WAR IN VIETNAM

Mr. Jerry JuddMr. Jerry Judd 20052005

Geographic SettingGeographic Setting

Vietnam isVietnam isan S shapedan S shapedcountry thatcountry thathugs the hugs the coast of coast of Southeast Southeast Asia.Asia.

History of VietnamHistory of Vietnam

For much of Vietnam’s 2,000-For much of Vietnam’s 2,000-year existence, it was year existence, it was dominated by foreign powersdominated by foreign powerssuch as China, France,such as China, France,and Japan.and Japan.

                   

                                          

Inheriting a ConflictInheriting a Conflict

1946-19641946-1964

War for IndependenceWar for IndependenceIn the 20In the 20ththcentury, a Vietnamese century, a Vietnamese nationalist named Ho Chi Minh nationalist named Ho Chi Minh formed a Communist party formed a Communist party dedicated to Vietnamese dedicated to Vietnamese independence. From 1945 to independence. From 1945 to 1954, Ho’s forces fought the 1954, Ho’s forces fought the French.French.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Geneva AccordsGeneva AccordsIn 1954, Ho’s forcesIn 1954, Ho’s forcesdefeated the Frenchdefeated the Frenchat Dien Bien Phu. Theat Dien Bien Phu. Thepeace agreement, calledpeace agreement, calledthe Geneva Accords,the Geneva Accords,temporarily dividedtemporarily dividedVietnam along the 17Vietnam along the 17thth

parallel. Ho Chi Minh parallel. Ho Chi Minh and the Communistsand the Communistscontrolled the north.controlled the north.The anti-communists The anti-communists and their leader, Ngoand their leader, NgoDinh Diem, controlledDinh Diem, controlledthe south.the south.

Diem’s DemiseDiem’s Demise A Buddhist monkA Buddhist monksets himself onsets himself onfire in a busyfire in a busySaigon inter-Saigon inter-section in 1963section in 1963as a protestas a protestagainst the Diemagainst the Diemregime.regime.

The United States Steps InThe United States Steps InIn the wake of Diem’sIn the wake of Diem’sunpopularity, the U.S.unpopularity, the U.S.took a more activetook a more activerole in halting the role in halting the spread of communismspread of communismin Vietnam. Eisenhowerin Vietnam. Eisenhowerand Kennedy, bothand Kennedy, bothsubscribers to the subscribers to the ““domino theory”, domino theory”, waded deeper and waded deeper and deeper into the affairsdeeper into the affairsof the country.of the country.

ESCALATINGESCALATING

INVOLVEMENTINVOLVEMENT

1964-19671964-1967

Kim Phuc Phan ThiKim Phuc Phan Thi

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin ResolutionThe alleged attackThe alleged attackon the USS on the USS MaddoxMaddoxprompted Presidentprompted PresidentJohnson to announceJohnson to announcethe Tonkin Gulfthe Tonkin GulfResolution. TheResolution. Theresolution gave theresolution gave thepresident power topresident power totake “all necessary take “all necessary measures to repel anymeasures to repel anyarmed attack againstarmed attack againstthe forces of the U.S.the forces of the U.S.and to prevent and to prevent further aggression.”further aggression.”

USS MaddoxUSS Maddox

Lyndon JohnsonLyndon Johnson

Troop BuildupTroop BuildupThe first AmericanThe first Americancombat units combat units arrived in Vietnamarrived in Vietnamin 1965. By the end ofin 1965. By the end ofthe year, the U.S.the year, the U.S.Government hadGovernment hadsent more thansent more than180,000 men to180,000 men toVietnam. The Vietnam. The commander of U.S.commander of U.S.troops was Gen.troops was Gen.William Westmoreland.William Westmoreland.

Air WarAir War

In 1965, President Johnson launched Operation RollingThunder,In 1965, President Johnson launched Operation RollingThunder,a campaign against military targets in North Vietnam.a campaign against military targets in North Vietnam.

Ground WarGround War

U.S soldiers conducted search-and-destroy missions, uprootingU.S soldiers conducted search-and-destroy missions, uprootingcivilians with suspected ties to the Vietcong, killing their livestock,civilians with suspected ties to the Vietcong, killing their livestock,and burning villages.and burning villages.

