1. Jungle Warfare The United States sends troops to fight in Vietnam, but the war quickly turns into a stalemate. Corresponds to 22.2

2. US Politics Send troops Strong Support for Containment Support From: –Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara –Secretary of State Dean Rusk –Congress –Public

3. War of Attrition Attrition used to destroy Vietcong morale Vietcong get supplies from: –China –USSR –Remains defiant US sees war as military struggle Vietcong as battle for survival Geography prevents conventional tactics

5. Troop Buildup Accelerates Gen. William Westmoreland commander Thinks Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ineffective Requests increase –500,000 US troops

6. An Elusive Enemy Structured Forces –Regular North Vietnamese forces with southern commanders –Full time guerilla’s operating provincially –Part-time guerrillas for village defense

7. An Elusive Enemy Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines Vietcong use –Hit-and-run –Ambush tactics –Move among civilians –Tunnels Tunnels –Help withstand air strikes –Launch attacks –Connect villages

11. Tunnels Elaborate tunnel networks held max. 10,000 people Some tunnels were 60 feet deep One Vietcong base had 155 MI of tunnels People lived, got married, gave birth & went to school in tunnel systems Some came out at night to tend crops

12. Jungle Warfare VC put metal debris on roads to reduce the effectiveness of mine detectors VC had 2-stage booby traps –Initial trap –Secondary trap kill those helping wounded Spikes rubbed w/ feces create infection Soldiers wanted souvenirs – VC left attractive booby traps

13. Booby Traps Rocks and twigs mark booby trapped areas

21. Casualties 28% of US deaths attributed to mines First Marine Division stated: –"57% of all casualties were from mines and booby-traps with a trend toward more injuries sustained by those men newly arrived in country."

22. US Countermeasures US to stop rural Vietcong support Weapons expose tunnels but –Wound civilians, destroy villages –Napalm: gasoline-based bomb sets fire to jungle –Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical Search & destroy missions –Destroy property –Angers villagers

24. US Countermeasures VIP – Volunteer Informant Program Sandbagging vehicle floors Don’t pick up souvenirs Strategic Hamlets Villagers go to cities & camps 1967 3 million refugees

25. Sinking Morale US troop morale drops –Guerrilla warfare –Jungle conditions Soldiers turn to alcohol, drugs, FRAGGING US soldiers believe in halting communism –Fight courageously –Take pride in fulfilling their duty What a Wonderful World What a Wonderful World