The Vietnam War

Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

Background to the War zThe French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu zPresident Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

Background to the War zInternational Conference at Geneva P Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel O Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North O Ngo Dinh Diem, a French- educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South

Background to the War zA date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam zDiem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zRepressive zRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem P Diem’s P Diem’s family holds all power P Wealth P Wealth is hoarded by the elite P Buddhist P Buddhist majority persecuted P Torture, P Torture, lack of political freedom prevail zThe zThe U.S. aided Diem’s government P Pres. P Pres. Eisenhower sent financial and military aid P 675 P 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zKennedy elected 1960 zIncreases military “advisors” to 16,000 z1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) zKennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

Johnson Sends Ground Forces  Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China  Domino Theory revived  Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China  Domino Theory revived (If one country fell to communism the surrounding countries would also fall.) I’m going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went. not

Johnson Sends Ground Forces zAdvised to rout the communists by Secretary of State, Robert S. McNamara zTonkin Gulf Incident  1964 (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked) zTonkin Gulf Resolution P “The Blank Check” * - Johnson could send as many forces as he wanted to Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

The Ground War zNo territorial goals zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) zViet Cong (N. Vietnamese Communists) supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Air War z1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam zOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) z : Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. zDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s zCarpet Bombing – napalm

Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. P The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.

Who Is the Enemy? The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- M MM Mao Zedong

The Tet Offensive, January 1968 zN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) zTake every major southern city zU.S. + ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam – South Vietnam) beat back the offensive zViet Cong destroyed zN. Vietnamese army debilitated zBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

Impact of the Tet Offensive zDomestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration zHzHzHzHey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

Impact of the Vietnam War …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. Johnson announces (March, 1968):

American Morale Begins to Dip zDisproportionate representation of poor people and minorities zSevere racial problems zMajor drug problems zOfficers in combat 6 mo/in rear 6 mo

Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968 Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968 Anti-War Demonstrations

Nixon on Vietnam zNixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Peace with Honor P Appealed to the great “Silent Majority” zVietnamization – encourage the SV to take more responsibility for fighting the war zExpansion of the conflict  The “Secret War” – different opinions about the government structure Vietnam should have P Cambodia P Laos zAgent Orange – chemicals sprayed on trees and plants that provided cover for enemy forces – many veterans had health issues after exposure (cancer)

The Ceasefire, 1973 zConditions: 1. U.S. to remove all troops 2. North Vietnam could leave troops already in S.V. 3. North Vietnam would resume war 4. No provision for POWs or MIAs zLast American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973 z1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam zSaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

The Fall of Saigon South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of Saigon America Abandons Its Embassy April 30, 1975

The Fall of Saigon North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palace

Formerly Saigon A United Vietnam

OOf the 2.7 million Americans that served in the Vietnam war… 3300,000 were wounded in action 775,000 were disabled OOf the casualties listed on The Wall, approximately 1,300 remain missing in action 558,129 were killed TThe average age was 19

OOn the Vietnamese side it is estimated… 11.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong (Southern resistance soldiers) were killed OOver 2 million North and South Vietnamese citizens were killed

2,583 American POWs / MIAs still unaccounted for today.

I f 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. And in the End…. Ho Chi Minh:

Memorial to US Servicemen in Vietnam

Memorial to US Nurses in Vietnam

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