Vietnam

Vietnam French Indochina French ruled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia since the late 1800s. Growing unrest among the oppressed Vietnamese (restricted freedom of speech and assembly) Indochinese Communist Party founded in 1930 stage a number of revolts under Ho Ch Minh and his newly formed Vietminh. Ho Chi Minh found exile in the Soviet Union and later China.

Japanese Rule In 1940, Japanese took control of Vietnam from French 1945 – Allies force Japan to leave Vietnam, leaving Ho Chi Minh to achieve goal of Vietnam Independence September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent nation in Hanoi.

French – again! France troops move back to Vietnam French gain power in the cities and in Southern Vietnam Ho Chi Minh determined to gain South from French Truman sends $15 million in economic aid to assist French. Ironically, the US had given Ho Chi Minh financial aid to resist the Japanese during WWII!

Eisenhower Eisenhower continues with aid to French to fight. Frustrated with stalemate in Korea, Eisenhower explained the domino theory to justify involvement in Vietnam May through June 1954 France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S., China, Laos, and Cambodia meet in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva Accords divide Vietnam (temporarily) at the 17 th parallel. Ho Chi Minh - North (Hanoi) Anti-communist nationalists – South – (Saigon)

Divided

Eisenhower and Kennedy Both continue financial and military aid to South Vietnam and its president, Ngo Dinh Diem Diem, a Catholic, angers Buddhist population by restricting their practice Viet Cong, Communist opposition in the South, begin attacks on Diem’s government Kennedy sends troops to Vietnam to support Diem. 16,000 military personnel in South Vietnam. November 1, 1963 US military coup resulting in killing Diem. November 22, 1963, Kennedy assassinated

Buddhist Monk Protest

Johnson August 2, 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boat fires torpedo on USS Maddox. Two days later, crew reports enemy torpedo – false Tonkin Gulf Resolution August 7 allowing military freedom for Johnson. February 1965 “Operation Rolling Thunder” bombing of North June 1965, 65,000 troops in South Vietnam battling Viet Cong.

Jungle Fighting Jungle terrain and and guerilla war tactics turned war into stalemate Ambush techniques, tunnels, booby traps, and land mines US drops napalm, gasoline-based bombs US sprayed Agent Orange to kill foliage US search and destroy missions to uproot anyone with ties to Viet Cong

Napalm

Draft Men ages called to serve At that time, the voting age was 21 years old (26 th Amendment 1971 changes the voting age from 21 to 18) College deferments, medical reasons, pay-off, fleeing, oh my. 20% of American combat deaths were African American who made up 10% of US population War divides nation – Hawks (56% poll show) and Doves (28%)

Tet Offensive – January 1968 Vietnamese New Year honoring dead – firecrackers, flutes, celebrations with thousands of people streaming into villages and towns to celebrate Surprise attack – coffins filled with weapons Villages filled with Viet Cong U.S. embassy attacked in Saigon Viet Cong lost 32,000 U.S. dead 3000 GREATLY shakes U.S. popular opinion of war – enemy seemed to be everywhere and war unwinnable. Hawks – 40 Doves – 40. Press begins to criticize war.

Tet Celebration

Tet

My Lai Massacre On March 16, 1968 Lieutenant William Calley, Jr. lead command to massacre innocent children, women, and elderly searching for Viet Cong and finding none. Americans outraged!! Calley convicted and jailed after news was that he ordered “Kill anything that breathed.”

My Lai

Richard Nixon Promises a “secret plan” to get U.S. out of war Instead, escalates by invading Cambodia on April 30, College student protest – Nixon calls out National Guard – leaving four college students at Kent State (Ohio) dead and two dead at Jackson State Mississippi Pentagon Papers released.

Kent State

Fall of Saigon The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon the capital of South Vietnam by the People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) on April 30, The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period leading to the formal reunification of Vietnam into a socialist republic governed by the Communist Party of Vietnam. The fall of the city was preceded by the evacuation of almost all the American civilian and military personnel in Saigon, along with tens of thousands of South Vietnamese civilians associated with the southern regime. The evacuation culminated in Operation Frequent Wind, the largest helicopter evacuation in history. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, after the Democratic Republic's President Ho Chi Minh.

Fall of Saigon

Peace Saigon falls on April 30, ,000 American killed 303,000 Americans wounded 3.3 million Americans served 15% suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Wall In 1981, national competition to determine the Vietnam memorial’s design 21-year-old architect student of Chinese descent, Maya Ying Li, submits winning design

The Wall