Early years at Early years at VietnamVietnam

By: Corey FurrBy: Corey Furr

TimeLineTimeLine

In 1961, South Vietnam signed a military and economic aid treaty In 1961, South Vietnam signed a military and economic aid treaty with the United States leading to the arrival (1961) of U.S. support with the United States leading to the arrival (1961) of U.S. support troops troops

May 1961 - President Kennedy sends 400 American Green Beret May 1961 - President Kennedy sends 400 American Green Beret

'Special Advisors' to South Vietnam'Special Advisors' to South Vietnam 1962 the U.S. Military Assistance Command. Mounting with the 1962 the U.S. Military Assistance Command. Mounting with the

uneffective and break of Diem's government culminated uneffective and break of Diem's government culminated 1963 a group of south Vietnamese generals had Diem 1963 a group of south Vietnamese generals had Diem

assassinated.assassinated. Johnson had replaced John F. Kennedy after he was assassinated Johnson had replaced John F. Kennedy after he was assassinated

in Dallas, Texas in 1963. in Dallas, Texas in 1963.

Continuous of timeContinuous of time

1964 - Opinion polls indicate 85 percent of Americans support 1964 - Opinion polls indicate 85 percent of Americans support

President Johnson's bombing decision.President Johnson's bombing decision. The U.S. Seventh was sent to Vietnam.The U.S. Seventh was sent to Vietnam. North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked two U.S. destroyers in North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked two U.S. destroyers in

the gulf of Tonkin.the gulf of Tonkin. 1965 more than 185,000 were in vietnamfighting.1965 more than 185,000 were in vietnamfighting.

The French had ruled Vietnam as an overseas colony since the mid-nineteenth century.

the U.S. Military Assistance and Advisory Group Military (MAAG) arrived to screen French requests for aid

The Communist Vietminh opened the conflict by driving the French out of North Vietnam.

French Involvement

ConflictConflict

Viet Cong guerrillas attack the U.S. military compound at Pleiku in Viet Cong guerrillas attack the U.S. military compound at Pleiku in the Central Highlands, killing eight Americans, wounding 126 and the Central Highlands, killing eight Americans, wounding 126 and destroying ten aircraft.destroying ten aircraft.

Vietnam was partitioned into northern and southern sections, with Vietnam was partitioned into northern and southern sections, with a U.S.-supported government in the south and a communist a U.S.-supported government in the south and a communist republic in the north.republic in the north.

The National Liberation Front was formed in the northern CommunistThe National Liberation Front was formed in the northern Communist

Party, trying to reunify the country. Party, trying to reunify the country.

WhatWhat happenedhappened

President Harry S. Truman orders U.S. ground troops into President Harry S. Truman orders U.S. ground troops into Korea following Communist North Korea's invasion of the Korea following Communist North Korea's invasion of the

South.South. United States military involvement in Vietnam begins as President United States military involvement in Vietnam begins as President

Harry Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French.Harry Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French. French supply lines to Hoa Binh along the Black River are cut. The French supply lines to Hoa Binh along the Black River are cut. The

road along Route Coloniale 6 is also cut.road along Route Coloniale 6 is also cut.

The mapThe map

President JohnsonPresident Johnson

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visits President Diem in South Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visits President Diem in South Vietnam and hails the embattled leader as the 'Winston Churchill Vietnam and hails the embattled leader as the 'Winston Churchill of Asia.‘of Asia.‘

JohnsonJohnson decides against retaliation. Instead, he sends a decides against retaliation. Instead, he sends a diplomatic message to Hanoi warning of "grave consequences" diplomatic message to Hanoi warning of "grave consequences" from any further attacks. from any further attacks.

President Johnson is nominated at the Democratic National President Johnson is nominated at the Democratic National Convention. Convention.

President Johnson assembles his top aides at the White House to President Johnson assembles his top aides at the White House to

ponder the future course of action in Vietnamponder the future course of action in Vietnam

Pham Van DongPham Van Dong

When the country was divided in 1954, Dong became foreign When the country was divided in 1954, Dong became foreign minister of North Vietnam and prime minister.minister of North Vietnam and prime minister.

After the fall of South Vietnam, he continued as prime minister of After the fall of South Vietnam, he continued as prime minister of

the united country until his retirement in December 1986.the united country until his retirement in December 1986.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh was a president of North Vietnam.Ho Chi Minh was a president of North Vietnam. He was born in 1890 in Vietnam, and died in 1969. He was born in 1890 in Vietnam, and died in 1969. He lived in the U.S. and London during World War I. Near the end He lived in the U.S. and London during World War I. Near the end

of the war he moved to France where he founded the French of the war he moved to France where he founded the French Communist Party.Communist Party.

Ho Chi Minh made a party called The Communist Party of Ho Chi Minh made a party called The Communist Party of Indochina.Indochina.

he arranged a freedom movement called Vietminh and was he arranged a freedom movement called Vietminh and was successful with his plans. Later Ho Chi Minh was working on successful with his plans. Later Ho Chi Minh was working on trying to reunite South and North Vietnam. So he attacked trying to reunite South and North Vietnam. So he attacked South Vietnam.South Vietnam.

Nguyen Van ThieuNguyen Van Thieu

Nguyen Van Thieu was the President of South Vietnam from 1967 Nguyen Van Thieu was the President of South Vietnam from 1967

to 1975to 1975.. He at first joined Vietminh, but later joined the South Vietnamese He at first joined Vietminh, but later joined the South Vietnamese

National ArmyNational Army. . he became a division commander. He helped lead a takeover, he became a division commander. He helped lead a takeover,

bringing about the downfall of the President.bringing about the downfall of the President.

State Department White Paper On VietnamState Department White Paper On Vietnam

February 27, 1965February 27, 1965 South Vietnam is fighting for its life against a brutal South Vietnam is fighting for its life against a brutal

campaign of terror and armed attack inspired, directed, campaign of terror and armed attack inspired, directed, supplied, and controlled by the Communist regime in Hanoi.supplied, and controlled by the Communist regime in Hanoi.

The war in Vietnam is a new kind of war, a fact as yet The war in Vietnam is a new kind of war, a fact as yet poorly understood in most parts of the world. Much of the poorly understood in most parts of the world. Much of the confusion that prevails in the thinking of many people, and confusion that prevails in the thinking of many people, and even governments, stems from this basic even governments, stems from this basic

misunderstanding.misunderstanding.

DeathsDeaths

Over 1.4 million military personnel were killed in the war, Over 1.4 million military personnel were killed in the war, approximately 6% were members of the United States armed approximately 6% were members of the United States armed forces.forces.

The U.S. and their allies deployed large numbers of troops to The U.S. and their allies deployed large numbers of troops to South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Civilian fatalities range from 2 to 5.1 million.Civilian fatalities range from 2 to 5.1 million.

Mid-PointMid-Point

The American intervention in Vietnam The American intervention in Vietnam Six months later the 'Rolling Thunder' air campaign began. In this Six months later the 'Rolling Thunder' air campaign began. In this

campaign alone more bombs were dropped on North Vietnam campaign alone more bombs were dropped on North Vietnam alone than were used in the whole of the Second World War.alone than were used in the whole of the Second World War.

On the night of 31st January 1968, 70,000 North Vietnamese On the night of 31st January 1968, 70,000 North Vietnamese soldiers launched the Tet offensive - it proved to be one of the soldiers launched the Tet offensive - it proved to be one of the greatest campaigns in military history.greatest campaigns in military history.

The EndThe End

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