Weapons & Battles Vietnam War

ARVN and NVA Army of the Republic of Vietnam South Vietnam They are the ally of the US North Vietnam Army Enemy for US & ARVN

Vietcong NLF-National Liberation Front Also known as Charlie, Chuck, VC, Victor Charlie, or Black Pajamas due to what they wore Rebels in the South who help the North Enemy to US and ARVN

Weapons of the Vietcong Punji Pits Bear Trap Side Closing Trap Crossbows Spiked Mud Ball/ Bamboo Whip

Weapons of the Vietcong Explosives Daisy Chains Trip Wire Trap Bouncing Betty Anti-Aircraft Claymore Mine on its back

Tunnels

US Tactics Herbicides: Agent Orange, Blue, Purple -Kill Vegetation Helicopters

DaNang & Ia Drang Valley Major air strip for US and ARVN Where we landed Marines during the 1965 escalation of the war IaDrang Valley-1 st battle “search & destroy” -US air strikes “Operation Rolling Thunder” -VC uses close battle -Sets stage strategy of war

Ho Chi Minh Trail Supply trail that ran through neighboring Laos & Cambodia to get supplies from North to Vietcong in South Complicated trails, foot &truck paths, river transport and mazes Ex: October trucks by Dec They are preparing for Tet

Tet Offensive Lunar New Year Suppose to be a truce for 2 days so ARVN go home to celebrate Westmoreland knows it is not a good idea since there is build up on Ho Chi Minh Trail Jan 31, 1968-Sept Surprise attack by NVA & Vietcong to invade over 100 key cities including Saigon -wanted to take the countryside of the south -have South start uprising against Am./ARVN At 1 st Americans winning *Turning point-60% Americans see Tet as the American defeat

Khe Sanh Marine base Part of Tet 77 day standoff Had an airstrip built 1962 Left the base on 7/5/68 ~274 killed Will eventually reopen in 1971 to invade Laos & abandoned again 1972

A Tough Question You are a 21 yr old Officer with 4 wounded men. The medivac reports they can only take 2 now. Which do you send? 1.19 yr old bad head wound 2.Married 25 year old bad stomach wound 3.Leg wound 4.Shoulder wound

My Lai Massacre Hamlet March 16, killed (unsure) Charlie Company given orders to search for VC who may have retreated during Tet Unclear if there were orders given to kill anyone Thompson flies over in helicopter and tells them to stop

My Lai Massacre Lt Calley convicted March 1970 and serves 3 ½ months until released by Nixon The Captain Medina & 26 platoon members never convicted Changed American opinion of the war

Vietnamization After Tet in 1968 under President Nixon Policy of training and increases supplies to South Vietnam Army while reducing the number of American troops in Vietnam We begin withdrawing , , ,000 End ,000 January 1973 we sign agreement to fully withdraw Without telling the public, Nixon ordered the invasion of Laos & Cambodia in 1970…

Fall of Saigon NVA captured capital Saigon April 30, 1975 Renamed Ho Chi Minh City “Frequent Winds” begin to evacuate tens of thousands of Americans & South Vietnamese Largest helicopter evacuation in history Vietnam unites under communism

Question: Should women fight in combat? Should women be drafted? Should they serve in the Special Forces?

Women Debate: v=HALZowDySaIhttp:// v=HALZowDySaI

Where? Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Israel, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland, RussiaAustraliaNew Zealand CanadaDenmarkFinland FranceItalyGermanyNorway IsraelSerbiaSweden Switzerland Limited: Pakistan, Greece, India, UK, Turkey, U.S. (mainly pilots)

Women Approx women served in the military primarily as nurses Over 30,000 women would be in Vietnam, through Red Cross, Salvation Army and entertainment through USO

Casualties 58,193/ 8 women 1,484 NJ Average age of deaths 23 25% draftees-2/3 were Volunteer 86% White/Hispanic (88% those served) 12.5% Black (11% those served) 1.2% Other (1% those served)

Casualties 76% lower/middle class 75% Income above Poverty 23% Fathers had professional jobs 79% had high school diplomas or higher