1. War Expands in Vietnam
29-2

2. One American’s Story Stan Goff sent to Vietnam Machine gunner
Engaged Viet Cong
Viet Cong to weak to face American firepower
Guerilla warfare- surprise attacks by small bands of fighters
Viet Cong were an elusive enemy

3. Direct Military Involvement Begins
South Vietnam was weak
Ineffective leadership
1964- Viet Cong and the NVA forces controlled most of South Vietnamese countryside
United States subtle
General Minh- South Vietnamese Leader
General Nguyen Khanh- Leader in the NVA
General Khanh eventually overthrew General Minh

4. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Johnson planned to bomb North Vietnam in 1964
Ho Chi Minh was negatively supporting North Vietnam
August 2, U.S. destroyer Maddox fired on by two North Vietnamese torpedo boats
Second possible attack reported
Johnson asked Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

6. Johnson Sends Troops March 1965- Bombing of North Vietnam began
Number of troops sent increased from 75,000 to 184,000 in 6 months
Escalation- policy of increasing military involvement
General William Westmoreland- commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam
536,000 U.S. forces sent by 1968
Stiff domestic and international opposition provoked by American military efforts

7. A Different Kind of War 3000119115.GIF United States was overconfident
Landscape frustrated soldiers
Chinese forces threatened United States
Unfamiliarity with land proved to be a disadvantage
Assumptions that had dominated US foreign and military policy since 1945 were brought into question

8. U.S. Disadvantages Young, inexperienced soldiers
Years of service required shortened
No frontline
Viet Cong and NVA blended with general population
Unpredictable attacks put in place
The entire nation became their enemy

9. Guerilla Warfare Style of fighting differed
Sudden, unexpected attacks put the United States on the defensive side
Viet Cong had advantage because they were fighting on their own land
U.S. was yet to explore and learn about the land
Land and climate frustrated American soldiers
Soldiers not used to Vietnamese landscape
Viet Cong stayed dedicated
Vietnamese never gave up
“They see the war entirely as one of defense of their country against the invading Americans, who, in turn, are seen merely as successors to the French.”
~ Prisoner from Viet Cong

11. American Strategies Offensive and defensive setups
Napalm- jellied gasoline that burns violently
Agent Orange- a chemical that kills plants and other greenery
Harmful chemicals destroyed Viet Cong hideouts and food supply
Villagers harmed
U.S. plan backfired
Agent Orange harms everyone who comes in contact with it
Search-and-destroy missions
Innocent villagers feared Americans and communists

12. Tet: A Turning Point 1967-war at stalemate
General Westmoreland stayed positive
North Vietnam believed they could not sustain on the defensive side much longer
Victory was essential before the death of North Vietnamese communist leader, Ho Chi Minh

13. The Tet Surprise January 30-31, 1968- Communists launch Tet offensive
Tet Offensive- surprise Communist attack on U.S. and North Vietnamese forces in 1968
85,000 soldiers sent to bomb cities and towns
100 towns and cities bombed by Viet Cong and NVA soldiers
Attack on Tet, Vietnamese celebration of Lunar New Year

14. The Tet Surprise (Contd.)
Soldiers dressed as citizens and bombed local places
Citizens and soldiers killed
Ended ineffective
No land gained
45,00 soldiers lost
U.S. embassy in Saigon,
South Vietnam’s capital,
bombed
om/pages/h1862.html

15. U.S. Doubts Grow U.S. stunned by Tet offensive
Tet offensive pierced General Westmoreland
“Credibility Gap” present
Tet offensive made U.S. citizens question U.S. government’s wisdom in entering war
U.S. citizens started protests against continuation of war
Peace talks between U.S. and Vietnam began in 1968

16. Works Cited
"Gulf of Tonkin." Bodies of Water. Web. 4 Apr <
"Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Britannica.com)." Google Videos. Web. 04 Apr <
"Powerpoint Templates." Office Online Home Page - Microsoft Office Online. Web. 04 Apr < us/templates/TC aspx?AxInstalled=1&c=0>.
 "Tet Offensive." United States History. Web. 05 Apr < history.com/pages/h1862.html>.
"Tet Offensive Video Clips, Free Online Videos – Encyclomedia." Free Video Clips - Streaming Online Videos - EncycloMedia. Web. 05 Apr < tet_offensive.html>.
"Tet Offensive." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr < Offensive-Map.jpg>.

17. Works Cited (Contd.)
"Vietnam." Asian Countries. Web. 4 Apr < photo.com/Asia/Vietnam_1/vietnam.gif>.
"Vietnam War." Military. Web. 05 Apr <
"Vietnam War." The Vietnam War. Web. 05 Apr <
"Vietnam War Videos, Photos, and Stories." Battles of War - War History Videos and Footage. Web. 05 Apr <
"Vietnam War." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr < hes.jpg >.