Chapter 31: The War in Vietnam

Background of the War 1954: French defeated at Dien Bien Phu- surrendered to Ho Chi Minh’s communist forces –US supported the French in Vietnam –Fall of Vietnam=domino theory threat (Eisenhower) -Fall of one to communism lead to the fall of the neighbors -Major justification for US foreign policy during Cold War era

Peace Conference at Geneva –Discuss the future of Indochina –Vietnam was divided at 17 north latitude North: Ho Chi Minh’s Communist forces control South: Ngo Dinh Diem’s anti-communist forces

US Involvement 1950: US sent aid to French=containment 1960: Eisenhower pledged support of Diem; 675 advisors in Vietnam 1963: Kennedy had increased “advisors” to 16,000-resist communism at all costs 1963: US backed coup-overthrow Diem & assassinate him; new leader as unpopular

Sec of Defense: Robert McNamara=helped create Kennedy’s Vietnam policy Johnson: commits to containment=rise of Viet Cong & Vietminh

1964: Gulf of Tonkin Incident N Vietnamese patrol boats “fired on” 2 US destroyers –Passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: President Johnson the authority to to assist any Southeast Asian country whose governments were jeopardizedSoutheast Asian –Was Johnson's legal justification for sending more American troops into the Vietnam War.Vietnam War –Johnson also had complete control over what the US did in Vietnam even without a declaration of war from Congress

Fighting the War

Battlefield Conditions

Who was fighting? Viet Cong : Guerilla warfare: familiar with swamps & Jungles; protection in Laos & Cambodia; support of local population US : superior weapons & supplies=>confusing battlefield conditions; not knowing who was the enemy; indifference from S. Vietnamese

Ground War VC: landmines, booby traps, tunnels Civilians suffered as much as soldiers-who was the enemy? Unknown when attack would come

Air War Saturation bombing: N. Vietnam Fragmentation bombing: N & S Agent Orange: herbicide Napalm: jellylike substance-splattered & burned

Course of the War, Escalation beginning in 1964 by Johnson 1965: 25, ,000 troops in Vietnam : war at a stalemate=force the enemy to stop fighting; not conquer N. Vietnam –Operation Rolling Thunder: bombing=tunnels –Search & destroy missions

Tet Offensive: A Turning Point January 30, 1968: VC launch Tet Offensive=surprise attacks on major cities, town, & US bases throughout S. Vietnam; Saigon attacked Showed VC could launch major attack on targets throughout Vietnam Began doubt back home of winning the war VC uncommon brutality=Hue=killed civilians & soldiers

1968 My Lai Massacre: 400 Vietnamese killed 1968: 536,000 troops in Vietnam : Johnson decided not to run for reelection: Nixon wins election

The End of the War Peace Negotiations: Paris Peace Talks, 1968=failed to produce agreement 1969: Nixon began Vietnamization: gradual withdrawal of American forces & replacing with Vietnamese soldiers 1970: Nixon authorized bombing of Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh Trail) 1972: troop strength at 24,000

American Withdrawal 1972: major bombing of Hanoi & mine harbors January 1973: signing of formal agreement in Paris –US withdraw all forces from S Vietnam within 60 days –All POWs released –All parties end military activities in Laos & Cambodia –17th parallel continue to divide N & S Vietnam until united

Aftermath of War in Asia April 30, 1975: Saigon falls to the Communists Millions of Vietnamese & 58,000 Americans died; 2500 POWs & MIAs American Troops returned without a hero’s welcome & shunned US spent $150 billion on war=inflation & economic instability Cambodia bombed by US=unstable govt=Khmer Rouge took over

Legacy 1994: US lifted trade embargo against Vietnam (Formally recognize July 11, 1995) 1982: Vietnam War Memorial Completed