The War Abroad and at Home Vietnam The War Abroad and at Home

The Cold War After WWII, the Old World Empires of Britain and France crumbled Independence movements spread in Asia led by communists like Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam

Background Vietnam fought France for independence. The country was partitioned into the North (supported by the Soviets) and the South (supported by the US).

Goals of the War For Vietnam, the war was a civil war with the North seeking to unify the country under communist rule For the US and its allies, the war was about containing communism and not allowing the domino effect. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Secretary of State greet South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem at Washington National Airport. 05/08/1957

Military Advisors In 1950, the US set up special forces “military advisors” to aid the South and supplied millions of dollars. By 1963, there were 16,000 in Vietnam aiding Pres. Diem fight communists.

Gulf of Tonkin In 1964, communists attacked US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. The US passed the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” that gave Pres. Johnson powers to “stop further aggression.”

Operation Rolling Thunder Pres. Johnson ordered the full scale bombing of North Vietnam to force a peace settlement in Feb. 1965.

The Draft Johnson doubled draft quotas. By the end of 1966, there were 400,000 US troops fighting in Vietnam.

The Enemy Vietcong (VC) – those living in South Vietnam fighting for the communists. North Vietnamese Army (NVA) – Soldiers who infiltrated South Vietnam to fight the US.

Ho Chi Minh Trail The North supplied the south using an elaborate trail system.

Agent Orange The US used chemical defoliates to destroy jungle vegetation to aid the bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Enemy Tactics Both VC and NVA used elaborate tunnel systems, booby traps, and ambush attacks to bewilder the US soldiers.

US Tactics US soldiers went on “patrols” to seek out enemy soldiers, invite attack, then destroy them.

Patrols The downside was that US casualties were unavoidable.

Seek and Destroy… …in rice patties

…on waterways…

…in towns …

…in villages…

…in tunnels…

…in the jungle.

Firebases US soldiers lived in “fire support bases” where they were supported by artillery.

An Average Day in Vietnam

Protests By 1967, anti-war protests were taking place all across America.

Tet The turning point came in January 1968. During the holiday of Tet, communists attacked 100 US positions throughout South Vietnam.

Tet Offensive While the US recaptured all the territory it lost, Tet showed the US was not close to winning the war.

Tet Offensive Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara resigned. President Johnson did not run for re-election. Richard Nixon became President.

Nixon’s Plan Nixon took over with 540,000 troops in Vietnam. His plan was to bomb the North Vietnamese to the peace table. He expanded the war into Cambodia and Laos.

War Protests Along with the draft lottery, the expansion of the war created even more discord at home.

Vietnamization Nixon had US troops train the South Vietnamese so the US troops could come home.

US Withdrawal US troops withdrew in 1973. In 1976, the North conquered the South.

Casualties and losses US 58,159 dead; 2,000 missing; 303,635 wounded South Vietnam 220,357 dead; 1,170,000 wounded US 58,159 dead; 2,000 missing; 303,635 wounded South Korea 4,960 dead; 10,962 wounded Kingdom of Laos 30,000 killed, wounded unknown Australia 520 dead; 2,400* wounded New Zealand 37 dead; 187 wounded Thailand 1,351 dead Total dead: 315,831; Total wounded: ~1,490,000 North Vietnam 1,176,000; 600,000 wounded P.R. China 1,446 dead; 4,200 wounded Soviet Union 16 dead Total dead: ~1,177,446; Total wounded: ~604,000 South Vietnamese civilian dead: 1,581,000* Cambodian civilian dead: ~700,000* Vietnamese civilian dead: ~2,000,000* Laotian civilian dead: ~50,000* *Estimates

Remembering the Soldiers

Vietnam Presidents