1. Vietnam: Into the Abyss (to 1963)

2. Lesson Objectives Understand the Vietnam War as part of the Cold War. Be able to describe the evolution of U.S. policy toward Indochina from Presidents Roosevelt to Eisenhower. 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. Understand the doctrine of limited war and counterinsurgency as espoused by the Kennedy Administration. Understand the timeline of events that led to U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia.

3. The Vietnam War To understand the Vietnam War, you only need two books: Both are available online Link

4. The Vietnam War Technically, The Second Indochina War or The Southeast Asia War

6. French Indochina

7. Southeast Asia Central Highlands The Delta

8. Surrender Ceremony Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945 Newsreel - 8:36

9. Vietnamese Declaration of Independence "All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free. The Declaration of the French Revolution made in 1791 on the Rights of Man and the Citizen also states: "All men are born free and with equal rights, and must always remain free and have equal rights." Source Hanoi - September 2, 1945

10. What if … HANOI FEBRUARY 26 1946 TELEGRAM PRESIDENT HOCHIMINH VIETNAM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC HANOI TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WASHINGTON DC ON BEHALF OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE I BEG TO INFORM YOU THAT IN THE COURSE OF CONVERSION BETWEEN VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND FRENCH REPRESENTATIVES THE LATTER REQUIRE THE SECESSION OF COCHINCHINA AND THE RETUN OF FRENCH TROOPS IN HANOI STOP MEANWHILE FRENCH POPULATION AND TROOPS ARE MAKING ACTIVE PREPARATIONS FOR A COUP DE MAIN IN HANOI AND FOR MILITARY AGGRESSION STOP I THEREFORE MOST EARNESTLY APPEAL TO YOU PERSONALLY AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO INTERFERE URGENTLY IN SUPPORT OF OUR INDEPENDENCE AND HELP MAKING THE NEGOTIATIONS MORE IN KEEPING WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ATLANTIC AND SAN FRANCISCO CHARTERS. RESPECTFULLY HOCHIMINH

11. Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh with American OSS* agents * Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of CIA) Fought against French, then Japanese in WW II Formed Viet Minh in 1941 as an independence movement

12. First Indochina War 1945 - 1954 Viet Minh France vs. Ho Chi Minh 1890 - 1969 Democratic Republic of Vietnam declared September 2, 1945

13. Indochina US pledged to return Indochina to France after WW II

14. First Indochina War 1945 - 1954 Viet Minh France vs. Ho Chi Minh 1890 - 1969 Democratic Republic of Vietnam declared September 2, 1945 Viet Minh began a long, bitter war with French US supported France Chinese Communists, USSR supported Viet Minh Was fought as a guerilla war … A war of national liberation

15. Viet Minh Strategy Strategy of Revolutionary War Objective: The seizure of power in a nation-state … Characteristics: Integrated military conflict and political conflict War on multiple fronts Geographical Programmatic … by any means possible

16. Strategy of Revolutionary War Characteristics of Political Conflict Political, diplomatic, psychological, ideological, sociological, economic components Mobilize people into conflict Undermine morale, loyalty of population Undermine morale, loyalty of state military Three programs

17. Strategy of Revolutionary War Phase I: Targeted state stronger militarily Phase II: Rough military parity Phase III: Revolution stronger than targeted state Revolutionaries avoid combat Guerrilla war: raids, ambushes, sabotage, terrorism Political conflict predominant Combined guerrilla and conventional war Military and political conflict equally important Revolutionary forces go to totally conventional war “General Offensive” linked to political “Great Uprising”

18. Strategy of Revolutionary War General Characteristics It is a total war It is waged with total unity of effort It is, by necessity and choice, a protracted war It stresses gaining and keeping the initiative It is a changing war (shift between phases) It is a mosaic war (different phases, different areas) Davidson

20. First Indochina War 1945 - 1954 Viet Minh France vs. War ended with defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954) * After end of Korean War (July 1953), China funneled aid to the Viet Minh Conflict transitioned to Phase III revolutionary war

21. Dien Bien Phu “ … greatest defeat in French history.”

22. Significance: First Indochina War Did not settle principle issues over which it was fought: Political unity of Vietnam Vietnam's independence from foreign influence George Herring Lecture: First Indochina War   (55:37) Created basis for second war Dictated the way that war would be fought Strategy that worked against French would work against US - First Indochina war judged insignificant by US military - - Only after US was bogged down was there an interest in this war

23. Geneva Accords April 27, 1954 Viet Minh State of Vietnam Divided Vietnam into two independently administered parts Unification to follow elections in July 1956 US did not support the accords

24. Geneva Accords April 27, 1954 Viet Minh State of Vietnam "In connection with the statement in the Declaration concerning free elections in Vietnam, my government wishes to make clear its position which it has expressed in a Declaration made in Washington on June 29, 1954, as follows: 'In the case of nations now divided against their will, we shall continue to seek unity through free elections, supervised by the United Nations to ensure they are conducted fairly'" The elections never occurred U.S. Under-Secretary of State Walter Bedell Smith

