Knoxville in the Vietnam Era

Images of America: Tennessee

by Ed Hooper

The Vietnam War era (1961-1975), one of our country's most turbulent periods, was also a time of change and social evolution. Seeded in the aftermath of World War II, the nation enjoyed a remarkable economic boom. Knoxville and East Tennessee stood witness to the transformation of American society and the problems that came with the new success. From the first recognized combat casualty of the Vietnam War to the evacuation of Saigon, Knoxvillians were there, and their stories of sacrifice and service earned little mention or were forgotten in historical texts. At home, urban decay gained a grip on Knoxville's once vibrant downtown, and protests were not an uncommon sight on the evening news, but there was progress too. This volume documents the start of a new beginning for Knoxville as the city tried to hold onto its traditional Appalachian values and move into a new era.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2008

Reviews

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knoxville in the Vietnam Era (Images of America: Tennessee) by Ed Hooper (Arcadia Publishing 2008) (976.8053). The Vietnam era as herein defined is 1961-1975. A lot changed nationally during this period, and a lot changed locally as well. Servicemen were returning, Richard Nixon and Billy Graham came to town, and streaking was all the rage. It's all here in this installment from”Images of America.” My rating: 7/10, finished 2010.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept is a good one, though it seemed scattered. But there aren’t many places you can see Vietnam conflict era images with such local importance and it seems some of these are probably exclusive, at least in a book you can easily buy or borrow.