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The Vietnam War 195 MAYOAYO
The Vietnam War 195
MAYOAYO
Background to the War
a France controlled “Indochina” (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) since the late 19th century
a Japan took control during World War II
a With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar perioda An attempt to regain “manhood”
Background to the War
a The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu
a President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.
Background to the War
a International Conference at Genevae Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel
\ Ho Chi Minh’s communist forces controlled the North (Hanoi)
\ Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South (Saigon)
Background to the War
a A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam
a Diem (South Vietnamese leader) backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South
U.S. Military Involvement Begins
a Repressive dictatorial rule by Dieme Diem’s family holds all powere Wealth is hoarded by the elitee Buddhist majority persecutede Torture, lack of political freedom prevail
a The U.S. aided Diem’s governmente Ike sent financial and military aide 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
Early Protests of Diem’s Government
Self-Emulation by a Buddhist Monk
U.S. Military Involvement Begins
a Kennedy elected 1960a Increases military “advisors” to
16,000a 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese
military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)
a Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)
Johnson Sends Ground Forces
a Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China --> Domino Theory revived
I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.
Johnson Sends Ground Forces
a Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara (liar, loser, it’s all his fault)
a Tonkin Gulf Incident --> 1964(acc. to Johnson – attacks were unprovoked)
a Tonkin Gulf Resolutione “The Blank Check”
U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
U.S. Troops
The Ground War 1965-1968
a No territorial goalsa Body counts on TV every night
(first “living room” war)
a Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Air War1965-1968
a 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam beginsa Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)
a 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
a Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sa Carpet Bombing – napalm (jelly-like gasoline)
The Air War:A Napalm Attack
Who Is the Enemy?
a Vietcong:e Farmers by day; guerillas at night.e Very patient people willing to accept
many casualties.e The US grossly underestimated their
resolve and their resourcefulness.
The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Tse tung
Who Is the Enemy?
The Ground War1965-1968
a General Westmoreland, late 1967:
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Booby Traps and Tunnels
Booby Traps
The Tet Offensive, January 1968
a N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)
a Take every major southern citya U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensivea Viet Cong destroyeda N. Vietnamese army debilitateda BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by
the media
The Tet Offensive
US troops defending the American Embassy in Saigon
Impact of the Tet Offensive
a Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration
a Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?
Impact of the Vietnam War
e I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes, or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office, the Presidency of your country. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.
Johnson announces (March, 1968):
American Morale Begins to Dip
a Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.
a Severe racial problems.a Major drug
problems.a Officers in combat
6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.Enlisted men incombat for 12 mo.
