War Expands in Vietnam 29-2

One American’s Story Stan Goff sent to Vietnam Machine gunner Engaged Viet Cong Viet Cong to weak to face American firepower Guerilla warfare- surprise attacks by small bands of fighters Viet Cong were an elusive enemy

Direct Military Involvement Begins South Vietnam was weak Ineffective leadership 1964- Viet Cong and the NVA forces controlled most of South Vietnamese countryside United States subtle General Minh- South Vietnamese Leader General Nguyen Khanh- Leader in the NVA General Khanh eventually overthrew General Minh

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Johnson planned to bomb North Vietnam in 1964 Ho Chi Minh was negatively supporting North Vietnam August 2, 1964- U.S. destroyer Maddox fired on by two North Vietnamese torpedo boats Second possible attack reported Johnson asked Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=47779540619101779#

Johnson Sends Troops March 1965- Bombing of North Vietnam began Number of troops sent increased from 75,000 to 184,000 in 6 months Escalation- policy of increasing military involvement General William Westmoreland- commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam 536,000 U.S. forces sent by 1968 Stiff domestic and international opposition provoked by American military efforts

A Different Kind of War 3000119115.GIF United States was overconfident Landscape frustrated soldiers Chinese forces threatened United States Unfamiliarity with land proved to be a disadvantage Assumptions that had dominated US foreign and military policy since 1945 were brought into question

U.S. Disadvantages Young, inexperienced soldiers Years of service required shortened No frontline Viet Cong and NVA blended with general population Unpredictable attacks put in place The entire nation became their enemy http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Asia/Vietnam_War_US_Lost.html

Guerilla Warfare Style of fighting differed Sudden, unexpected attacks put the United States on the defensive side Viet Cong had advantage because they were fighting on their own land U.S. was yet to explore and learn about the land Land and climate frustrated American soldiers Soldiers not used to Vietnamese landscape Viet Cong stayed dedicated Vietnamese never gave up “They see the war entirely as one of defense of their country against the invading Americans, who, in turn, are seen merely as successors to the French.” ~ Prisoner from Viet Cong

American Strategies Offensive and defensive setups Napalm- jellied gasoline that burns violently Agent Orange- a chemical that kills plants and other greenery Harmful chemicals destroyed Viet Cong hideouts and food supply Villagers harmed U.S. plan backfired Agent Orange harms everyone who comes in contact with it Search-and-destroy missions Innocent villagers feared Americans and communists

Tet: A Turning Point 1967-war at stalemate General Westmoreland stayed positive North Vietnam believed they could not sustain on the defensive side much longer Victory was essential before the death of North Vietnamese communist leader, Ho Chi Minh

The Tet Surprise January 30-31, 1968- Communists launch Tet offensive Tet Offensive- surprise Communist attack on U.S. and North Vietnamese forces in 1968 85,000 soldiers sent to bomb cities and towns 100 towns and cities bombed by Viet Cong and NVA soldiers Attack on Tet, Vietnamese celebration of Lunar New Year http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-tet_offensive.html

The Tet Surprise (Contd.) Soldiers dressed as citizens and bombed local places Citizens and soldiers killed Ended ineffective No land gained 45,00 soldiers lost U.S. embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam’s capital, bombed http://www.u-s-history.c om/pages/h1862.html

U.S. Doubts Grow U.S. stunned by Tet offensive Tet offensive pierced General Westmoreland “Credibility Gap” present Tet offensive made U.S. citizens question U.S. government’s wisdom in entering war U.S. citizens started protests against continuation of war Peace talks between U.S. and Vietnam began in 1968

Works Cited "Gulf of Tonkin." Bodies of Water. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://911review.com/precedent/century/imgs/tonkin.jpg>. "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Britannica.com)." Google Videos. Web. 04 Apr. 2010. <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=47779540619101779#>. "Powerpoint Templates." Office Online Home Page - Microsoft Office Online. Web. 04 Apr. 2010. <http://office.microsoft.com/en- us/templates/TC300011911033.aspx?AxInstalled=1&c=0>.  "Tet Offensive." United States History. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.u-s- history.com/pages/h1862.html>. "Tet Offensive Video Clips, Free Online Videos – Encyclomedia." Free Video Clips - Streaming Online Videos - EncycloMedia. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.encyclomedia.com/video- tet_offensive.html>. "Tet Offensive." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Tet- Offensive-Map.jpg>.

Works Cited (Contd.) "Vietnam." Asian Countries. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mon- photo.com/Asia/Vietnam_1/vietnam.gif>. "Vietnam War." Military. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/vietnam.htm>. "Vietnam War." The Vietnam War. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.vietnampix.com/end.htm>. "Vietnam War Videos, Photos, and Stories." Battles of War - War History Videos and Footage. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.battlesofwar.com/Vietnam_War.php>. "Vietnam War." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://www.cubanology.com/Vietnam/images/vietnamTrenc hes.jpg >.