1. Vietnam War
Police Action

2. Geography Southern Part of China Surrounded by Laos Thailand Cambodia
Mostly mountainous and jungle Terrain

3. History After WWII.French tries to colonize again
French are defeated at Dien Bien Phu.1954
1954 Geneva Convention Vietnam is divided into two parts
North - Ho Chi Minh- Communist / Nationalist
South - Ngo Dinh Diem- Premier and supported by United States. Saw Ho as a threat because of Comm.

5. U.S. Gets Involved
At Geneva Convention in 1954 country must have free election
Ho Chi Minh would have easily won.
US prevents election and support Diem.
How many Presidents were involved??

6. Am. Presidents
Eisenhower
Kennedy
Johnson
Nixon
Ford

7. Kennedy Send Advisors Robert McNamara Sec of Defense.
Mistakenly makes incorrect assessment of situation.
South did not support Diem hated for corruption.
Mostly Buddhist opposed Christian Westerners.
Removed peasants off land put into slums land given to Am. Industries.

9. Stop

10. Facts of the war Kennedy Assassinated Nov. 1963?????
Gulf of Tokin Johnson ask Congress to give him more authority to protect Am Interest and prevent spread of Communism in Area.
Westmorland put in charge.

11. Am Takes Action 1966 begin saturation bombing
Use of Agent Orange, a defoliant to kill jungle and find the enemy
Napalm -gas and soap mixed bombs sticking and burning buildings and people.

12. Tactics Vietnamese used Guerilla Warfare – hit and run
US used search and Destroy.
Us Decided Wins were decided on body count
Problem – Vietnamese viewed victory on outlasting the enemy.

13. Troops in Vietnam

14. Psychologically affected US troops no longer safe.
Major Conflict
Tet Offensive Jan VC and NV troops attack US and SV major cities.
Lasted 3 months
Psychologically affected US troops no longer safe.
Pictures sent home looked bad
VC women and children committed acts of terror.
Respond to false arrest and innocent killings. Turning more against us.

16. STOP

17. Mistakes made Failed bombing in N. Vietnam More Am. POWs
More American deaths
My Lai Massacre- killing of innocent villagers, frustrated. SV caught in middle being killed by both sides
Nixon invades Cambodia 1970?
More trouble back home
All Shown on TV

18. Affects at Home Rock stars produce anti- War songs
Many college campuses around country riot have anti war protest
Hippies March on Washington
Civil Rights Ends more Blacks Serve in the military- Black Riots in inner cities.
4 dead in Ohio Kent State

20. Nixon gets us out Jan 1973 Am withdraws Troops??
All POWS are returned??
NV and SV sign agreement 17 degree parallel would divide North from South??

21. End of the war 1975
April 29, 1975 VC and Communist forces surround Saigon.
US evacuates remaining personnel from embassy and 6,000 SV diplomats and other that helped aid the US in 24 hours.
April 30th 1975 SV surrenders to Communist

23. Results
Wasn’t till late 1980’s that veterans of Vietnam were accepted as heroes.
Many suffered from physical and mental problems on account of the war. MY uncle
Ho Chi Minh would never see his dream come true.
Still communist today communism
Wars with neighboring communist countries