The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

Background to the War

Background to the War

z France controlled “Indochina” France controlled “Indochina” since 1883.since 1883.

z Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

z With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar re-colonization in the postwar periodperiod

Causes of the Vietnam War

Vietnam’s desire for freedom from colonial rule

U.S. fears of the spread of communism South Vietnam’s failure to comply with the

Geneva Accords Efforts by North Vietnam to reunite the

nation under Communist Rule U.S. support for the anti-Communist

government of South Vietnam

Background to the War

Background to the War

z Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s leader of North leader of North VietnamVietnam

z Viet MinhViet Minh group organized to group organized to resist occupationresist occupation

z Domino Theory Domino Theory Vietnam falls to Vietnam falls to communism, Southeast Asia communism, Southeast Asia would followwould follow

Background to the War

Background to the War

z International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth

parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalist nationalist

forces controlled the Northforces controlled the NorthO Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-

educated, Roman Catholic educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

Background to the War

Background to the War

z A date was set for democratic A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam

z Diem backed out of the Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military elections, leading to military conflict between North and conflict between North and SouthSouth

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom Torture, lack of political freedom

prevailprevailz The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s government

Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by

1960.1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

War protesters gathered in Saigon to express dissatisfaction with the way the Diem government was handling South Vietnam’s internal political dissension.

Antiwar Protest in Saigon

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960z Increases military “advisors” Increases military “advisors”

to 16,000to 16,000z 1963: JFK supports a 1963: JFK supports a

Vietnamese military Vietnamese military coup coup d’etat d’etat – Diem and his brother – Diem and his brother are murdered are murdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)

z Kennedy was assassinated Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later just weeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Remembers Truman’s “loss” Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China of China

I’m not going to I’m not going to be the president be the president who saw who saw Southeast Asia Southeast Asia go the way China go the way China went.went.

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 19641964Johnson to Congress, the Johnson to Congress, the attacks were unprovoked)attacks were unprovoked)

z USS MaddoxUSS Maddoxz Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution

““all necessary measures to all necessary measures to repel any armed attack repel any armed attack against forces of the US.against forces of the US.

US Forces Mobilize

Professional soldiers

100 % men registered to vote

Large numbers of African Americans and low income men

Young men excused from draft

25% for health reasons 30% deferments or

postponements– college

Draft monitored student progress

Lottery system

Noncombats

10,000 military women

20,000-45,000 civilian women

Served as nurses, red cross, or humanitarian relief workers

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

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 Air War1965-1968

The Air War1965-1968

z 1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

z Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)

z 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! nonstop for 3 years! Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..

z Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.sz Carpet Bombing, Cluster Bombs, NapalmCarpet Bombing, Cluster Bombs, Napalm

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

Results of Napalm Attack

The Ground War 1965-1968

The Ground War 1965-1968

z No territorial goalsNo territorial goalsz Body counts on TV every Body counts on TV every

night night (first (first “living room” war“living room” war))

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

z VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at Farmers by day; guerillas at

night.night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to

accept many casualties.accept many casualties. The US grossly The US grossly

underestimated their resolve underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.and their resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

z General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland

We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”

Search and

destroy

U.S. Strategy US. Forces instituted a program of

pacification “win the hearts and minds” of the

South Vietnamese people resentment

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

Declining Morale Vietcong knew geography Soldiers faced constant danger

– Paths could lead into an ambush– Could trip a deadly mine or booby trap

Impossible to tell the difference between a Vietcong and a civilian

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

Public Opinion

Reporters and TV crews followed soldiers on patrol and interviewed people throughout South Vietnam

Accused the government of inflating body count to show success

Public Opinion

Hawks Supported the war More troops and

heavier bombing were necessary to victory

Doves Opposed the war Not crucial to

national security Against the wishes

of the Vietnamese Drained resources

from Great Society programs

Anti-War Movement

Members Students (SDS) Civil rights workers Doctors Homemakers Retirees Teachers

College Campuses War rallies Debates Teach-ins

Protested ROTC Burned draft cards

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

z N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)

z Take every major southern cityTake every major southern cityz U.S. + ARVN beat back the U.S. + ARVN beat back the

offensiveoffensivez Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyedz N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitatedz BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American

defeat by the mediadefeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

Page 613

Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive

z Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administrationof Johnson Administration

z Hey, Hey LBJ! How Hey, Hey LBJ! How

many kids did many kids did youyou kill today? kill today?

Johnson’s Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in dropped in 1968 from 1968 from 48% to 48% to 36%.36%.