25. 17th parallel Vietnam

26. So why did we get involved in Vietnam?

27. Munich Roots of U.S. Strategic Mindset For Vietnam War

28. Legacy of Munich No historical event has exerted more influence on post-World War II U.S. use-of-force decisions than the Anglo-French appeasement of Nazi Germany that led to the outbreak of the Second World War. Jeffrey Record “Appeasement Reconsidered: Investigating the Mythology of the 30’s” US Army Strategic Studies Institute, August 2005

29. Legacy of Munich DoD Information video – 1965 (excerpt) ( Full video: 31:00)

30. Munich Roots of U.S. Strategic Mindset For Vietnam War Truman Doctrine (Containment)

31. Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947 US foreign policy designed to stop spread of Communism Pledged to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey US foreign policy transitioned from détent to   (2:30) containment

32. Munich Roots of U.S. Strategic Mindset For Vietnam War Truman Doctrine (Containment) Chinese Intervention in Korea

33. Korean War Approaching the Yalu River October-November 1950

34. Korean War China Enters the War November 1950 - January 1951

35. Munich Roots of U.S. Strategic Mindset For Vietnam War Truman Doctrine (Containment) Chinese Intervention in Korea Domino Theory

36. Term coined by President Dwight D. Eisenhower ( April 7, 1954) Described how, if one country in Asia fell to Communism, others would follow in succession.

37. Munich Roots of U.S. Strategic Mindset For Vietnam War Truman Doctrine (Containment) Chinese Intervention in Korea Domino Theory Cuban Missile Crisis

38. Cuban Crisis President Kennedy orders quarantine October 22, 1962

39. What were the U.S. objectives in Vietnam? Stated: Preserve a non-Communist government in South Vietnam Why Vietnam? Understood: Containment

40. Nuclear weapons nullified all previous military theory U.S. Post-WW II Attitude Problem: Total war (nuclear) unthinkable Future wars would be limited One country’s limited war = Another country’s total war

41. U.S. Attitude Toward Vietnam Eisenhower (1954-1961): US Military Assistance Trained ARVN to resist cross-border invasion Kennedy (1961-1963): Counterinsurgency Resisted by US military leaders Johnson (1963-1969): Limited War Attempted to force North Vietnam to negotiate Nixon (1969-1973): Vietnamization Increased pressure on North Vietnam to negotiate

42. The Players

43. North Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam

44. Viet Cong The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam “Vietnamese Communists” Local insurgent forces fighting against the Republic of Vietnam Founded 1960 (some mark this as start of 2nd Indochina War)

45. Timeline DRV Politburo decides to liberate south Unit established to construct Ho Chi Minh Trail The Stage is Set January 1959 May 1959 National Liberation Front (NLF) formally established December 1960

46. South Vietnam The Republic of Vietnam

47. Ngo Dinh Diem 1901 - 1963 President of Republic of Vietnam (RVn) 1955-1963

48. Ngo Dinh Diem Led effort to establish RVn after Geneva Accords Elected president in 1955 Catholic in a majority Buddhist nation Staunchly anti-Communist Supported by US in early years

49. Ngo Dinh Diem Took a hard line against Buddhist majority Protests put down violently World-wide attention from monk’s self-immolation (June 1963) This plus growing insurgency caused US to lose faith in Diem Instituted unpopular strategic hamlet program

50. Ngo Dinh Diem Toppled by US-sanctioned coup (November 2, 1963) He and his brother assassinated by generals Not US intention RVn plagued by series of coups over next few years Counterinsurgency effort faltered Cronkite, Vietnam War Seeds of War - 14:38 - 22:38 US reconsidered its strategy in Vietnam

51. The United States of America

53. Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam 1961 Δ = 2,530 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960

54. Timeline Kennedy ordered 2,530 more advisors to South Vietnam US Army helicopters arrived in South Vietnam May 61 11 Dec 61 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960

55. U.S. Army Advisors ( 33:56 ) The Big Picture, U.S. Army, 1963 MAAG: Military Assistance Advisory Group

56. 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 1961 11 Dec 61 Mar 62 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960

57. Early Air Operations Aircraft Markings USAF VNAF

58. Early Air Operations ( 3:03 – 8:00 ) Battlefield Vietnam – Air War

59. 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 1961 11 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 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960

60. Battle of Ap Bac RVN Military Regions  Ap Bac January 2, 1963

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. References Col. Harry G. Summers, USA (Ret) On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War Interview with Harry Summers: http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/conversations/Summers/summers2.html Lt. Gen. Phillip B. Davidson, USA (Ret) Secrets of the Vietnam War

65. Vietnam: Into the Abyss (The Johnson years) Next:

66. End

67. Title

68. 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 1961 11 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 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960

69. 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 1961 11 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 NVA troops begin moving into South Vietnam 1960