Vietnam War: Puerto Rican Songs



A collection of songs and spoken-word recordings by Puerto Ricans referencing the Vietnam War

Thousands of Puerto Ricans served with the US armed forces in the Vietnam War. According to the US Department of Defense: "During Vietnam, an estimated 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in the four service branches of the armed forces...340 Puerto Ricans died in combat, and 17 were listed as missing in action.
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This forms part of the larger Vietnam War Song Project, an interpretive examination of over 6,000 Vietnam War songs identified, revealing how the war's significance is represented through music. The project also collects spoken-word recordings about the conflict. The goals of the project are: (1) to critically analyse the song lyrics, searching for historical, social, and cultural themes, and collecting data on the genre, location, ethnicity, nationality, language, and time period of the recordings; (2) to learn about the Vietnam War, and the music and artists associated with it; (3) to preserve the physical records for the future, as artifacts of the 20th century. This unique collection of voices advances scholarship by providing insights into people’s views about the war over time as represented in music, looking at diverse communities and vibrant music scenes. It is crucial in developing our knowledge of the war and the humanities, through the use of a digital research platform.


Publications


Vietnam War Song Project: Master List


Justin Brummer, Founding Editor

Vietnam War Song Project (VWSP): Digital Archive & Collection, 2024


Vietnam on Record: An Incomplete Discography


Hugo Keesing, Wouter Keesing, C.L. Yarbrough, Justin Brummer

University of Maryland, Modern Songs of War and Conflict: Keesing Collection on Popular Music and Culture, 2023


The Vietnam War: A History in Song


Justin Brummer

History Today, 2018


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