Images and Events of The Vietnam War

1. Split of Vietnam: 1954 Vietnam was split into two halves at the 17th parallel. Ho Chi Minh: Communist leader in North Ngo Dinh Diem: pro-Western leader of South Elections were promised, but never held (because the communists would definitely win).

2. Combatants South Vietnamese and the U.S. North Vietnamese and the Vietcong (often abbreviated to VC) Vietcong were operating inside South Vietnam under cover. The challenge for American troops was to figure out which locals they could trust and who would report back to the Vietcong.

3. US Military Advisors sent to Vietnam: 1955-1965 Eisenhower and Kennedy sent military advisors to train the South Vietnamese Army to defend themselves against the Communist North Vietnamese Army (NVA).

4. Overthrow of the Diem Government: November 1963 Ngo Dinh Diem was assassinated by South Vietnamese leaders due to religious protests and his unpopular actions against Buddhists. US leaders knew about his impending death and allowed it to happen.

5. Gulf of Tonkin Incident: August 1964 North Vietnamese torpedoed USS Maddox in international waters. No American casualties.

6.Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: August 1964 Gave the president authority to send military forces without a formal declaration of war from Congress. Used by President Lyndon Johnson to escalate the war.

7.Escalation of U.S. Forces: 1965-1968 Operation Rolling Thunder, a massive bombing campaign on the Ho Chi Minh Trail began. 500,000 Americans stationed in Vietnam by 1967. Dying at a rate of 100 per week. We measured victory based on body count.

After a napalm attack

8. Ho Chi Minh Trail Named after the former North Vietnamese leader, this was the supply route used to send supplies from N. Vietnam to the Vietcong. Passed through Cambodia and Laos.

Tunnel Systems used by Vietcong

Booby Traps used by Vietcong

How locals would avoid the traps…

9.Tet Offensive: January 1968 Tet = Buddhist holiday in Vietnam. NVA and Vietcong launch a surprise attack into the South. Territory was reclaimed within weeks, but American morale was at its lowest point.

Vietcong Man moments before execution

American Soldiers

March 1968: Mylai Massacre: 200-500 unarmed villagers killed by U. S March 1968: Mylai Massacre: 200-500 unarmed villagers killed by U.S. soldiers. Leads to massive protests on college campuses and across the US

“Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” “Hell no, we won’t go!” “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”

10. Presidential Election of 1968 Johnson does not run for reelection due to his extremely unpopular role in Vietnam War. Republican- Nixon defeats Democrat- Humphrey and Independent- Wallace

11. Vietnamization: 1969 Nixon’s policy to return combat responsibilities to the South Vietnamese. Reduced number of American combat troops deployed.

Nixon began bombing Cambodia to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail in 1970. Unrest ultimately lead the Khmer Rouge to take power in 1975, leading to ¼ of the population being killed.

Leads to Kent State Protest of 1970: 4 students shot and killed.

12. War Powers Resolution: 1973 President must seek Congressional approval before deploying troops. Passed despite Nixon’s veto.

13. Fall of Saigon: 1975 Americans abandon Saigon, former capital of South Vietnam, leaving allies behind.

Vietnam remains a communist country to this day. 14. The Costs 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 58,000 Americans killed 300,000 Americans wounded 2,583 Missing POWs still unaccounted for Due to draft rules, disproportionately poor and minorities. $150,000,000,000 U.S. spending Vietnam remains a communist country to this day.

Vietnam Memorial: Washington DC

Vietnam Memorial: Washington DC