Vietnam US History II
Communism in Indo-China Ho Chi Minh & the NVA Led communists against Japanese, French & Americans North Vietnamese Army (NVA) – Vietcong, VC
Domino Theory If one country falls to communism in South East Asia, then all will fall to communism.
<1954> Dien Bien Phu French forces are defeated by Ho Chi Minh’s forces Geneva Accords – Divides Vietnam: North Communism / South Democracy Ngo Dinh Diem – Pres. of South – canceled elections of 1956 w/ US support (corrupt)
Strategic Hamlet Program Attempts to protect South Vietnam from Vietcong (VC) JFK sent 16,000 military advisors for President Diem Move villages, uproot families, treat Buddhists poorly Bad information – US believed it was working but it was not 1963 - US approved a coup d'état and assassinated President Diem
Strategic Hamlet Program
<Aug. 1964> Gulf of Tonkin incident North Vietnam “fired” torpedoes at USS Maddox USA is angry! We must defend ourselves! President Johnson asks congress to pass Tonkin Resolution LBJ given the power to do whatever was necessary to win in Vietnam and defeat communism
US Escalates War General William Westmoreland US General in charge of all forces in South Vietnam ARVN Army Republic of Vietnam (South)
Fighting in Vietnam Guerrilla Warfare Ambushes Hide and seek Extensive tunnel systems
US Tactics (Strategies) Agent Orange - chemical sprayed to kill vegetation
US Tactics (Strategies) Napalm firebombing, jelly gasoline, burn the jungle
US Tactics (Strategies) Search and destroy missions Target homes, villages, and farms suspected to be occupied by VC
Vietcong Tactics VC tunnel system Guerrilla Warfare – ambush! Difficult to find and fight against No front lines
Vietcong (VC) Tactics Ho Chi Minh Trail Vietcong supply and attack route to South Vietnam
Living Room War Credibility gap: What Americans were being told by the government was not the same as what they were seeing on TV Walter Cronkite: Influential broadcaster CBS Evening News Most “trusted” man in America
Most Trusted Man in America Cronkite went to Vietnam and reported that he had seen the lies, corruption, and stalemate in that war and that it was time for us to go. President Lyndon Johnson listened to Cronkite’s verdict with dismay and real sadness. As he famously remarked to an aide, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost America.”