ARVN Troops Don’t Cut It Why Not? What are they fighting for? Communist sympathizers Fragile South Vietnamese leaders (musical chairs government) sees ARVN as a force guaranteeing their rule. Aggressive fighting would drain ARVN forces and make a coup d’etat more likely America Takes Over in Vietnam

American Advisors Feel that Money Sent to South Vietnam is wasted… Outposts aka VC Depots Lack of accountability of funds- radio story Graft/Black Market OK… come out! Give us your weapons!!! Just a moment, please. I’m not properly dressed right now!

VC Forces Grow About 2000 VC under the height of Diem’s repression About 53,000 by the time of the 1964 election

LBJ (and his advisors--political and military) Feel That The Only Chance To Stop Communism is To Send In American Troops. LBJ is hesitant with the election coming up. Need for legitimacy Korean War memories in U.S. Congress has the power to declare war LBJ has his advisors write up a draft of a Congressional Resolution giving himself war powers in Vietnam, but holds onto it

I. Clandestine Activities U.S. sponsors commando raids by South Vietnamese troops into North Vietnam American Advisors play an integral role

II. Why does the U.S. care about being clandestine?

III. International Water Dispute ?

IV. Incident at sea… …late 1963

V. LBJ’s Response

VI. Gulf of Tonkin Incident

VII. What is LBJ to do? VII. U.S. Attacked in the Tonkin Gulf… What will LBJ do? Is he a wussy? Good Time for a media literacy lesson, says Mr. Hansen, Best Teacher Ever?

VIII. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Vs. “It’s like Grandma’s nightshirt. It covers everything.” LBJ

(VIII continued). LBJ’s Response Part #2  … 1 st U.S. attack on North Vietnam!

VIII (continued). LBJ’s Response Part #3  … backs away from declaring war When Goldwater declares a more forceful commitment, releases Daisy Commercial

IX. LBJ Wins 1964 Election in a landslide… tries to calm down the Vietnam situation… no more attacks for months

X. However, the VC try to get revenge for the aerial bombing with an attack on the U.S. air base at Pleiku. Several Americans KIA and many planes are damaged…

XI. LBJ is pissed off… “I have asked the commanding general…what he needs… He has told me. And we will meet his needs. We cannot be defeated in Vietnam by force of arms. We will stand in Vietnam.” LBJ

XII. In March of 1965, the first American combat troops landed in Vietnam. Their official mission… protect the airbases. Their actual authorized mission…find and destroy the VC…take over for the ARVN army.

Handout Vietminh Boat  ARVN boats  US destroyers  US Aircraft Carrier 