Truman: 1946-1952 # of US Troops: No U.S. troops in Vietnam but – U.S. support the French against “Vietminh” – Ho Chi Minh’s troops Why Involved ? Cold War has started “CONTAINMENT” is now US policy – and Ho Chi Minh is “just another Red” who must be stopped

Truman French re-claim Vietnam as their colony Anti-French Vietnamese forces (called “Vietminh”) oppose French – led by Ho Chi Minh

Truman: Fighting/Battles Vietminh conduct “GUERILLA warfare” against French = “HIT & RUN” tactics, and avoid superior French forces Vietminh strategy: gain support of the people, to win Vietminh control countryside – majority of the people French control cities

Truman Truman sends military aid to the French army(_____ Doctrine) Soviets & China provide Vietminh with supplies and weapons

Truman Major Events 1949 – CHINA becomes communist under Mao – Americans worry that all of Asia will follow The COLD WAR pressures Truman to support colonial rule of Indochina by the FRENCH USA will support anybody who is anti __ ?

Eisenhower: 1953-60 Why Involved ? Continues CONTAINMENT policy – so, Ike sends more military aid to the FRENCH Also, worried that if Indochina falls to Reds then other Asian countries will too …

Eisenhower: Why Involved ? Ike calls this the “DOMINO THEORY”= US cannot permit one Asian country to fall to the Reds or ALL Asia will fall

Eisenhower: Fighting/Battles 1954: French try to cut off Vietminh supply line from China Send a large army to DIEN BIEN PHU

Eisenhower: Fighting/Battles French vs. Vietminh ?

Eisenhower: Fighting/Battles What do you notice about where the French army is positioned, at Dien Bien Phu ? What geographic feature overlooks Dien Bien Phu ? they are surrounded by high mountains So, what do you think Gen. Giap, the Vietminh commander, might do ? Shoot down on French from higher ground

Eisenhower: Fighting/Battles Vietminh cut off and defeat French – 15,000 surrender to Gen. Giap Decisive military defeat for French

Eisenhower: Major Events 1954: French sign GENEVA PEACE agreement: French give up Indochina Vietnamese ELECTIONS set in 2 more years (1956) Until the election Ho Chi Minh’s forces will occupy NORTHERN Vietnam French will occupy SOUTHERN Vietnam

Eisenhower: Major Events So – Ho Chi Minh gets “Self-Determination” at last ! Who is the most popular leader in Vietnam ? Who would probably win the Vietnamese election in 1956? Eisenhower: “Not so fast, Ho ! You’re a Red !”

Eisenhower: Major Events So, what does Eisenhower do ? He can’t let all of Vietnam fall to communists ! Ike CANCELS the elections. U.S. sets up an anti-red government in South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) to fight Ho Chi Minh Ngyuen Diem is President

Eisenhower: Major Events War in Vietnam continues Now, its “North vs. South” in Vietnam – is it a civil war ? # of US Troops: Ike sends a few DOZEN “military advisers” not to fight, but to train the new, South Vietnamese Army Will this be enough ??

Kennedy: 1961-63 Why Involved ? JFK continues CONTAINMNET policy He “inherits” the South Vietnamese government under Diem from Eisenhower – so he supports Diem (at first) but…… SVN Gov’t is CORRUPT Most Vietnamese do not SUPPORT Diem regime.

Kennedy: 1961-63 Fighting/Battles: JFK likes new ideas – so he supports a new kind of soldier: “Special Forces”(Green Berets) and a new kind of warfare: “COUNTER-INSURGENCY” = ANTI-GUERILLA TACTICS GAIN TRUST AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL PEOPLE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY (“INSURGENTS”) -- SVN govt. must ALSO gain support of the people. How? Provide people with schools, health care, jobs – then they will help us defeat the insurgents.

