Vietnam

Vietnam

The Beginning  May 7, 1954 Vietnamese forces occupy the French command post at Dien Bien Phu and French cease fire. Battle lasted 55 days Battle lasted 55 days 3,000 French killed/ 8,000 wounded 3,000 French killed/ 8,000 wounded 8,000 Vietnamese killed/ 12,000 wounded 8,000 Vietnamese killed/ 12,000 wounded Shatters French resolved to carry on the war. Shatters French resolved to carry on the war.

French Forces at Dien Bien Phu

HO CHI MINH “If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it.”

July 1954 Geneva Conference  Geneva Accords Signed by North and South Vietnamese and the French. *U.S. refused to sign Accord called for election for leader of unified Vietnam  U.S. and South Vietnam did not want an election  The Viet Cong began to rebel against the S. Vietnamese  Headed by President Ngo Dinh Diem.

Some Jargon To Know  VIET MINH/NVA: North Vietnamese Military (communist)  VIET CONG: South Vietnamese Communists  South Vietnamese: Side of the U.S. Not Communist Not Communist

Ho Chi Minh Trail  1959  North Vietnamese group 559 formed to create supply route from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in the south. It was along the Cambodian border and later becomes the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was along the Cambodian border and later becomes the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

 Eisenhower sends 675 Advisors to South Vietnam  Late 1961 JFK orders more help for South Vietnam New equipment New equipment 3,000 support personal and military advisors 3,000 support personal and military advisors Helicopters along with 400 U.S. pilots Helicopters along with 400 U.S. pilots

1962

 January 12, 1962: Americans first combat missions against the Vietcong  Early 1963:Operation Ranch Hand  *Agent Orange  January 2,1963:Victory at Ap Bac Raised morale and drove recruitment for the Vietcong  November 1,1963: South Vietnamese generals overthrew Diem  *Diem and Brother killed the next day.  *U.S. backed the Coup

Buddhist Monks in Protest

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution  April 1964 Two U.S. Aircraft Carriers arrive off Vietnamese coast Two U.S. Aircraft Carriers arrive off Vietnamese coast  August 4, 1964 U.S.S. Maddox attacked in Gulf of Tonkin U.S.S. Maddox attacked in Gulf of Tonkin In retaliation: the U.S. bombs two naval bases and an oil facility. In retaliation: the U.S. bombs two naval bases and an oil facility.  August 7,1964: U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gives power to President to take “All necessary measures” and “To prevent any further aggression.” Gives power to President to take “All necessary measures” and “To prevent any further aggression.”

 February 13, 1965: President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder  March 6, 1965:President Johnson sends U.S. Marines to Da Nang, South Vietnam. Marines were 1st ground troops in the war. Marines were 1st ground troops in the war.  January 6, 1966 U.S. Forces launch Operation Crimp Deploying nearly 8,000 troops Deploying nearly 8,000 troops Largest American Operation Largest American Operation

Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at Da Nang 1965

End of 1966  American forces: 385,000  60,000 Sailors off shore  6,000 Americans killed  30,000 wounded  61,000 Vietcong killed  Vietcong Troops 280,000

1966  U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange)

Air War Napalm Attacks

1967  April 24, 1967: American attacks on North Vietnam’s Airfields begin By end of year all but one has been hit By end of year all but one has been hit  May 1967: Americans shoot down 26 NVA planes Decreases pilot strength by half Decreases pilot strength by half

Who is the Enemy????

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

Tet Offensive/ Khe Sanh

Tet Offensive Begins  January 21, 1968 Marine Base at Khe Sahn attacked 18 Marines killed instantly 18 Marines killed instantly Initial attack lasts 2 days Initial attack lasts 2 days  January st Tet Offensiv  More than 100 cities,towns, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon are attacked by 67,000 North Vietnamese and Vietcong 37,000 Vietcong are killed 37,000 Vietcong are killed 2,500 Americans are killed 2,500 Americans are killed Serious blow to public support even though we destroyed VC and debilitated North Vietnamese Serious blow to public support even though we destroyed VC and debilitated North Vietnamese  Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration  Seen as a defeat by media

Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

My Lai Massacre  March 16, 1968My Lai Massacre U.S. Charlie Company kills about U.S. Charlie Company kills about 200 civilians

The Beginning of the End  April 8, 1968: U.S. Forces in Operation Pegasus Retake Route 9 Retake Route 9 77 day battle 77 day battle Biggest battle of the Vietnam War Biggest battle of the Vietnam War  February 8, 1970—Operation Lam Son 719  S. Vietnamese Divisions drive into Laos Walked into a trap Walked into a trap 9,000 S. Vietnamese killed or wounded 9,000 S. Vietnamese killed or wounded More than 2/3 armored vehicles destroy More than 2/3 armored vehicles destroy Hundreds of U.S. Helicopters and planes destroyed Hundreds of U.S. Helicopters and planes destroyed Led by colonel M. Gibson

1969  Peace Talks in Paris  Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia  Nixon announces withdrawal of 25,000 troops Troops down to 139,000 Troops down to 139,000 Policy of “Vietnamization” begins Policy of “Vietnamization” begins  Ho Chi Minh dies

1970  National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret negotiations with Le Duc Tho  Another 150,000 troops withdrawn by years end  Troop strength falls to 280,000

 Summer 1971-Operation Ranch Hand Ends Sprayed 11 million gallons of AO Sprayed 11 million gallons of AO Contains 240 lbs. of Dioxin Contains 240 lbs. of Dioxin 1/7 total area lay to waste 1/7 total area lay to waste  December 13, 1972Paris Peace talks Breaks down  December 18, 1972Operation Linebacker Bombing of North Vietnam Bombing of North Vietnam Lasts for 12 days Lasts for 12 days 120 B-52’s 120 B-52’s 20,000 tons of bombs 20,000 tons of bombs 26 planes lost 26 planes lost 93 airmen killed 93 airmen killed

Peace Talks  January 8, 1973—Paris Peace talks resume  April 1 – All U.S. POWs released  January 27, 1973 – Cease-fire signed  March 1973 – Last American combat soldiers leave but Military advisors and Marines stay Protecting U.S. installations Protecting U.S. installations

The Fall  Over 3 million Americans served in war Almost 58,000 dead Almost 58,000 dead Over 1000 Missing In Action Over 1000 Missing In Action 150,000 Americans seriously wounded 150,000 Americans seriously wounded $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending  April 29, 1975U.S. Begin Airlift out of Saigon U.S. Marines and Air Force are used U.S. Marines and Air Force are used From Carriers off shore From Carriers off shore Took 18 hours Took 18 hours Over 1,000 American Civilians Over 1,000 American Civilians Nearly 7,000 S. Vietnamese Refugees Nearly 7,000 S. Vietnamese Refugees  April 30, 1975-Two Marines killed at Saigon Airport Last Americans to die in Vietnam War Last Americans to die in Vietnam War  At dawn the last Marines leave embassy

The Fall of Saigon

The End  North Vietnam resumes war against South  South Vietnam collapses  Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City  15 Years of War – Nearly a million NVA killed 1/4 of a million SVA soldiers killed 1/4 of a million SVA soldiers killed Hundreds of thousands civilians killed Hundreds of thousands civilians killed