Tet Offensive, My Lai Massacre and Other Events Lesson Students will identify some of the major battle tactics and events of the Vietnam War from

Battlefield Conditions O Soldiers unfamiliar with Vietnam landscape O Swampy, tropical terrain with intense heat. O Malaria and Dysentery major problems O Many South Vietnamese citizens helped the Vietcong with non-fighting strategies. O Vietcong able to use Laos and Cambodia(Ho Chi Minh Trail)

The Ground War O Guerrilla Warfare O A form of warfare where small groups of soldiers use ambushes, sabotage, and raids O Very effective in jungle and mountain terrain. O Used by Vietcong to avoid head on clashes with U.S.

The Ground War O Vietcong Tunnel System O Used to hide from Americans and for Guerilla warfare. O The tunnels would protect the Vietcong from massive airstrikes. O Please turn to page 800 in your textbook

The Air War O The U.S. dominated the air but it was not useful in this war. O Napalm O A substance that spattered and burned uncontrollably. O Agent Orange O Exposed Vietcong hiding places by killing the jungles. O Caused many health problems

The Air War O Operation Rolling thunder O Between March 1965 and November 1968, aircraft of the U.S. Air Force had flown 153,784 attack missions against North Vietnam O 864,000 tons of American bombs had been dropped on North Vietnam during Rolling Thunder O approximately 1,000 casualties had been inflicted on the North Vietnamese population per week, or approximately 90,000 for the 44-month period, 72,000 of whom were civilians

The Air War: O The B-52 bomber was introduced and could drop thousands of tons of explosives in what would be known as carpet or saturation bombing O Largely ineffective in stopping troop and supply movements O During the 3 years U.S. lost: 506 U.S. Air Force, 397 Navy, and 19 Marine Corps aircraft over, or near, North Vietnam O Because of the extreme loss of aircraft and pilots the U.S. invested in new hi-tech fighters like the F-4 and F- 111 O Started the TOPGUN training school

Course of the War O By the end of 1965, 184,000 U.S. soldiers were stationed in Vietnam. O Despite the U.S. having all of these troops and fire power in Vietnam, the war was still a stale-mate. O This is because the American objective was not to conquer Vietnam but put them into submission to stop fighting.

Major Turning Point O The Tet Offensive O By the end of 1968, 536,000 U.S. troops were stationed in South Vietnam. O “The Tet” was the Vietnamese new year. O On January 30 th, 1968 the Vietcong launched a major offensive. O They attacked major cities and military bases and took the U.S. by surprise. O The Vietcong were very brutal in this attack, and killed everyone who they thought was an enemy. O Discouraged both the S. Vietnamese and the Americans O Heavily contributed to LBJ’s decision to not run for re-election

Major Turing Point O Results of Tet Offensive O 1.) Demonstrated that the Vietcong could launch a strategic and massive attack on South Vietnam. O 2.) Many Americans began to resent and protest the war. O 3.) U.S. atrocities, such as the My Lai massacre.

My Lai Massacre O On March 16 th American Division entered the village of My Lai O It was reported that the village was hiding Vietcong O “Search and Destroy” mission was ordered O "This is what you've been waiting for -- search and destroy -- and you've got it," said their superior officers O American soldiers killed approximately 400 men, women, and children

My Lai Massacre O Killing stopped when a helicopter crew intervened O They landed in front of soldiers and threatened to fire on them if they did not stop. O Lt. Calley was sentenced to life in prison for ordering the attack. However, Nixon shortened his sentence to 20 years. Calley served only 3 years for “Good Behavior” O In 1998 the 3 men on the helicopter crew were given Soldier’s Medal for Bravery