The Soldier Saint: Latter-Day Saint Veterans of the Vietnam War

Author

Cassie Evans, Utah State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Creative Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

History

Committee Chair(s)

Patrick Mason (Committee Chair)

Committee

Patrick Mason

Committee

Molly Cannon

Committee

Clayton Brown

Abstract

This digital exhibit and accompanying paper explore the experiences and contributions of Latter-day Saint veterans during the Vietnam War, focusing on their role within both military and religious contexts. Despite representing only a small percentage of the American military forces in Vietnam, Latter-day Saints influenced the war's cultural and spiritual landscape. Through personal narratives, interviews, and historical analysis, the study sheds light on how these veterans navigated the complexities of their faith amidst the challenges of combat.

Additionally, it considers the relationship between military service and missionary efforts, highlighting how the presence of Latter-day Saint soldiers contributed to later religious outreach in Vietnam. The research underscores themes of resilience, service, and spiritual growth, offering a broader perspective on the intersection of faith and wartime experience. By recognizing their contributions, this work seeks to provide a deeper understanding of their impact within both their religious community and the larger historical context of the Vietnam War.

Comments

Link to "The Soldier Saint: Latter-day Saint Veterans of the Vietnam War" digital exhibit: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a751cf9b68c544b79143674a59d54f89

The transcriptions for the interviews of the 7 Veterans within the project can be found in the paper attached. You can also listen to the entirety of the 7 interviews through the additional files added. Each audio will be listed by the interviewee's last name and then first name.

Recommended Citation

Evans, Cassie, "The Soldier Saint: Latter-Day Saint Veterans of the Vietnam War" (2025). All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present. 110.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports2023/110