Books in We the People: Modern America series

The black granite Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., draws millions of visitors every year. They come to remember and honor the loved ones they lost in the Vietnam War, one of America’s most divisive conflicts. They touch the names engraved on the V-shaped monument, known as the Wall, and view the nearby sculptures. The memorial is one of the most inspirational sites in the nation’s capital. But it wasn’t always so. The monument’s design was controversial, just as the Vietnam War had been.

In 1906, San Francisco endured one of the most devastating earthquakes to strike the United States. Within a matter of seconds, the city was thrown into chaos as the earth split open and buildings toppled over. As the dust settled, people quickly realized that the nightmare was not over. Massive fires had developed throughout San Francisco. The Army, police, and firefighters used creative strategies to put out the raging fires that were ravaging the city. The heroics of these people were all that kept San Francisco from burning to the ground.

On June 25, 1950, thousands of North Korean troops streamed into South Korea, leading an invasion that caught most of the world by surprise. The United States quickly responded by sending troops to help the South Koreans defend their country. Help from other members of the United Nations came in the form of combat units, medical teams, food, and other supplies. For more than three years, the war raged on, leading to the deaths of countless soldiers and civilians.

The draft lottery put into place during the Vietnam War was a source of bitter disagreement. Like the war itself, the draft affected Americans during the conflict and long after the war was over. The draft has been around since 1940, but it was during the Vietnam War that it became a major target of antiwar protesters. The draft lottery, set up in 1969, was supposed to make the draft more fair. But it continued to stir strong emotions and did not end opposition to the war.

Three years after the end of World War II, the citizens of Berlin were threatened with starvation. The Soviets had blocked all traffic into the divided city. No food, coal, or other supplies could reach the more than 2 million citizens. The Allies, led by the United States and Great Britain, came to their rescue. Cargo planes filled with supplies flew into the city around the clock. With expert planning and coordination, the Berlin Airlift saved the city and gave the Allies their first major victory of the Cold War.