When Donald Beahm first proposed a course on the Vietnam War as a young political scientist in 1990, the class filled in ten minutes. His students included several Vietnam veterans, which made him nervous to teach it. He could not have known that decades later, he would still be teaching the subject, now to the grandchildren of those who fought.
The course is now an Honors seminar titled “The Vietnam War: What Was It Good For?” and it offers an in-depth examination of the historical and political ramifications of the war for the U.S., Vietnam, and the world. Beahm places an emphasis on asking questions, creating discussion and engaging in detailed analysis.
For Beahm, the Vietnam War has never been an abstract concept. It is woven into his family history.
“I developed an interest in the subject when my older brother went to Vietnam,” Beahm, professor of political science, said. “It was an emotional time and very powerful. The year he was gone was a big deal in our family.”
Watching his brother leave and the questions that experience raised, sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding the war and its consequences.
“I think, in part, it led me to be a political scientist,” Beahm said.
Beahm said he loved teaching the class the first time he taught it, even if he wasn't sure how it was going.
"On the last day of class, when we finished, it got real quiet, and nobody moved. And then after that pause, they gave me a standing ovation," Beahm said. "That told me they thought it was okay."
Serena Schadl, a fourth-year political science major, said her favorite part of the class is how Beahm teaches through storytelling.
“I have learned so much about the war simply from his stories, especially because he was around to experience what it was like living in America during the Vietnam War,” Schadl said.
Schadl also said that while the class focuses on historical events, she and her classmates are encouraged to draw connections to the present.
“This class truly made me realize that learning about history does not just help us learn about our past, but it also serves as a guide for future generations to avoid and correct past mistakes,” Schadl said. “Classes like these are the reason I love Honors seminars so much. We are invited to think about the broader implications and themes of important topics rather than simply learning facts.”
One of the most powerful aspects of the course is a guest who returns each semester to visit with Beahm’s students: a Vietnam veteran, Jeff Wallace, who served two tours of duty. Beahm said Wallace invites the students to ask him difficult and even painful questions when he visits. For many in the class, hearing from a veteran takes the war from an abstract concept to something personal.
“It is difficult for him,” Beahm said. “But he absolutely wants to do it every time, and he’s always glad that he did. The students are really appreciative.”
Beahm said offering the class as an Honors seminar has created a deeply compelling experience for his students.
“I hope it has an impact on someone's understanding of their grandfather, uncle, or father and what they went through," Beahm said.
