VIETNAM WAR

VIETNVIETNAM AM WARWAR

Vietnam

VS.

FRENCH FLAG

VIETMINH FLAG

I. French and VietnamI. French and VietnamA. France controlled “Indochina” (Vietnam) since the A. France controlled “Indochina” (Vietnam) since the late 1800’slate 1800’s

1) 1) Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh leads Communist Party in a leads Communist Party in a number of failed revolts against French rule.number of failed revolts against French rule.

2) 1940 – (WWII) Japanese take control of 2) 1940 – (WWII) Japanese take control of IndochinaIndochina

3) 1945 – Japanese defeated and leave Vietnam3) 1945 – Japanese defeated and leave Vietnama) Ho Chi Minh leads the Northern a) Ho Chi Minh leads the Northern Communists Communists (Vietminh(Vietminh)) in declaring in declaring Vietnam an independent nation.Vietnam an independent nation.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

B. French Battle the VietminhB. French Battle the Vietminh1) France regains control of South Vietnam with 1) France regains control of South Vietnam with

a a Billion dollars in aid from United StatesBillion dollars in aid from United Statesa) President Eisenhower’s a) President Eisenhower’s Domino Domino

TheoryTheory keeps U.S. aid coming to Francekeeps U.S. aid coming to France2) 1954 – Despite U.S. aid, French surrender at 2) 1954 – Despite U.S. aid, French surrender at Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu3) 3) Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords divide Vietnam along the divide Vietnam along the

1717thth Parallel Parallel a) Ho Chih Minh/Communists control Northa) Ho Chih Minh/Communists control Northb) b) Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem/Nationalists control /Nationalists control

SouthSouthc) Capitols: (South = Saigon) (North = c) Capitols: (South = Saigon) (North =

Hanoi)Hanoi)

Hanoi17TH Parallel DMZ

Saigon

II. United States steps InII. United States steps InA. Diem cancels nation-wide elections ordered by A. Diem cancels nation-wide elections ordered by Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords

1) U.S. and Diem realize that Ho Chi Minh’s 1) U.S. and Diem realize that Ho Chi Minh’s popularity will spell defeat for Democracypopularity will spell defeat for DemocracyB. U.S. promises Diem support if he agrees to form a B. U.S. promises Diem support if he agrees to form a stable democracystable democracy

C. Diem fails to uphold his end of the bargainC. Diem fails to uphold his end of the bargain1) Eliminated any opposition1) Eliminated any opposition2) Restricts Buddhist religion 2) Restricts Buddhist religion

a) Majority of Southerners = Buddhistsa) Majority of Southerners = BuddhistsD. Southern CommunistsD. Southern Communists (Vietcong)(Vietcong) begin attacks, begin attacks, killing thousands of government officials.killing thousands of government officials.E. Northern Communists use the E. Northern Communists use the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail to to supply weapons to the Vietcong in the Southsupply weapons to the Vietcong in the South

Communist soldiers preparing for an attack

Cambodia

Cambodia

LaosLaos

III. Kennedy and VietnamIII. Kennedy and VietnamA. JFK immediately increases aid to Vietnam along A. JFK immediately increases aid to Vietnam along with thousands of advisors to train the South with thousands of advisors to train the South Vietnamese troopsVietnamese troopsB. Diem’s persecutions continueB. Diem’s persecutions continue

1) Harasses villagers to expose Vietcong1) Harasses villagers to expose Vietcong2) Kills hundreds of Buddhist leaders, destroys 2) Kills hundreds of Buddhist leaders, destroys Buddhist templesBuddhist temples

C. Buddhist monks set themselves on fire to protest C. Buddhist monks set themselves on fire to protest atrocitiesatrocities

1) American officials order Diem to stop 1) American officials order Diem to stop persecutions but Diem refusespersecutions but Diem refuses

D. Nov. 1963 – Kennedy orders military overthrow of D. Nov. 1963 – Kennedy orders military overthrow of DiemDiem

1) Against JFK’s wishes, Diem is assassinated1) Against JFK’s wishes, Diem is assassinated2) Realizing that the situation is out of hand, JFK 2) Realizing that the situation is out of hand, JFK announces intent to withdraw all U.S. military announces intent to withdraw all U.S. military

from from South Vietnam.South Vietnam.3) Three weeks later JFK is assassinated3) Three weeks later JFK is assassinated4) Lyndon B. Johnson inherits crisis in Vietnam4) Lyndon B. Johnson inherits crisis in Vietnam

IV. President Johnson Expands the ConflictIV. President Johnson Expands the ConflictA. South grows more chaotic after Diem’s deathA. South grows more chaotic after Diem’s death

1) String of ineffective military leaders1) String of ineffective military leaders2) Vietcong grows stronger in countryside2) Vietcong grows stronger in countryside

B. B. Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution 1) After alleged attack on U.S.S. Maddox by 1) After alleged attack on U.S.S. Maddox by

North North Vietnamese ship, LBJ asks Congress for Vietnamese ship, LBJ asks Congress for power to power to take take “all necessary measures to repel any “all necessary measures to repel any attack attack against the forces of the U.S. and to against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent prevent further aggression.”further aggression.”

