Vietnam War until 1968

Vietnam Controlled by France until WW2 Japan took it during WW2, opposed by the Viet Minh

Viet Minh Vietnamese Communists who fought for independence In WW2, supported by US & China against Japan Founded by Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh Vietnamese Communist Leader National hero for fighting for Vietnamese independence

French claims to Vietnam After WW2, France tried to regain control of Vietnam Indochina War Viet Minh defeated French in northern city of Dien Bien Phu

Geneva Accords - 1954 Treaty separated Vietnam into N&S North – Communist South – Nationalist National election to decide which system for unified Vietnam

Conflict inside Vietnam SV pres Ngo Dinh Diem feared communists would win the nationwide election Refused to allow the election US supported him

Ngo regime Vietnam – majority Buddhist Diem was Christian, had laws passed that restricted Buddhism

Vietcong (VC) Organization of Communists living in South Vietnam Worked to overthrow Diem Assassinated SV officials

Vietcong (VC) VC was located in SV Communist allies in NV helped Supply line from N to S nicknamed “Ho Chi Minh Trail”

JFK & Vietnam At first, supported Diem’s rule Didn’t want to look “soft on communism” so supported strongest anticommunist Then, Diem’s oppression of the people got worse

Diem & Buddhism Diem began imprisoning & killing Buddhist monks Some protested by committing ritual suicide

JFK & Vietnam US public horrified by repression of Buddhists in SV JFK approved a US / SV coup to overthrow Diem Diem was assassinated in the coup

Gulf of Tonkin US Navy was on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin area NV shot torpedoes at USS Maddox

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Congress gave LBJ power to expand military presence in Vietnam US began bombing targets in north War escalated

US gets involved LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops Most in US supported involvement in Vietnam at first Containment doctrine 1965: 61% LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops

Troop buildup Gen William Westmoreland wanted more US troops Said US troops would fight better than US-trained S Vietnamese Reported battlefield success to convince them to add troops Credibility Gap – public eventually didn’t trust reports

Gen. William Westmoreland

Troop buildup Number of US soldiers in Vietnam Mid-1964 16,000 End of 1965 180,000 1967 500,000

Fighting in the jungle US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in Provided cover for VC guerilla tactics Elaborate tunnel systems allowed for escape and/or resupply VC could blend into villages

Fighting in the jungle US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in No front line of advance – attacks were hit and run everywhere Booby traps & land mines Jungle weather Ridiculous insects

War of attrition Gradually wear your enemy down & destroy morale until they quit Gen Westmoreland’s main strategy Didn’t work at all – Vietcong were way too committed to their cause

War on rural Vietnamese Had to keep S Vietnamese from joining Vietcong cause Very difficult because US had to destroy the jungle to win To fight out in the open Angered the locals

Getting rid of jungle US used Napalm and Agent Orange to destroy the jungle

Napalm

Napalm

Agent Orange

Agent Orange

Morale of US soldiers US military strategies caused morale of troops to drop No end in sight Many became alcoholics & drug addicts Draftees were drag on morale

War at home Impact on LBJ’s Great Society programs for the poor High cost of war = massive debts $ that would have gone to help poor went to war Gov had to raise taxes also

How the Draft always worked Since WWI: All men register when they turn 18 Anyone not excluded (usu medical reasons) between 18-26 serves

How Vietnam War Draft worked People got out of it: Med exemptions (many were bogus) National Guard Coast Guard College deferment Most people who avoided service were wealthy & white

African Americans & Vietnam 10% of total population of USA 20% of Vietnam deaths MLK spoke about “cruel irony” Fighting for others’ freedom & equality when they didn’t have it themselves