can be used interchangeably with genderqueer).
Drag: a form of performance using exaggerated expressions of femininity (drag queens) or masculinity (drag kings). People of any gender identity or sexual orientation can perform in either form of drag.
**Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, self-harm, & substance abuse
Support for trans kids within their families is a huge predictor of their mental health and success in the future. Studies show that kids with unsupportive or neutral families demonstrated a higher risk of suicide and self-harm. Regardless of familial support, 42% of trans individuals have attempted suicide and are more susceptible to alcohol and nicotine abuse/addiction. However, they also report high levels of mental health care access, at around 82%. Factors such as access to gender-affirming care, community support, and social connection are essential to addressing the mental health epidemic within the trans community.
Mental Health Issues Among Trans People
As a transgender man himself, Kreimendahl often incorporates themes of gender and sexuality into his works, themes he distinctly emphasizes throughout Orange Julius. In an interview with StageBuddy.com’s Jose Solis, Kreimendahl addresses the complexity of Nut’s transition and memories. “A trans man always goes through a part where he once was a daughter. That part of our lives isn’t erased, it’s complicated to talk about it and it should be complicated.” He emphasizes the importance of trans voices in art and connecting with audience across diverse experiences through universal themes.
“That part of our lives isn’t erased, it’s complicated to talk about it and it should be complicated.”
About the Playwright: Basil Kreimendahl
Howlround Theatre Commons describes Basil Kreimendahl as a “working-class, transgender artist, whose work often explores the intersection of language, class, gender and sexuality.” He has received several awards for his plays, including the National Science Award from the Kennedy Center, and worked as a resident playwright at New Dramatists for nine years.
Kreimendahl on Gender
Geography of Orange Julius
North vs South Vietnam Division during the Vietnam War
Media References Playlist
Warning: Some clips contain adult language and violence
Media References & Inspiration
Glossary
Agent Orange: a chemical herbicide used by the United States during the Vietnam War.
Da Nang: a large coastal city in central Vietnam.
Defoliation: (in reference to agriculture) the premature loss of leaves and foliage.
Department of Veterans Affairs: also called VA; the government agency responsible for the care of US service members, including health care, housing, financing, etc.
Dow Chemical Company: the military’s sole supplier of napalm during the Vietnam War and the principle corporate target of anti-war activism.
Gender dysphoria: a feeling of discomfort or distress commonly experienced by those whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
Green Berets: the United States Army Special Forces; guerrilla warfare specialists.
Grunt: (slang) a nickname for US infantry soldiers.
Guerrilla warfare: unconventional military tactics by a small, independent, irregular force against a large, traditional army. Characterized by ambushes, raids, sabotages, hit-and-runs, and other unorthodox actions.
Ho Chi Minh: founder of the League for the Independence of Vietnam (a.k.a the Viet Minh) and president of North Vietnam.
Lifer: (slang) someone who makes a career in the military
Monsanto: one of the government’s main suppliers of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Napalm: a jellied gas used in warfare that can cause serious skin damage, organ failure, and death.
Saigon: also known as Ho Chi Minh City, the most populated city in Vietnam, hosted the last major event of the Vietnam War, which signaled the end of the conflict.
Selective Service: the US government agency responsible for maintaining a database of American men for possible military conscription.
Viet Minh: the communist-led movement against the French and Japanese occupation of Vietnam.
Viet Cong: also known as the National Liberation Front or Viet Communists; the antigovernment rebellion in South Vietnam backed by Ho Chi Minh in the North.
Vietnam Memorial Wall: a memorial erected in 1982 in Washington D.C. to commemorate US service members in the Vietnam War. View here.
Vaudeville: a theatrical form popular in the 20th-century United States, consisting of various forms of performance typically burlesque and comical.