Election of 1968

Democratic Candidates

LBJ Hubert Humphrey Robert Kennedy Kennedy

Assassinated

Republican Candidate Richard Nixon

Democratic Convention

10,000 protesters Chicago Mayor

dispatched police and National Guard

Protesters threw rocks and bottles

Police clubbed and threw tear gas

Generation Gap

Teenagers and young adults found themselves at odds with their parents

(experienced Great Depression and WWII)

Impact of the Vietnam WarImpact of the Vietnam War

……I shall not I shall not seek, and I will seek, and I will not accept, the not accept, the nomination of nomination of my party for my party for another term as another term as your President.your President.

Johnson announces (March, Johnson announces (March, 1968):1968):

American Morale Begins

to Dip

American Morale Begins

to Dipz Disproportionate Disproportionate representation of poor people representation of poor people and minorities.and minorities.

z Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.z Major drugMajor drug

problems.problems.z Officers in combatOfficers in combat

6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.men in combat for 12 mo.

Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam

z Expansion of the Expansion of the conflict conflict The “Secret War” The “Secret War” CambodiaCambodia LaosLaos

z Agent OrangeAgent Orange(chemical defoliant)(chemical defoliant)

Vietnamization

Peace with Honor

Transfer fighting to south Vietnamese Troop in country

1969 – 540,000 1972 -- 24,000

Are We Becoming the Enemy?

Are We Becoming the Enemy?

z Lt. William Lt. William CalleyCalley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader

z Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968z At least 450 unarmed At least 450 unarmed

villagers (women, villagers (women, children, elderly)children, elderly)

Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst Battalion, 20 Battalion, 20thth InfantryInfantry

Pentagon Papers1971

Published collection of secret government documents that traced US involvement in Vietnam since Truman’s termPrimary reason Primary reason for fighting not to for fighting not to eliminate eliminate communism, but communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating humiliating defeatdefeat. . New York Times New York Times v. United Statesv. United States (1971) (1971)

Anti-WarDemonstrations

Anti-WarDemonstrations

Columbia UniversityColumbia University19671967

Hell no, we won’t Hell no, we won’t go!go!

Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Chicago, 1968Chicago, 1968

Student Student Protestors Protestors

at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

“Hanoi Jane”“Hanoi Jane”

Jane Fonda: Traitor?Jane Fonda: Traitor?

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

z May 4, May 4, 19701970

z 4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.

z 11 11 students students woundedwounded

Kent State UniversityKent State University

z Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity

z May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

z 2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

z Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972 Kissinger, 1972 North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South Most Massive U.S. bombing Most Massive U.S. bombing

commencescommences

z 1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam

z Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)

Peace Negotiations

Peace Negotiations

z US & US & Vietnamese Vietnamese

argue for argue for 5 months 5 months over the over the size of thesize of theconferenceconferencetable!table!

Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Le Duc ThoTho

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

z Conditions:Conditions:1.1.U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2.North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave

troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3.North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume

warwar4.4.No provision for POWs or MIAsNo provision for POWs or MIAs

z Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973

z 1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South VietnamVietnam

z Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace

Formerly Formerly SaigonSaigon

A United VietnamA United Vietnam

The CostsThe Costs

1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 58,000 Americans killed;

300,000 wounded300,000 wounded3.3. Under-funding of Great Under-funding of Great

Society programsSociety programs4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S. $150,000,000,000 in U.S.

spendingspending5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, U.S. morale, self-confidence,

trust of government, trust of government, decimateddecimated

The ImpactThe Impact

z 2626thth Amendment Amendment: 18-year-olds : 18-year-olds votevote

z Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draft all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army

z War Powers Act, War Powers Act, 19731973 ٭٭ President must notify Congress within President must notify Congress within

48 hours of deploying military force48 hours of deploying military force President must withdraw forces unless President must withdraw forces unless

he gains Congressional approval within he gains Congressional approval within 90 days90 days

z Disregard for Veterans Disregard for Veterans seen as seen as “baby killers”“baby killers”

z POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered

Some American POWs Returned from the “Hanoi Hilton”

Some American POWs Returned from the “Hanoi Hilton”

Senator John Senator John McCainMcCain(R-AZ)(R-AZ)

2,583 American 2,583 American POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs

still unaccounted for still unaccounted for today.today.

If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be end it will be youyou who tires of who tires of it. it.

AndAndin the End….in the End….

AndAndin the End….in the End….

Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:

The Vietnam Memorial,

Washington, D.C.

The Vietnam Memorial,

Washington, D.C.

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

Memorial to US Memorial to US Nurses in Nurses in VietnamVietnam

58,00058,00058,00058,000

These colors don’t run

"Ghost of the Night Watchman"

"The Wall at Night"

Rubbings

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

Where Were Youin the War, Daddy?Where Were You

in the War, Daddy?

This war

haunts us

still!

This war

haunts us

still!

AND TODAY…..The “Light” at the End of This Tunnel?

AND TODAY…..The “Light” at the End of This Tunnel?

2002 to 2002 to ??:: ““Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom”Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom”

5300+ American dead and counting…5300+ American dead and counting…??