Vietnam Conflict Stopping the Spread of Communism

Leading up to the Conflict During WWII, Japan invaded Vietnam Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh Wanted Vietnam to be free from Japanese invasion and French rule Ho Chi Minh wanted the US to help in fighting for their freedom US didn’t like the idea of a free Vietnam because of the spread of communism in Soviet Union, China and Korea

Domino Theory If one country falls to communism, others would, too This could result in all Asian countries having communist forms of government

Map of Vietnam

Allies US is allies with France France is occupying the south part of Vietnam in fighting the north part of Vietnam US supports France and South Vietnam France pulls out due to the North badly defeating them in the South US picks a southern leader: Ngu Dinh Diem who wants a democratic republic

Chinook helicopter lifting ammunition

Patrolling the Lower Mekong River

Where are the Enemies? People in the Viet Minh army supported the Northern ideas lived all over Vietnam The south called these people the Viet Cong The Viet Cong supported communism However, they didn’t just live in the North, they lived in the South, too This means the enemy is everywhere-there are no front lines and territories to defend In 1964, US warships in Vietnam were attacked by the Viet Cong

South Vietnam-US

US tank crossing a river

Geography of Vietnam No land to capture No enemy lines like in WWII Enemy lives in the villages all around These villages were what the US were supposed to be protecting Spider Holes Viet Cong built spider holes in the villages and jungles Spider holes are small and covered by the jungle floor

Red Dust Storm

Jungles of Vietnam Jungles hid Viet Cong US used Agent Orange-a chemical dropped from planes that set the jungle on fire to give away hiding spots Jungles, the heat, swamps, rice paddies, and the wet monsoons were not what the US were used to fighting in During WWI and WWII, the US fought mainly in Europe, which has the same climate and geographical features as the US Vietnam’s climate and geography is unlike anything in the US

US Soldier in a hovercraft-1968

Problems in Vietnam Viet Cong were hiding out in the villages US went on search and destroy missions in these villages If Viet Congs were found, they were killed and the village was set on fire Women and children were used to kill US troops-suicide bombers US was forced to bomb North and South Vietnam due to no enemy lines Innocent lives lost-including women and children Viet Cong learned they couldn’t outlast the US in long drawn out battles Viet Cong resorted to short surprise attacks Many US lives were now being lost due to all the bombing and surprise attacks

Children and Teens were told to fight

Camouflage

Problems in the US President Johnson wanted more troops in Vietnam by declaring war, but Congress said no to war, but allowed more troops over to Vietnam Johnson increased troops through the draft If you were in school full time-you were eliminated from the draft Draft was claimed to be unfair because poor people and most minorities couldn’t afford college and therefore were eligible to fight This led to protests and speakers like Malcolm X and M L King Jr. Innocent lives being lost on both sides made students protest

US in Vietnam

Jungles of Vietnam

Government in the US Gov’t lied to the US about how many US lives were being lost US people were told they were winning the war and communism was being stopped This happened as the US was engaged in the Tet Offensive The US Embassy was taken over and Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital, was taken over by the Viet Cong

US People React Nixon is elected President He promises to withdraw from Vietnam Nixon issues heavy bombing on the North’s capital of Hanoi to “win the war with honor” Didn’t work and the US withdraws Last troops leave in 1973-Vietnam was one country-all communist