July 28th, 1965

America Enters the War

1965

US Strategy

1. War of Attrition–Wear down the enemy – Utilizing overwhelming air power–Massive bombing campaigns– Video

2. Keep China from entering the war– US refused to invade North Vietnam for fear that

the Chinese would intervene (ie Korean War)– Described by critics as “fighting with one hand

behind our backs”

North Vietnam Strategy

War of Attrition–Guerilla warfare• Pick off US forces little by little• Refuse to engage in open battlefields– US has advantage in large-scale battles

• Use familiar territory to their advantage

Vietcong Tactics

• Vietcong’s guerilla fighting proved to be frustrating for American troops– Blended in with civilians– Used jungle terrain to conduct ambushes and set

up booby traps– Used a large network of tunnels to hide and move

supplies

• Vietcong Videos

US Tactics

• Take away Vietcong’s ability to hide– Destroy jungle using napalm (explosive jelly) and

Agent Orange (chemical that kills plants)

• Search & Destroy– Find the Vietcong– Kill them– Return to base

• Vietnam Napalm Video

Agent Orange

Agent Orange

Growing Problems

• By the end of 1966, things were not looking good for the U.S.’ efforts in Vietnam– The Vietcong showed no signs of giving up– American casualties were begin to rise quickly• 6,700 killed up to this point

• Support from the American public was beginning to decline

Quick Review1. How did the U.S. plan on wearing down the North

Vietnamese/Vietcong?

2. How did the North Vietnamese/Vietcong plan on wearing down the U.S.?

3. Why was it so difficult for American troops to find the Vietcong?

4. How did the U.S. try to “weed out” the Vietcong from their hiding places?

5. What was causing support for the war to decline by the end of 1966?

Massive bombing

Guerilla warfare (pick off Americans little by little)

Blended in with civilians, hid in jungles and tunnels

Destroy jungles with Agent Orange and Napalm

Rising American death toll, no sign of quit in the Vietcong