“Reprogramming Memories: The Historicization of the Vietnam War from the 1970s through the 1990s” examines how memories of the Vietnam War have been shaped and politicized in the United States. It discusses the interplay between memory, politics, and cultural narratives, showing how the war’s legacy shifted across three main phases: the initial “Americanization” of the war’s image in the 1970s, the rehabilitation of Vietnam veterans as tragic heroes in the 1980s, and the eventual official justification of the war in the late 1980s and 1990s. The study explores mediums like films, memorials, and oral histories that contributed to these transformations, emphasizing how political agendas influenced public recollections. The article also highlights the diversifying narratives of war, including the voices of Southeast Asians and marginalized groups, while critically addressing the selective framing of memories to support national myths and political objectives.

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