“You could never tell who was the enemy and who was not. Therefore you treated everybody with suspicion and distrust. The enemy was everywhere and everybody at all times, and we were the foreigners in their country…" - Thomas Giltner, U.S. Soldier
The two year run from 1965-66, was a period of intense escalation in Vietnam, as the U.S. became deeply entrenched in a war that became increasingly unpopular.
At home, America was undergoing significant social change, with the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, and the counterculture movement challenging the political and cultural status quo.
On this episode, the Hungry Historian investigates 1967. A critical year in the Vietnam War, as the conflict reached new levels of intensity and the situation became more divisive both in Vietnam and the United States.
By this time, the war was becoming a deadly stalemate. The US military continued its "search-and-destroy" missions and increased its bombing campaigns, but North Vietnam and the Viet Cong were proving incredibly resilient.
In the U.S., public opinion was sharply turning against the war. Despite reassurances from military and government leaders that victory was near, Americans were increasingly skeptical as the costs of the war — in both lives and money — mounted.
President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs were increasingly overshadowed by the war, as the conflict consumed more and more resources; leaving domestic issues like poverty and education underfunded.
As a featured recipe, Chef Money is offering you his take on Vietnamese-Mexican fusion with a dish inspired by one of the years memorable events - Khe Sanh Dillas.
Cheers!
Khe Sanh Dillas
Ingredients:
Marinade:
•1½ tablespoon lime juice
•1½ tablespoon neutral or vegetable oil
•2 tablespoon soy sauce
•½ tablespoon Fish sauce (Worcestershire or Soy as substitute)
•2 tablespoon brown sugar
•2 teaspoon minced garlic
•1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger, or a pinch of ground ginger
•¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
•(optional) 1 tablespoon cilantro (and more for garnish)
* Featured Recipe Instructions, Chef tips, and the rest of the recipe are available within the episode or on the official Instagram page of the @hungry_historian