Vietnam

Background to US involvement French Colony since 1883 Ho Chi Minh- 1941: organized resistance movement “League for the Independence Of Vietnam Vietnam declares its independence

Background continued US backs French- Truman refuse to help Minh due to ties to Communist Party Domino Theory would influence policy toward Vietnam May French surrender

Geneva Conference Divides Vietnam at the 17 th Parallel US backs Ngo Dinh Diem in the south (Eisenhower) JFK supported Domino Theory, deepens US involvement

Geneva Conference

December US military advisors in South Vietnam JFK sends 16,000+ more, authorizes US military to engage in direct combat US deaths US deaths

November Ngo Dinh Diem overthrown, murdered November JFK assassinated

The war escalates The Tonkin Gulf Resolution- 1964: Congress gives the President authority to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States”

Claims of an attack on US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin (unprovoked) prompted resolution The war starts for real

US institutes a military draft By April ,700 were drafted. Draft was based on date of birth- month/day

weapons Napalm- a jellies gasoline mixture used as a firebomb- dropped from the air Agent Orange- chemical weapon used to destroy Vietcong food supply

Military strategy Carpet bombing- Operation Rolling Thunder Ground war- search and destroy Victory would be measured by kill ratio instead of ground gained

Battles- timeline overview ,000 sent to Vietnam Battle of Ia Drang Valley B-52s bomb North Vietnam Operation Cedar Falls- The Iron Triangle of Vietcong tunnels discovered McNamara admits bombing raids failed

1968: Tet Offensive Battle for Hue My Lai village massacre by US troops US begins peace talks

POW’s

1969 Operation Breakfast- Nixon authorizes covert bombing of Cambodia to destroy supply routes Ho Chi Minh dies My Lai massacre reported

1970 Nixon extends war to Cambodia Kent State shootings

1971 Pentagon Paper published in NY Times 1972 US heavily bombs North Vietnam Kissinger contines peace talks

1973 Cease-fire agreement signed in Paris Remaining US troops withdrawal Saigon falls

Statistics 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (5 August May 1975) 7,484 women served in Vietnam, of whom 6,250 or 83.5% were nurses. Casualties: 58,156 (including men formerly classified as MIA MIA: 2,338 POW: 766, of whom 114 died in captivity Women Who Died In Vietnam: All were nurses * 2nd Lt. Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba * 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Ann Jones Both were 22 years old. * Capt. Eleanor Grace Alexander * 1st Lt. Hedwig Diane Orlowski * 2nd Lt. Pamela Dorothy Donovan * 1st Lt. Sharon Ann Lane Lt. Col. Annie Ruth Graham Capt. Mary Therese Klinker

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