1. Vietnam 1954-1975

2. Background to US involvement French Colony since 1883 Ho Chi Minh- 1941: organized resistance movement “League for the Independence Of Vietnam 1945- Vietnam declares its independence

3. Background continued 1946- US backs French- Truman refuse to help Minh due to ties to Communist Party Domino Theory would influence policy toward Vietnam May 1954- French surrender

4. Geneva Conference Divides Vietnam at the 17 th Parallel US backs Ngo Dinh Diem in the south (Eisenhower) JFK supported Domino Theory, deepens US involvement

5. Geneva Conference

6. December 1960- 900 US military advisors in South Vietnam JFK sends 16,000+ more, authorizes US military to engage in direct combat US deaths 1961- 14 US deaths 1963- 500

7. November 1963- Ngo Dinh Diem overthrown, murdered November 1963- JFK assassinated

8. The war escalates The Tonkin Gulf Resolution- 1964: Congress gives the President authority to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States”

9. Claims of an attack on US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin (unprovoked) prompted resolution The war starts for real

10. US institutes a military draft By April 1965- 13,700 were drafted. Draft was based on date of birth- month/day

11. weapons Napalm- a jellies gasoline mixture used as a firebomb- dropped from the air Agent Orange- chemical weapon used to destroy Vietcong food supply

12. Military strategy Carpet bombing- Operation Rolling Thunder Ground war- search and destroy Victory would be measured by kill ratio instead of ground gained

14. Battles- timeline overview 1965- 200,000 sent to Vietnam Battle of Ia Drang Valley 1966- B-52s bomb North Vietnam 1967- Operation Cedar Falls- The Iron Triangle of Vietcong tunnels discovered McNamara admits bombing raids failed

15. 1968: Tet Offensive Battle for Hue My Lai village massacre by US troops US begins peace talks

16. POW’s

17. 1969 Operation Breakfast- Nixon authorizes covert bombing of Cambodia to destroy supply routes Ho Chi Minh dies My Lai massacre reported

18. 1970 Nixon extends war to Cambodia Kent State shootings

19. 1971 Pentagon Paper published in NY Times 1972 US heavily bombs North Vietnam Kissinger contines peace talks

20. 1973 Cease-fire agreement signed in Paris Remaining US troops withdrawal 1975- Saigon falls

21. Statistics 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (5 August 1965-7 May 1975) 7,484 women served in Vietnam, of whom 6,250 or 83.5% were nurses. Casualties: 58,156 (including men formerly classified as MIA MIA: 2,338 POW: 766, of whom 114 died in captivity Women Who Died In Vietnam: All were nurses * 2nd Lt. Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba * 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Ann Jones Both were 22 years old. * Capt. Eleanor Grace Alexander * 1st Lt. Hedwig Diane Orlowski * 2nd Lt. Pamela Dorothy Donovan * 1st Lt. Sharon Ann Lane Lt. Col. Annie Ruth Graham Capt. Mary Therese Klinker

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