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Quiz about Neil Sheehan The Arnheiter Affair

Neil Sheehan: "The Arnheiter Affair" Quiz

This quiz will test your knowledge about the events that took place aboard the USS Vance during the Vietnam war. My father served aboard the Vance, but left the Navy (and the Vance) just a month or two short of Arhheiter taking command.

A multiple-choice quiz by iceman2541. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
iceman2541

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
309,653

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
186

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The book centers on the command of Lieutenant Commander Marcus Arnheiter. What unusual middle name did he have? Hint

Alexander

Antony

Aurelius

Arthur

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Question 2 of 10

2. The ship that Arnheiter commanded was the USS Vance. The Vance was designated as a DER class ship. Was does DER stand for? Hint

Destroyer, Escort, Radar

Diver, Escort, Relay

Deepsea, Elevation, Robotics

Nothing. The letters are nothing more than the ship's designation

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. During his command, Arnheiter once used the crew's special services money to purchase which of the following unusual items? Hint

Curtains for his cabin

Life jackets and flares

Sterling silver flatware

Speedboat

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Question 4 of 10

4. When did Arnheiter assume command of the Vance? Hint

April, 1965

January, 1966

Just before Christmas, 1965

May, 1966

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Despite Arnheiter's 'findings' that the Vance was in disarray, what award had the Vance recently been given? Hint

An A for attitude

A D for design excellence

An F for flagsmanship

An E for engineering excellence

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The crew (specifically, Gunnery Officer Luis G. Belmonte) began keeping a diary in order to keep track of Arnheiter's actions. What was the name of this diary? Hint

Moby Dick

Arnheiter's Actions

Marcus Mad Log

The Diary of a Madman

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The author, Neil Sheehan, wrote another famous book centering on the Viet Nam War. What was its name? Hint

Is There No Place on Earth For Me?

All the President's Men

The Pentagon Papers

Viet Nam: A Concise History

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. For what paper did Neil Sheehan work at the time he wrote The Arnheiter Affair? Hint

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Boston Globe

New York Times

Washington Post

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In what port was Arnheiter finally removed from command? Hint

Subic Bay

Manila

Pearl Harbor

Zamboanga City

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Despite being removed from command, and despite Arnheiter's own request for a court-martial, the Navy never took additional actions against him.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The book centers on the command of Lieutenant Commander Marcus Arnheiter. What unusual middle name did he have?

Answer: Aurelius

Much like his middle name-sake, Lt. Commander Arnheiter was very arrogant and full of himself.

2. The ship that Arnheiter commanded was the USS Vance. The Vance was designated as a DER class ship. Was does DER stand for?

Answer: Destroyer, Escort, Radar

The Vance was first launched July 16, 1943, commissioned November 1, 1943, and decommissioned October 10, 1969. She was originally classified as a DE (destroyer, escort) before being reclassified a DER on October 21, 1955. The Vance was ultimately sunk as a training target in 1985.

3. During his command, Arnheiter once used the crew's special services money to purchase which of the following unusual items?

Answer: Speedboat

Arnheiter was unhappy with the speed (or lack thereof) of the Vance's motor whaleboat and so purchased the faster speedboat. However, the use of these special services funds was a misappropriation.

4. When did Arnheiter assume command of the Vance?

Answer: Just before Christmas, 1965

He came aboard at Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i, shortly before Christmas, 1965.

5. Despite Arnheiter's 'findings' that the Vance was in disarray, what award had the Vance recently been given?

Answer: An E for engineering excellence

Nevertheless, Arnheiter claimed the Vance was "crawling with cockroaches" and that the crew were "living in extreme messiness".

6. The crew (specifically, Gunnery Officer Luis G. Belmonte) began keeping a diary in order to keep track of Arnheiter's actions. What was the name of this diary?

Answer: Marcus Mad Log

During the keeping of this log, Belmonte came up with 34 separate complaints.
Among those things listed: Arnheiter once drank spiked eggnog aboard, and kept a pitcher of brandy in the officers' mess to pour over his peaches and ice cream-a blatant violation of nonalcoholic Navy Regulations. At a ship's party in Guam, the skipper ordered Tom Generous to sit cross-legged at his feet, and had another officer roll up his trouser legs and act as a "pompom girl." He also ordered his officers to give impromptu speeches at dinner on cultural subjects (sample theme: "Opera-Box Etiquette in Milano"). But it was Arnheiter's gung-ho tactics in combat off Viet Nam that really upset the junior officers.

7. The author, Neil Sheehan, wrote another famous book centering on the Viet Nam War. What was its name?

Answer: The Pentagon Papers

Sheehan is better known for "The Pentagon Papers". Interestingly, Sheehan won a Pulitzer in non-fiction and a National Book Award for "A Bright Shining Lie", which told the tale of Lt. Col. John Paul Vann.

"Is There No Place on Earth For Me" was also a Pulitzer prize winner, but for Sheehan's wife, Susan, in 1983.

Sheehan wrote for the New York Times, starting in 1964.

8. For what paper did Neil Sheehan work at the time he wrote The Arnheiter Affair?

Answer: New York Times

Sheehan began with the paper in 1964 and in the fall of 1966, he became the paper's Pentagon correspondent. Then, in 1968, he began reporting from the White House. By the time he obtained the Pentagon Papers in 1971, he was a correspondent on political, diplomatic and military affairs.

9. In what port was Arnheiter finally removed from command?

Answer: Manila

Pearl Harbor was the Vance's home port, but the Navy could no longer wait for the Vance to return home before removing Arnheiter.

10. Despite being removed from command, and despite Arnheiter's own request for a court-martial, the Navy never took additional actions against him.

Answer: True

As was typical for Arnheiter (in his typical egotistical ways), he wanted to clear his own name and actions. He attempted to do this by way of the court-martial. The Navy rejected all of his claims as did the district courts to which he turned his very public demands. Through many appeals and dismissals, the courts and the Navy made their position as to Arnheiter perfectly clear.

Source: Author iceman2541

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