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The Vietnam War
1954 - 1975
Ms. Susan M. PojerHora
Ms. Susan M. PojerHora
Background to the War
France controlled “Indochina” France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19since the late 19thth century century
Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II
With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar re-colonization in the postwar periodperiod
Background to the War
The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu
President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to intervene on declined to intervene on behalf of France.behalf of France.
Background to the War
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
A date was set for democratic A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam
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
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
prevailprevail
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
Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk
U.S. Military Involvement Begins
Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” Increases military “advisors”
to 16,000to 16,000 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)
Kennedy was assassinated Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later just weeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)
Johnson Sends Ground Forces
Remembers Truman’s “loss” Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China of China Domino Theory Domino Theory revivedrevived
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 Forces
Advised to rout the Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of communists by Secretary of State, State, Robert S. McNamaraRobert S. McNamara
Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)were unprovoked)
Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” **
U.S. Troop Deployments
in Vietnam
The Ground War 1965-1968
No territorial goalsNo territorial goals Body counts on TV every night Body counts on TV every night
(first (first “living room” war“living room” war))
Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail
The Air War1965-1968
1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam
Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)
1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..
Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm
The Air War:A Napalm Attack
Who Is the Enemy?
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?
The Ground War1965-1968
General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:
We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Tet Offensive, January 1968
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)
Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city U.S. + ARVN beat back the U.S. + ARVN beat back the
offensiveoffensive Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated 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
Impact of the Tet Offensive
Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administrationof Johnson Administration
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%.
Impact 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 Disproportionate Disproportionate representation of poor people representation of poor people and minorities.and minorities.
Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems. Major drugMajor drug
problems.problems. 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.
Are We Becoming the Enemy?
Lt. William Lt. William CalleyCalley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader
Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968 200-500 unarmed 200-500 unarmed
villagersvillagers
Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst Battalion, 20 Battalion, 20thth InfantryInfantry
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
“Hanoi Jane”
Jane Fonda: Traitor?Jane Fonda: Traitor?
Anti-War Demonstrations
May 4, May 4, 19701970
4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.
11 11 students students woundedwounded
Kent State UniversityKent State University
Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity
May 10, 1970May 10, 1970
2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded
Nixon on Vietnam
Nixon’s 1968 Campaign Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: promised an end to the war: Peace with HonorPeace with Honor Appealed to the great Appealed to the great
“Silent Majority”“Silent Majority” VietnamizationVietnamization Expansion of the Expansion of the
conflict conflict The “Secret War” The “Secret War” CambodiaCambodia LaosLaos
Agent OrangeAgent Orange(chemical defoliant)(chemical defoliant)
“Pentagon Papers,” 1971
Former defense analyst Former defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the during Johnson’s administration to the New York TimesNew York Times..
Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.Vietnam during mid-1960s. Primary reason for fighting not to Primary reason for fighting not to
eliminate communism, but eliminate communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .
New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971) (1971) **
The Ceasefire, 1973
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
1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam
Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)
Peace Negotiations
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
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
Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973
1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South VietnamVietnam
Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
The Fall of Saigon
South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country
The Fall of Saigon
America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy
April 30, 1975April 30, 1975
The Fall of Saigon
North Vietnamese North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace
Formerly Formerly SaigonSaigon
A United Vietnam
The 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 Impact
2626thth Amendment Amendment: 18-year-olds : 18-year-olds votevote
Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draft all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army
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
Disregard for Veterans Disregard for Veterans seen as seen as “baby killers”“baby killers”
POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered
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….
Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:
Lessons for Future
American Presidents1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.2.2. Wars must yield few American Wars must yield few American
casualties.casualties.3.3. Restrict media access to Restrict media access to
battlefields.battlefields.4.4. Develop and maintain Develop and maintain
Congressional and public support.Congressional and public support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.6.6. Set deadline for troop Set deadline for troop
withdrawals.withdrawals.
The Vietnam Memorial,
Washington, D.C.
Memorial to US Servicemen in
Vietnam
Memorial to US Memorial to US Nurses in Nurses in VietnamVietnam
58,00058,000
President Clinton formally
recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995
Where Were Youin the War, Daddy?
This war
haunts us
still!
AND TODAY…..The “Light” at the End of This Tunnel?
2003 to 2003 to ??:: “Operation Iraqi Freedom” “Operation Iraqi Freedom”2400+ American dead and counting…2400+ American dead and counting…??
Another Vietnam?
OROR
A transformation of the Middle East?
Only time & history can tell!
Bibliography
Nash, Gary, et al. Nash, Gary, et al. The The American People, American People, Harper & Harper & Row, 1986Row, 1986
Compton’s Encyclopedia 2000 Compton’s Encyclopedia 2000 Deluxe, Broderbund, 1999.Deluxe, Broderbund, 1999.
The Americans, The Americans, McDougal McDougal Littell, 1998Littell, 1998
A myriad of web sites on the A myriad of web sites on the internetinternet
