Fallen Angels and the Vietnam War For Miss Lawson’s English II Classes

The War The war started in 1946 when the Vietnamese fought France for control of Vietnam They defeated them by 1954 The country was divided into Communist-ruled North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam

The War Cont’d From 1957 to 1965, the war was between the South Vietnamese army and the Viet Cong (Communist-trained South Vietnamese rebels). In late 1964, the Viet Cong controlled 75% of South Vietnam. In 1965, North Vietnamese regular soldiers and the Viet Cong tried to gain control over South Vietnam.

The War Cont’d The U.S. aided the South Vietnamese but failed to stop the Viet Cong and the soldiers of North Vietnam. Direct U.S. involvement was from 1965-1973 It was the longest was that the U.S. has been involved in and lasted from 1957 – 1975.

Of the 2.7 million Americans that served in the Vietnam war… 300,000 were wounded in action 75,000 were disabled Of the casualties listed on The Wall, approximately 1,300 remain missing in action 58,129 were killed The average age of U.S. soldiers was 19

On the Vietnamese side it is estimated… 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong (Southern resistance soldiers) were killed Over 2 million North and South Vietnamese citizens were killed

U.S. and the War Highly unpopular Most soldiers were drafted Majority of soldiers were from lower or middle class families Protests on college campuses Soldiers returned home not in groups but usually as individuals Soldiers were often called “Baby Killers”

U.S. and the War First war to be broadcast on TV into people’s living rooms Music of the time reflects controversy of the war Style of fighting is known as “Guerrilla Warfare” Jane Fonda – Hanoi Jane U.S. trying to stop the spread of Communism

In the United States we refer to this conflict as the Vietnam War

In Vietnam, citizens refer to this conflict as the American War

THE COSTS OF WAR