VietcongVietcongThe U.S. superiority inThe U.S. superiority inweaponry was negatedweaponry was negatedby the enemies masteryby the enemies masteryof the jungle terrainof the jungle terrainand guerrilla war tactics. and guerrilla war tactics. Moving secretly in and Moving secretly in and out of the general population,out of the general population,the Vietcong (South the Vietcong (South Vietnamese supporters ofVietnamese supporters ofcommunism) used ambushcommunism) used ambushtactics to help turntactics to help turnthe war into a frustratingthe war into a frustratingstalemate.stalemate.

““It will be a war between an elephantIt will be a war between an elephantand a tiger. But the tiger will notand a tiger. But the tiger will notstand still. He will leap upon the backstand still. He will leap upon the backof the elephant, tearing huge chunksof the elephant, tearing huge chunksfrom his side, and then he will leapfrom his side, and then he will leapback into the dark jungle. Slowlyback into the dark jungle. Slowlythe elephant will bleed to death.”the elephant will bleed to death.”

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

The DraftThe DraftUnder the SelectiveUnder the SelectiveService System, or Service System, or draft, all males draft, all males between the ages ofbetween the ages of18 and 26 could be18 and 26 could becalled into militarycalled into militaryservice. As Americans’service. As Americans’doubts about the wardoubts about the wargrew, thousands of grew, thousands of men attempted tomen attempted tofind ways around find ways around the draft.the draft.

The Turning Point The Turning Point 19681968

Tet OffensiveTet OffensiveThe year 1968 began with a daring attack by the Vietcong The year 1968 began with a daring attack by the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese army on numerous cities. The and the North Vietnamese army on numerous cities. The simultaneous strikes, while ending in military defeat for simultaneous strikes, while ending in military defeat for the communists, stunned the American public. Many the communists, stunned the American public. Many people with moderate views began to turn against the war. people with moderate views began to turn against the war.

In March, 1968, a U.S. platoon under the command of Lt. In March, 1968, a U.S. platoon under the command of Lt. William Calley, killed more than 200 Vietnamese-mostly William Calley, killed more than 200 Vietnamese-mostly women, children, and elderly men in the small village of My Lai.women, children, and elderly men in the small village of My Lai.

In March, 1968, a U.S. platoon under the command of Lt. In March, 1968, a U.S. platoon under the command of Lt. William Calley, killed more than 200 Vietnamese-mostly William Calley, killed more than 200 Vietnamese-mostly women, children, and elderly men in the small village of My Lai.women, children, and elderly men in the small village of My Lai.

My LaiMy Lai

Johnson WithdrawsJohnson Withdraws

The Vietnam War and the divisiveness itThe Vietnam War and the divisiveness itcaused took its toll on President Johnson. Incaused took its toll on President Johnson. InMarch, 1968, Johnson announced he wouldMarch, 1968, Johnson announced he wouldnot seek re-election.not seek re-election.

Antiwar MovementAntiwar MovementA variety of pacifist, religious, civil rights, and student groupsA variety of pacifist, religious, civil rights, and student groupsshaped the antiwar movement. The Students for a Democraticshaped the antiwar movement. The Students for a DemocraticSociety (SDS) called for an immediate pullout of U.S. forcesSociety (SDS) called for an immediate pullout of U.S. forcesand an end to the draft.and an end to the draft.

Nixon’sNixon’s

VietnamizationVietnamization

1969-19701969-1970

““Peace with Honor”Peace with Honor”Part of Nixon’s end-Part of Nixon’s end-the-war plan wasthe-war plan wascalled Vietnamization.called Vietnamization.It involved turning overIt involved turning overthe fighting to the Souththe fighting to the SouthVietnamese as U.S. Vietnamese as U.S. troops were graduallytroops were graduallypulled out. This strategy,pulled out. This strategy,said Nixon, would bringsaid Nixon, would bring““peace with honor.”peace with honor.”Nixon hoped to maintainNixon hoped to maintainU.S. dignity in the faceU.S. dignity in the faceof its withdrawal from of its withdrawal from war.war.

