56 pages • 1 hour read
Studs Terkel“The Good War”: An Oral History of World War II
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1984A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
Book 2, Section 1
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
“Admiral Gene Larocque” Summary
A rear admiral in the US Navy, Gene Larocque speaks about the attitudes among military leadership at the time of the Pearl Harbor bombings. He claims that the military underestimated the Japanese because “[w]e’d thought they were little brown men and we were the great big white men” (190). Admiral Larocque also explains how World War II radically changed American history because “[w]e’ve institutionalized militarism,” which led the military to dominate US foreign policy throughout the Cold War and the Vietnam War.
“General William Buster” Summary
General William Buster discusses his experiences in the European front. He believes that the Vietnam War “was necessary” (197) but admits that the “dedication and patriotism of the American people that was evident in World War Two just wasn’t there in the others” (196).
Book 2, Section 1 Analysis
After other chapters focused primarily on rank-and-file soldiers, this chapter explores the mentality of military higher-ups. It raises an important point, namely that World War II was an exceptionally patriotic war, especially compared to the controversial Vietnam War. However, the United States became more militarized and aggressive in its foreign policy as a direct consequence of World War II.
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By Studs Terkel
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