1. The woman he loved vs. That bitch of a war How can the war in Vietnam impact the Great Society?

2. Spring 1965: What advantages did the US have over Vietnam in our conflict? What difficulties are we likely to face?

3. Lead up to Combat Troops Bien Hoa – Nov ’64 Bien Hoa – Nov ’64 6 B-57s wrecked 20 damaged 5 Ams killed Pleiku Feb ’65 Pleiku Feb ’65 10 aircraft destroyed 8 Ams killed

4. From Flaming Dart to Rolling Thunder Flaming Dart – limited, targeted bombing of NV Flaming Dart – limited, targeted bombing of NVBECOMES Rolling Thunder – heavy bombing Rolling Thunder – heavy bombing campaign over NV and SV US Bombing in VietnamUS Bombing in Vietnam – US Bombing in Vietnam 7 min

5. Rolling Thunder

6. Rolling Thunder Goals Break NV/VC will Break NV/VC will Improve SV morale Improve SV morale Provide U.S. and SV with bargaining tool Provide U.S. and SV with bargaining tool Reduce infiltration of men/material on HCMTS Reduce infiltration of men/material on HCMTS Keep Ch/USSR out of war Keep Ch/USSR out of war

8. Rolling Thunder in Operation White House picked targets, strike force size, weapons, and timing of attacks White House picked targets, strike force size, weapons, and timing of attacks LBJ “They can’t bomb an outhouse without my approval.” LBJ “They can’t bomb an outhouse without my approval.” Many targets were off limits: Many targets were off limits: 30-mile radius around Hanoi 30-mile radius around Hanoi 10-mile radius around Haiphong 10-mile radius around Haiphong Wide buffer zone along Chinese border Wide buffer zone along Chinese border

9. Rolling Thunder - Effects CH/USSR increase material support for NV CH/USSR increase material support for NV Supply flow uninterrupted Supply flow uninterrupted NV will strengthened NV will strengthened We need troops in SV to protect We need troops in SV to protectairbases March 1965 – U.S. Marines land March 1965 – U.S. Marines land in Danang, SV to “protect planes” 1 st U.S. combat forces in Vietnam!! 1 st U.S. combat forces in Vietnam!! They are allowed to be OFFENSIVE They are allowed to be OFFENSIVE

10. Implications/Consequences of RT Longest bombardment campaign in American history – How could it have not worked? Longest bombardment campaign in American history – How could it have not worked? Failed to achieve objectives set at start of war – Why? Failed to achieve objectives set at start of war – Why? What are the moral implications, if any, of bombing? What are the moral implications, if any, of bombing?