Vietnam: In Search of a Strategy Situation to 1965

Lesson Objectives Describe the U.S. involvement in Vietnam in the context of the Cold War. Understand and describe the challenges posed by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) against the south. Understand and describe the situation in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) after 1959 and the RVN reaction to the challenge from the north.. Describe the doctrine of limited war and counterinsurgency as espoused by the Kennedy Administration. Relate the timeline of events that led to U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. Analyze the early roots of the U.S. search for a strategy for the Vietnam War.

Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam ,530

Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam US Army helicopters arrived in South Vietnam USAF personnel began “training” ops in VNAF aircraft May Dec 61 Mar 62

US Advisors   (first 2:00) (to Army of the Republic of Vietnam - ARVN)

US Advisors   (5:00) (to Montagnard irregulars)

Early Air Operations Aircraft Markings USAF VNAF

Early Air Operations YouTube 3:03- 8:00

The Vietnam War Operation Ranch Hand Defoliation Spray Missions More

Operation Ranch Hand YouTube 8:00- 9:02

Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam US Army helicopters arrived in South Vietnam USAF personnel began “training” ops in VNAF aircraft Battle of Ap Bac: VC inflicted major defeat on RVN force Dec 61 Mar 62 RVN initiated Strategic Hamlet Relocation Program May 62VC began battalion-sized operations (Central Highlands) 1 Aug 62Kennedy signed Foreign Assistance Act of 1962 Mar 62 Provided assistance to countries under Communist attack 3 Jan 63 Significant setback for US faith in Diem government

Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam US Army helicopters arrived in South Vietnam USAF personnel began “training” ops in VNAF aircraft Battle of Ap Bac: VC inflicted major defeat on RVN force Dec 61 Mar 62 RVN initiated Strategic Hamlet Relocation Program May 62VC began battalion-sized operations (Central Highlands) 1 Aug 62 Kennedy signed Foreign Assistance Act of 1962 Mar 62 Provided assistance to countries under Communist attack 3 Jan 63 Significant setback for US faith in Diem government

Timeline Buddhist unrest, repression in South Vietnam Kennedy Administration discusses options for Diem CIA-supported ARVN coup overthrows Diem May- Aug 63 Aug-Oct 63 1 Nov 63 Diem and this brother killed by ARVN 22 Nov 63President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas

US Locked In General William C. Westmoreland, who seven months after Diem's assassination replaced General Paul Harkins as commander of MACV, summed up the consequences of President Kennedy's involvement. “In his zeal, the young president made a grievous mistake in assenting to the overthrow of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963,” Westmoreland said. “In my view that action morally locked us in Vietnam. If it had not been for our involvement in the overthrow of President Diem, we could perhaps have gracefully withdrawn our support when South Vietnam's lack of unity and leadership became apparent.” Why It Was Impossible for the U.S. to Stay Uninvolved Col. William Wilson, USA (Retired) Vietnam Magazine, April 1997

Situation 1964 White House concerned about the 1964 election Staffers realized current advising strategy was not succeeding Predicted North Vietnamese takeover that year Hoped to stave off collapse until after election Link Fredrik Logevall “Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam” Presidential Studies Quarterly, March 2004

Timeline Mar 64Secret CIA bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos began Civilian pilots (Air America) flying old U.S. aircraft May 64LBJ staff begins drafting Congressional support resolution Temporarily shelved due to lack of support in Senate Summer 64Guerilla warfare spreading throughout South Vietnam Now supported by NVA regulars 2-4 Aug 64Gulf of Tonkin Incident 7 Aug 64Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed by Congress Authorizes president to use force to protect U.S. forces President orders retaliatory strikes against North Vietnam 14 Dec 64 US begins secret bombing of HCMT in Laos

Timeline 16 Oct 64China explodes its first nuclear weapon I Nov 64VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base First attack on Americans; five Gis killed 3 Nov 64Lyndon Johnson elected to presidency by landslide

Attacks on US Airfields I Nov 64VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigom First attack on Americans; five Gis killed 6 Feb 65VC attack US base at Pleiku (central Highlands) Eight Americans killed, ten aircraft destroyed 7 Feb 65 President orders air strikes against North Vietnam Operation Flaming Dart continues to 24 Feb 65 7 Mar 65President authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder Progressively escalating air attack against North Vietnam Dual military and political objectives Ran until 2 Nov 68

Operation Rolling Thunder

Support for Buildup “Even in the aftermath of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, as the Johnson administration began increasing troop levels in Southeast Asia, Source Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006 … 45 percent of Americans wanted to stay the course in Vietnam,” … 36 percent wanted to 'step up the war by carrying the fight to North Vietnam,' for example, through more air strikes against communist territory, … while only 19 percent supported pulling out. In short, by a large margin, Americans demanded victory of their leaders... Lyndon Johnson, then, was acting with the full faith and support of his electorate. A

LBJ’s Dilemma “In later years [Johnson] lamented: Source... But if I left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe.’” Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006 If I left the woman I really loved, the Great Society, in order to get involved in that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, I would lose everything at home. All my programs. 'I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved.

The Great Society

LBJ’s Dilemma Escalate or Withdraw

Discussions on Escalation Feb 65 – Jul 65 Part 1 Feb-Mar 64 Part 2 May64 Part 3 Jun-Aug64 Part 4 Feb-Jun65 Part 5 Jun-Jul65

End

LBJ’s Dilemma “In later years [Johnson] lamented: 'I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved. If I left the woman I really loved, the Great Society, in order to get involved in that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, I would lose everything at home. All my programs. Source... But if I left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe.'" Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006

Buildup In Vietnam Why was our buildup in Vietnam so slow? Gradual escalation? Vietnam: Gulf War: Aug Jan-Mar 1991 Lack of infrastructure? Probably a little of each! Fear of Soviet or Chinese intervention?