The Vietnam War

Dr. Kevin B. Witherspoon

Lander University

Vietnam* Chinese involvement French colony

ConditionsHo Chi Minh

World War II Japan

May 1941, VietminhThe August Revolution

Vietnam* The Elephant and the Tiger

Vietminh strategy:1. Defensive2. Equilibrium3. Offensive

French failureU.S. involvementDomino theoryDien Bien Phu

Vietnam* Geneva Accords

Cease-fireTemporary division1956 elections

N = Ho Chi Minh S = Ngo Dinh Diem 1960 National Liberation Front (Vietcong) Kennedy

“Flexible response”“Strategic Hamlet”Advisors from 900 to 16,000

Vietnam* Johnson

BombingsHo Chi Minh TrailGulf of Tonkin“Operation Rolling Thunder”

Break supply linesCut off troopsDestroy morale

Ground troops1965: 184,0001966: 389,0001967: 463,0001968: 495,0001969: 541,000

Vietnam* Search and destroy Problems

The enemyU.S. disciplineLocate the enemyTunnels ConditionsFrustrationMorale on the home frontHow aggressive?No political victoryFail to identify objectivePolitical objectivesMeasure success?

Vietnam* Three stages:InfrastructureSearch and destroyVietnamization

Mistakes Bombing in the South Operation Ranch Hand Morale

HydrationFoot problemsPurpose

N. Vietnam objective

Into the quagmireHome front, opposition“Credibility gap”Discouraging newsPOWsTechnowar:

Loud Helicopters Radio traffic Weapons for the enemy “free-fire” zones Pacification efforts

Vietnam* Body counts

Risky missionsScoreboardsCounting bodiesRules of combatDesensitizedFalsified reports

Open Arms program

Vietnam* Tet Offensive, 1968

Khe SanhLosing supportLBJ

NixonAfter Tet“Vietnamization”Phoenix programOperation Wandering SoulPropaganda

The Home FrontAnti-war movement

Tet VVAW - Vietnam Veterans

Against the War 1969 March on Washington My Lai 1970 Kent State massacre 1971 Pentagon Papers

Getting outPeace talks, and more war1972 Christmas bombings1973 Agreement1973 War Powers Resolution

Vietnam WarCosts of the war:

2 million Vietnamese dead 58,000 U.S. dead U.S. reputation

Why did U.S. fail? On their “home turf” Guerilla warfare Land war in Asia Not enough support from S Vietnam Protest on the home front

Legacies of the War