Evangelical support for Vietnam bought institutional status within the military

Evidence

The war was a watershed moment for American Christians overall. As the established power of the Protestant mainline eroded in step with their critique of government policy, evangelicals enhanced their own influence by backing the policies of Johnson and Nixon. Moreover, by affirming the war and the men who fought it, evangelicals gained favor and status within the military. This partnership was acknowledged ceremonially in 1972, when West Point conferred its Sylvanus Thayer Award—an award for a citizen who exhibits the ideals of “Duty, Honor, Country”—upon Billy Graham. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 119

Categorization

• XREF: Relevant to assessing Du Mez’s method — she uses ceremonial/commercial artifacts (like the Thayer Award) as evidence of cultural alliance.
• CANDY: Billy Graham receiving a top military award named for Duty, Honor, Country is a neat, shareable anecdote.