History of the U.S. Peace Corps Essay

Many soldiers have been lost in the different wars that the United States has been involved. Although there have been many wars only one is unique from the others, it is known as the war that was never won or lost. The Vietnam War started out as a conflict but soon escalated into a full-fledged war. Many soldiers have been lost in the Vietnam War. The United States sent many soldiers into the jungles of Indochina trying to stop the spread of communism from the North Vietnamese. It all seems clear-cut, with the motives and sides easily seen but as the war lagged on, it seemed that the United States became involved, and essentially needed a draft. The United States involvement in the Vietnam War became

“The founding of the Peace Corps is one of President John F. Kennedy’s most enduring legacies.” (Founding). As soon as President Kennedy became the President, he vowed to help Americans be “active citizens.” One of his first moves in office was to create the Peace Corps. The way he came up with this idea of the Peace Corps was when he spoke to students at the University of Michigan during a campaign speech and challenged them to live and work in other countries to dedicate “themselves to the cause of peace and development.” (Peace). The main purpose for this was so “Americans can volunteer to work anywhere in the world where assistance is needed.” (John F. Kennedy, the 35th). This answers President Kennedy’s call to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” (Founding).

“I have spent the last four years watching people die.” In his 2005 Massey Lectures, Stephen Lewis, a Canadian politician and humanitarian, caught the attention of millions with these words. Within these lectures, he shared his experiences of watching Africans suffer through the AIDS pandemic, and critically examined how the neglect of global communities and their discrimination contributed to its failure to resolve. While the rest of the world seemed to be unresponsive to an AIDS-ravaged continent, Mr. Lewis found himself passionately involved in the crisis and began to take action. Since his involvement with the United Nations in 1984, Stephen Lewis has tirelessly advocated for African citizens affected by HIV and AIDS, ensured that health care and treatment is provided to victims, and reached out to African citizens with education and counseling through his organizations. Through all of this, Stephen Lewis has proven to be one of Canada’s most influential humanitarian advocates for impacting the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Africa.

FAC’s mandate to include AIDS projects in Africa and Asia. One of the board members

In March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State. The same day, he sent a message to Congress asking for permanent funding for the agency, which would send trained American men and women to foreign nations to assist in development efforts. The Peace Corps captured the imagination of the U.S. public, and during the week after its creation thousands of letters poured into Washington from young Americans hoping to volunteer.

It showed how America was handling the Cold War in a civil and inoffensive way. “The Americans ,of whatever age would be sought along to not only defend the country should be given an opportunity.” The Soviet Union communism expansion threatened the country, but American reactions were justified because they were appropriate and not impulsive. The Soviet propaganda pitted against the US was brash and audacious. Propaganda affected many people from other nations around the world and took a say in the general opinion of America. The Peace Corps representing America was the best possible and justifiable reaction of the US because it portrayed the country as passive and non-aggressive. The purpose of the Peace Corps was to spread the ways of democratic government and the nonviolent ways of the US. As well as, “This can only be countered by skill and dedication of Americans who are willing to spend their lives serving the cause of freedom.” The reputation of America was not well, and needed to be better represented at that time. The Peace Corps Organization was completely justifiable because it showed how the US was a not a dominating world superpower, contrary to the Soviet

promote friendship and world peace (Olugbemiga). The Peace Corps was so successful that it is

American foreign policy relates to what is done in foreign countries by the United States of America. The foreign policies include controlling of the governments of foreign countries or setting some rules in those countries. The foreign policy of America has always been changing all through the US existence. The changes have stemmed from the dynamics of exogenous and substantial influences of watershed up to the international system and also the effects and changes of endogenous inside the government of the United States. Outstanding assertions like the policies of Monroe, intercontinental encounters such as the Second World War, War of the Spanish and Americans, and the cold war and also conflicts that were termed as local including the Korean War and the Vietnam War considerably shaped the American foreign policy (Kissinger et al., 1969).

The Vietnam War was a war that seems to have thought the American Military and Government officials a lot about diplomatic negotiations, presidential leadership, and cultural/social contexts. Each American involved most likely has a different story to tell about the War from the ground soldiers all the way up to the President. Each American most likely has varied options about the lessons learned from the Vietnam War. I will discuss what I feel we Americans have learned. Including the good, the bad, and they ugly related to diplomatic

There is little official data on female Vietnam War veterans, because the military mostly favored recording the achievements of men in the army. The Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation estimate that approximately 11,000 women were stationed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973. Only about ten percent of women served as soldiers. The ones who did were normally treated as second class soldiers; their role was perceived only as a helpmate instead of a soldier, and they were often put in dangerous situations prior to having any proper military training. The other ninety percent of women served as military nurses, physicians, air traffic controllers, intelligence officers, and clerks. Some women who weren't in the military served in Vietnam in the Red

The Peace Corps during the 1960s was program that promoted the following goals: to serve the needs of another country, promote local understanding of America, and to foster

The concept of the Peace Corps was simple. The idea actually originated under Roosevelt in the 1930s and went through some format changes before Hubert Humphrey utilized the specific name of Peace Corps in the late 1950s (Giglio

Prior to the Sarah Bonnifield Vietnam Scholarship opportunity, I had never researched or been educated on the unique importance of the Air Force in the Vietnam War. However, as I looked into it, I became increasingly interested in and aware of the incredible significance the USAF played throughout the duration of the war. The Air Force used novel strategies and adopted several new roles in during Vietnam that had never been used in previous wars or conflicts. In addition to these tactics, new technology and weapons emerged during this time period that changed the way that the Air Force would be utilized in conflicts and wars from that point on.

Our job, as Peace Corps volunteers, is diverse. It cannot be adequately described or summed up in a few words. Yes, we can sarcastically attempt, however, there is remarkably much more to what we accomplish. Regardless of the country or program in which you've been placed or your given job description.

program, one would think that with Africa?s mortality and AIDS rate, they would have no