Kennedy # US Troops: JFK sends 16,000 advisors/ “Special Forces” & “C________-I_______” COUNTER-INSURGENCY They are there to train South Vietnamese to fight “insurgents/guerillas”

Counterinsurgency Today

Situation in South Vietnam in 1963 Major Events: JFK’s new “Counterinsurgency” strategy depends on: 1) Getting the people on our side 2) The South Vietnamese government and army must be supported by the Vietnamese….. South Vietnamese government is not trusted or supported by Vietnamese people– it’s corrupt ARVN (S. Viet Army) is not effective force South Viet government is weak, ineffective – enemy is winning ARVN generals kill PRESIDENT (DIEM), take over the government JFK thinks of WITHDRAWING from SVN but…..?

Johnson (LBJ): 1964-1968 After JFK assassination – LBJ learns that situation in South Vietnam is very bad LBJ knows that losing South Vietnam would cost him votes in coming 1964 election What should LBJ do about Vietnam ? Options: ? Continue present policy (????) Withdraw “intervene” in South Vietnam

LBJ Major Events : LBJ told that war will be lost unless he “INTERVENES” in the war – Why Involved ? 1) Containment 2) Domino Theory 3) LBJ believes he will lose RE-ELECTION if he loses SVN 4) ARVN (SVN Army) is losing – 50% of land is under communist control by 1965 #Troops in VN: 500,000 US troops by 1967 he chooses direct involvement = “INTERVENTION” #Troops in VN: As the war continues, LBJ “Escalates” or sends more forces and men and so does………. Ho Chi Minh ! Fighting & Battles: Major battles b/n US and “VIET CONG” = SVN nationalists and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) US tries to win with “Superior FIREPOWER and TECHNOLOGY” – not “Counterinsurgency”

LBJ Problem: How can LBJ justify intervention with hundreds of thousands of US troops ? Answer: Respond to an “unprovoked” enemy attack Major Events: 1964: GULF OF TONKIN Incident gives LBJ excuse to send US troops into Vietnam Congress – passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution = “blank check” to intervene and escalate war in Vietnam

Superior Firepower & Technology

Superior US firepower & technology B-52 “Stratofortress”

Superior US firepower & technology C-140 Spectre gunship “Puff the Magic Dragon”

Call in “Puff” and The VC just disappear !

How does the enemy react to US firepower and high tech weapons ? The Enemy: Viet Cong (aka: “Charlie”, “VC”, “Cong”) and Ho Chi Minh’ s boys: North Vietnamese Army (“NVA”) How does the enemy react to US firepower and high tech weapons ? “Low tech” and lots of bodies !

NVA & Viet Cong

How do VC and NVA avoid superior firepower and technology????

Got Tunnel Problems? Who ‘Ya Gonna Call ? Tunnel Rats !

More Low Tech: Ho Chi Minh Trail

Low Tech: Ho Chi Minh Trail

Low Tech: Ho Chi Minh Trail

Happy (Lunar) New Year, G.I. ! The TET Offensive -- 1968 Massive enemy attack – 80,000 NVA/VC hit every city in SVN They even hit the US Embassy in Saigon – most heavily fortified building in Vietnam ! Fighting/Battles:

Fighting/Battles: TET Offesnive  Major “POLITICAL DEFEAT” for US and LBJ Major Events: Tet Proves that war WILL CONTINUE for many more years LBJ has LOST TRUST of Americans He does not run for RE-ELECTION in 1968 Why? -- in your notes, draw a line to “Major Events” 1968:

Nixon: 1969-74

NIXON: 1969-74 # of US troops: Begins slow down withdrawal; by 1972 125,000 troops left in SVN. Nixon promised to end the war (he has a “SECRET Plan”) Fighting/Battles: Defensive battles only; much use of airpower (bombing) as troops withdrawal. 1970: Nixon invades CAMBODIA to cut enemy supply. (ho chi minh trail) “VIETNAMIZATION”= more of the ground fighting is turned over to the incompetent/corrupt ARVN. Major Events: 1974: All US ground troops are out 1975: NVA forces overrun SVN and war is over. Why Involved? “Peace WITH HONOR”= will not leave SVN until assurance from Ho Chi Minh that SVN will not be conquered continued fighting, until congress cuts FUNDING to SVA, this forces Nixon to withdraw all forces