Vietnam War Strategies U.S. History
United States & South Vietnam (Army of Republic of Vietnam) (ARVN)
Search and Destroy War of attrition: kill as many enemy as possible
Body Counts US’s way of “keeping score” Regular part of evening news
Saturation Bombing Dropping thousands of tons of bombs on a specific area
Fragmentation Bombs Threw pieces of their casings in all directions
Napalm Jellylike substance dropped from planes; Splattered and burned uncontrollably
The following picture is the most famous napalm photo from Vietnam Anyone who lived during the Vietnam Era remembers this image The original version is so graphic, I had to edited for this school presentation
This image won a Pulitzer Prize for AP photographer Nick Ut and changed attitudes towards the Vietnam War across the world.
Jungle Defoliant—removed leaves Agent Orange Jungle Defoliant—removed leaves
While the effects of agent orange on the foliage is terrible, its effects on the GI’s and the Vietnamese are far worse
North Vietnam (Viet Cong)
Guerilla Warfare Use local population as cover; booby traps, ambushes, assassinations
Tunnel Systems Massive underground networks: sleeping areas, air raid shelters, hospitals, kitchens, etc.
U.S. used “Tunnel Rats” to flush out Viet Cong
Ho Chi Minh Trail Troops & Supplies smuggled into South Vietnam through Laos & Cambodia
The End