Invasion of CambodiaInvasion of CambodiaPublicly, Nixon emphasized Vietnamization: secretly, however,Publicly, Nixon emphasized Vietnamization: secretly, however,he planned to widen the war--into Cambodia. For years, Northhe planned to widen the war--into Cambodia. For years, NorthVietnamese troops had attacked South Vietnam, then retreatedVietnamese troops had attacked South Vietnam, then retreatedto the safety of camps in neutral Cambodia. Early in 1969, Nixonto the safety of camps in neutral Cambodia. Early in 1969, Nixondecided to conduct a secret campaign to bomb these positions. decided to conduct a secret campaign to bomb these positions.

Violence on CampusViolence on Campus

News of the bombing and invasion ofNews of the bombing and invasion ofCambodia provokedCambodia provokedoutrage in the U.S.,outrage in the U.S.,particularly on college campuses. On May 4, 1970, four people particularly on college campuses. On May 4, 1970, four people were killed at a Kent State University demonstration.were killed at a Kent State University demonstration.

Pentagon PapersPentagon PapersIn 1971, anotherIn 1971, anotherincident sparked theincident sparked theantiwar movement.antiwar movement.The The New York TimesNew York Timesbegan publishing a began publishing a collection of secretcollection of secretgovernment documentsgovernment documentsrelating to the war.relating to the war.Known as the PentagonKnown as the PentagonPapers, they showed Papers, they showed that the governmentthat the governmenthad frequently misledhad frequently misledthe American people the American people about the course of theabout the course of thewar.war.

Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsberg

No More Will ToNo More Will To

FightFight

1971-19751971-1975

Lost CauseLost CauseThroughout the war,Throughout the war,American soldiers hadAmerican soldiers hadfought well. But as thefought well. But as theU.S. presence fell toU.S. presence fell to140,000, few wanted to140,000, few wanted todie for a cause that die for a cause that seemed to have lost itsseemed to have lost itsmeaning. By the end ofmeaning. By the end of1971, four times as many1971, four times as manyAmericans soldiers Americans soldiers required treatment forrequired treatment forserious drug abuse asserious drug abuse asrequired medical required medical attention for combatattention for combatwounds.wounds.

A Cease-Fire At LastA Cease-Fire At LastOn January 27, 1973,On January 27, 1973,a peace agreementa peace agreementwas signed. The lastwas signed. The lastU.S. ground forcesU.S. ground forceswere withdrawn onwere withdrawn onMarch 29. And soonMarch 29. And soonafter, Congressafter, Congresspassed a bill blockingpassed a bill blockingany further U.S.any further U.S.military activity inmilitary activity inIndochina.Indochina.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stirm, a returning POW, receivesLieutenant Colonel Robert Stirm, a returning POW, receivesa warm welcome from his family in 1973. The longest-helda warm welcome from his family in 1973. The longest-heldVietnam POW was Lieutenant Everett Alvarez, Jr., ofVietnam POW was Lieutenant Everett Alvarez, Jr., ofCalifornia. He was imprisoned for more than eight years.California. He was imprisoned for more than eight years.

POW’SPOW’S

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

On April 30, 1975, fullOn April 30, 1975, fullcolumns of NVA soldierscolumns of NVA soldiersentered Saigon. As the lastentered Saigon. As the lastAmericans in VietnamAmericans in Vietnam scrambled aboard any air-scrambled aboard any air- craft they could claw theircraft they could claw their way onto, the Communists way onto, the Communists that the U.S. spentthat the U.S. spent two decades two decades fighting finallyfighting finally succeeded in succeeded in freeing Vietnamfreeing Vietnam of foreignersof foreigners

The Legacy of VietnamThe Legacy of Vietnam*More than 58,000 killed,*More than 58,000 killed, 300,000 wounded and 2,300300,000 wounded and 2,300 missing and presumed deadmissing and presumed dead*More cautious outlook on *More cautious outlook on foreign affairs– Vietnamforeign affairs– Vietnam SyndromeSyndrome*More cynical about the *More cynical about the governmentgovernment*Anti-war demonstrations *Anti-war demonstrations resulted in violence and resulted in violence and even deatheven death*Policy changes were made,*Policy changes were made, such as the War Powers Actsuch as the War Powers Act and abolition of the draftand abolition of the draft