Vietnam: Part I A Chronology of Events

The War in Southeast Asia Background  America’s most unpopular war  America’s longest and most expensive war  The best technical war money could buy  America hardly ever lost a tactical battle  A war America did not win

The War in Southeast Asia Background  Often called the Vietnam War  Americans flew from bases in Thailand, Laos, Guam and South Vietnam  Troops from Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Philippines fought with the US and South Vietnam  China and the Soviet Union heavily supported North Vietnam

The War in Southeast Asia General Causes  A regional power vacuum existed in Southeast after WW II  South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were politically unstable  North Vietnam wanted to reunite North and South Vietnam under communist rule  America wanted to prevent the spread of communism, by force if necessary

The French Era – 1940 to 1954  Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia were originally a French colony -- 19th century  Japanese occupied SEA at start of WW II Opposed by guerrilla force led by Ho Chi MinhOpposed by guerrilla force led by Ho Chi Minh US backed Ho Chi Minh’s efforts to oust JapanUS backed Ho Chi Minh’s efforts to oust Japan  At end of WW II, Ho declared Vietnam an independent nation  Allies ignored Ho and divided Vietnam at the 16th parallel -- Potsdam Conference

The War in Southeast Asia The French Era (Cont)  French returned to fill power vacuum after WW II-- US supports French, but not happy  Fighting between France and Vietminh began in 1946  France was defeated at Dien Bien Phu by General Vo Nguyen Giap -- 7 May 1954 Requested US air support -- nuclear if necessary -- didn’t get itRequested US air support -- nuclear if necessary -- didn’t get it  France withdrew from Indochina--for good

Geneva Accords - July 1954  Officially ended France-Vietminh struggle  US and South Vietnam didn’t sign Accords  Divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel Separated by a demilitarized zone (DMZ)Separated by a demilitarized zone (DMZ)  Partition was to be temporary Elections were planned in didn’t occurElections were planned in didn’t occur President Diem (South Vietnam) feared Ho Chi Minh of North Vietnam would winPresident Diem (South Vietnam) feared Ho Chi Minh of North Vietnam would win

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)  Initiated by the US in Sept 1954 to prevent spread of communism -- “Domino Theory”  Member nations were: US, Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand Philippines, and Pakistan  Didn’t require participants to support each other with military force  Politically justified US actions in S Vietnam

US Involvement to 1964  US reluctantly moved to fill power vacuum April US agrees to advise S VietnamApril US agrees to advise S Vietnam Green Berets arrive Oct to train onlyGreen Berets arrive Oct to train only  North Vietnam increased actions to unify North and South US increased action to prevent a North victoryUS increased action to prevent a North victory  Aug ‘64 -- N Vietnamese gunboats attack 2 US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - Aug ‘64  Passed by Congress 5 Aug 1964 Radically altered the War in Southeast AsiaRadically altered the War in Southeast Asia Empowered President Johnson to:Empowered President Johnson to: “To take all necessary steps to repel armed attack against US forces” “To take all necessary steps, including force, to assist S Vietnam and any member of SEATO” “To take all necessary steps, including force, to assist S Vietnam and any member of SEATO”  Committed US to fight for S Vietnam

US Build-up to 1968  March US Marine and Army arrive “Rolling Thunder”bombing campaign begun“Rolling Thunder”bombing campaign begun  By 1969, US troop strength reached 543,000 (500,000 supported the war from other Asian countries and Pacific bases)  US became heavily involved in fighting a guerrilla war-- they were not prepared  30 Jan ‘68 -- North launched Tet Offensive

Tet Offensive of 1968 The Beginning of the End  North attacked 12 US bases and Embassy  Objective -- Shatter the South’s army and cause a civilian revolt -- Neither happened  A tactical failure -- a huge strategic success American confidence in war effort plummetedAmerican confidence in war effort plummeted Opposition to the war increased significantlyOpposition to the war increased significantly  After Tet, US objective was to get out, quickly and gracefully

Vietnamization The US Withdrawal  Nov Nixon elected on promise to end the war in Southeast Asia  Nixon’s Vietnamization program was to return the war to the South Vietnamese US to provide advice, training and materialUS to provide advice, training and material Returned US and S Vietnam to pre-1965 rolesReturned US and S Vietnam to pre-1965 roles  US forces began withdrawing in June 1969 US morale dropped / winning no longer a goalUS morale dropped / winning no longer a goal

Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks  Talks began in ‘68 but achieved nothing North Vietnam knew time was on their sideNorth Vietnam knew time was on their side  US units continued to withdraw By 1972, 200,000 US troops had left VietnamBy 1972, 200,000 US troops had left Vietnam  March ‘72-- North launched its “Easter Offensive” against South Vietnam Attack repelled by US air power (Linebacker I)Attack repelled by US air power (Linebacker I)

Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks (Cont)  Talks resumed following the Easter Offensive --again little movement  Late 1972, Nixon ordered massive bombing of North Vietnam (Linebacker II)  Linebacker II forced the North to negotiate in earnest  Peace Accords signed 27 Jan 1973 Called for US to withdraw all units by Mar ‘73Called for US to withdraw all units by Mar ‘73

The Fall of South Vietnam  Between ‘73 and ‘75, North continued to build strength in violation of Peace Accords  Nixon preoccupied with Watergate  US Congress tired of Vietnam and refused to help  Feb ‘75, North launched the Ho Chi Minh campaign against the South South easily defeated without US air supportSouth easily defeated without US air support  Laos and Cambodia fell quickly thereafter

The War in Southeast Asia Costs to the US  58,135 Americans killed, 153,000 wounded, 2500 missing in action  $141 billion spent  6.3 million tons of bombs dropped (12 times more than Korea, 2 times more than WW II)  2,257 aircraft lost ($3.1 billion value)  5.2 million combat sorties flown

The War in Southeast Asia Results  US reluctance to enter military conflicts that don’t directly threaten national interests  Congressional restriction on President’s ability to commit US military forces  Lessened public opinion of the government and the military  The all-volunteer military force  Increased emphasis on military resources, training and weapons