2) Unknown to Congress, Johnson had already 2) Unknown to Congress, Johnson had already secretly ordered raids on North Vietnamsecretly ordered raids on North Vietnam3) Feb. 1965 – Eight Americans are killed in a 3) Feb. 1965 – Eight Americans are killed in a

North Vietnamese attack.North Vietnamese attack.4) LBJ responds with 4) LBJ responds with Operation Rolling Operation Rolling

ThunderThundera) sustained bombing raidsa) sustained bombing raidsb) 50,000 American combat troops arrive b) 50,000 American combat troops arrive

in in South VietnamSouth Vietnam5) America officially enters the Vietnam War!5) America officially enters the Vietnam War!

““You do some thinking. You hallucinate. You do some thinking. You hallucinate. You look ahead a few paces and wonder what your You look ahead a few paces and wonder what your legs will resemble if there is more to the earth in legs will resemble if there is more to the earth in that spot than silicates and nitrogen. Will the pain that spot than silicates and nitrogen. Will the pain be unbearable? Will you scream and fall silent? be unbearable? Will you scream and fall silent? Will you be afraid to look at your own body, afraid Will you be afraid to look at your own body, afraid of the sight of you own red flesh and white bone?of the sight of you own red flesh and white bone?

You decide to be ultra-careful. You try to You decide to be ultra-careful. You try to second-guess the mine. Should you put your foot second-guess the mine. Should you put your foot to that flat rock or the clump of grass to its rear? to that flat rock or the clump of grass to its rear? Paddy dike or water? You wish you were Tarzan, Paddy dike or water? You wish you were Tarzan, able to swing on the vines. You trace the able to swing on the vines. You trace the footprints of the man to your front. You give up footprints of the man to your front. You give up when he curses you for following too closely; when he curses you for following too closely; better one man dead than two.”better one man dead than two.”

V. Fighting in the JungleV. Fighting in the JungleA. Jungle conditions = 100+ degrees, 100% humidity, A. Jungle conditions = 100+ degrees, 100% humidity,

Leeches in water, tropical diseases, etc.Leeches in water, tropical diseases, etc.B. Elusive EnemyB. Elusive Enemy

1) Vietcong had no high-powered weapons1) Vietcong had no high-powered weapons2) Used 2) Used Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare

a) hit-and-run ambush tactics, booby trapsa) hit-and-run ambush tactics, booby trapsb) hide in trees and cavesb) hide in trees and cavesc) “home-field advantage” (Vietcong knew c) “home-field advantage” (Vietcong knew the terrain) the terrain)

3) Enemy lived amongst friendly civilians3) Enemy lived amongst friendly civiliansa) difficult to identify friend from foea) difficult to identify friend from foeb) woman selling drinks may be a VC spyb) woman selling drinks may be a VC spyc) boy taking a picture may be VC soldierc) boy taking a picture may be VC soldier

““Two days ago four guys got killed and about Two days ago four guys got killed and about 15 wounded from the first platoon. Our platoon 15 wounded from the first platoon. Our platoon was 200 yards away on top of a hill. One guy was 200 yards away on top of a hill. One guy was from New York City. He had five days left was from New York City. He had five days left to go before being sent home. He was to go before being sent home. He was standing on a 250-lb. bomb that a plane had standing on a 250-lb. bomb that a plane had dropped and didn’t explode. So the North dropped and didn’t explode. So the North Vietnamese Army wired it up. Well, all they Vietnamese Army wired it up. Well, all they ever found of him was a piece of his wallet.”ever found of him was a piece of his wallet.”

-Specialist Fourth Class Salvador Gonzalez-Specialist Fourth Class Salvador Gonzalez

4) Tunnels of Vietcong4) Tunnels of Vietconga) elaborate system of underground a) elaborate system of underground

tunnelstunnelsb) allowed them safety from bombing raidsb) allowed them safety from bombing raids

VI. VI. War of AttritionWar of AttritionA. American strategy was to destroy the Vietcong’s A. American strategy was to destroy the Vietcong’s morale and will to fightmorale and will to fight

1) Continuous harassment1) Continuous harassment2) Keep body count totals2) Keep body count totals3) Was not as effective as we hoped3) Was not as effective as we hoped

B. Vietcong saw the war as a battle for existence and B. Vietcong saw the war as a battle for existence and were ready to pay any price for victorywere ready to pay any price for victory

C. Napalm and Agent OrangeC. Napalm and Agent Orange1) 1) NapalmNapalm = gasoline-based bomb that set fire = gasoline-based bomb that set fire

to the junglesto the jungles2) 2) Agent OrangeAgent Orange = leaf-killing toxic chemical = leaf-killing toxic chemical3) Used to clear jungle and expose Vietcong.3) Used to clear jungle and expose Vietcong.

NAPANAPALMLM

AGENT AGENT ORANGEORANGE

VII. Psychological WarVII. Psychological WarA. Frustration began to take its toll on U.S. troopsA. Frustration began to take its toll on U.S. troops

1) Unable to combat guerrilla warfare1) Unable to combat guerrilla warfare2) Miserable jungle conditions2) Miserable jungle conditions3) Prolonged war (supposed to be quick victory!)3) Prolonged war (supposed to be quick victory!)4) Fighting among Southern Vietnamese (Civil 4) Fighting among Southern Vietnamese (Civil

War War within a Civil War) within a Civil War)B. Soldiers morale began to dropB. Soldiers morale began to drop

1) Drugs and alcohol to ease stress and pain1) Drugs and alcohol to ease stress and pain2) Murder of superior officers2) Murder of superior officers3) Abandoning platoons3) Abandoning platoons