THE VIETNAM WAR

Background Former French colony— French Indochina 1941—Viet Minh (Vietnamese Independence) – Led by Ho Chi Minh Independence declared—Aug. 16, 1945

French Lose 1954 – Geneva Accords – Peace agreement France and all foreign troops must leave Temporary division—N & S Vietnam – In 1956 free elections to reunite

Domino Theory Eisenhower If Vietnam falls so will all of S.E. Asia Support South – Ngo Dinh Diem—unpopular dictator JFK—violates Geneva Accords – Sends 1,000 military advisors – By end of 1963, 16,000 military personnel in Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Lyndon B. Johnson Alleged attacks on US ships Does NOT declare war but gives Johnson military power in Vietnam Vietcong – Communist group in the South – Supported by Ho Chi Minh

Protests Against the War Doves vs. Hawks Demonstrations Unpopular War More troops = more casualties Don’t know why we are there. 1st televised war—horrific images

Draft Resistance Ways out – stay in college – Medical exemptions – National Guard or Coast Guard Burned draft cards Fled to Canada, hid, refused to register

Draft Protests Protest Video

Types of Warfare Guerilla – VC all around us—can’t bomb or we’d bomb ourselves – Use land mines/booby traps/hid in tunnels & bunkers—ambush Napalm – set fire to jungle Agent Orange – leaf killing chemical – Both wound civilians

Ho Chi Minh Trail Secret weapon N & S paths through Laos and Cambodia – Supplies – troops

“People’s War” Search and Destroy missions – Homes – Villages Napalm drops Agent Orange All of these killed or effected civilians

Minorities in the war African Americans – More than 20% of combat deaths Racism in platoons was a big issue Women – No combat still

Troop Morale Sinking fast Turned to: – alcohol – marijuana – other drugs Murder superior officers

Troop Details Clip

Tet Offensive - Jan. 31, 1968 Huge surprise attack on South Vietnam’s cities Lasts over a month Vietcong loses “technically” – 32,000 casualties Scared American public

My Lai Massacre – 200 innocent women and children killed Lt. Calley court martialed – Put in jail

Nixon Elected Plan - Vietnamization Summer 1969 – begins troop pull out 3 years – 500,000 down to 25,000

Kent State University – 5/4/1970 Student war protests Burned the ROTC building Ohio National Guard kills 4 students

War Ends…Finally…Or does it?? Jan – agreement signed (North troops stay in South) March 1973 – last US troops leave March 1975 – North Vietnamese attack Saigon – We send aid, NO TROOPS!! April 1975 – South Vietnam surrenders

Totals 58,000 – US killed 303,000 – US wounded Over 2 million – Vietnamese killed

Veterans 15% - post traumatic stress disorder – Nightmares – Drugs – Alcohol – Suicide Experienced hostility when got home from the public

Pictures Vietnam Pictures