The War in VietnamThe War in VietnamThe Second Indochina WarThe Second Indochina War

1965 (ish) -19751965 (ish) -1975

Ho Chi MinhIn 1945 there was a terrible famine in Vietnam- lost almost 2 million out of 8 million peopleHo Chi Minh b. 1890- left his country to workPleaded for his country’s independence at the Treaty of VersaillesName means “one who enlightens”Began an effort to get rice to the starving people and helped downed pilots in WWII

After WWIIFrench colony regained in VietnamSpring 1947 U.S. committed to policy of containment and believed that Ho Chi Minh was a communist.Gave direct aid to FranceHo Chi Minh had asked Truman for help-according to the Truman Doctrine, but Truman ignored himBy 1952 U.S. was funding 80% of the war for the FrenchHo Chi Minh and the Viet minh organize to defeat the French.

Viet Minh win decisively at Dien Bien Phu 1954.Terms of peace treaty split country at 17th parallel at the Geneva Conference

French in the SouthHo Chi Minh in the NorthElections to take place in 2 years to unite country

U.S. was not a part of the Geneva Accords

ElectionsAfter 2 years elections took placeIn the North Ho Chi Minh wonIn the South Ngo Dinh Diem wonProblems with Diem- He was a Catholic in a Buddhist country, he left the country as a youth and ended up at a Seminary in N.J.Became religious and lectured about VietnamU.S. saw him as the perfect person to be in charge in S. VietnamWhy he wasn’t:

He was the wrong religion, he was an aristocrat with an elitist mentality, he thought of himself as an emperor not a president, and he was tainted with American support

North vs South

NorthCommunist

Backed by USSR and China

Govt led by Ho Chi Minh (“Uncle Ho”)

Spy for US OSS during WWII, became increasingly totalitarian.

Experienced, motivated army (NVA) led by Giap.

SouthSemi-democratic

Backed by USGovt led by Diem

Corrupt and filled with family-members

Favoritism for Catholics angered Buddhist majority.

Overthrown by group of generals in Nov ‘63.

Unreliable, conscript army (ARVN)Viet Cong guerillas.

John F. Kennedy in Vietnam

1961 Kennedy approved more aid to Diem- 1963 - 16,000 advisors were in VietnamDiem lacked support – harsh leader – Jailed many, oppressed Buddhism (he was Catholic) Buddhist monks and nuns began to burn themselves in the streets to protest his rule (“self-immolation”)Kennedy ordered a coup against Diem- Diem was assassinated Nov. 2nd , 1963- Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22nd

Lyndon Johnson’s War Policy

Wanted to contain Communism in Vietnam but downplayed Vietnam in 1964 electionAs North Vietnamese (Vietminh) gained ground, LBJ planned to send more troops

LBJ Continued …

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – 1964 - LBJ said US destroyers were attacked in a neutral area of the gulf - Asked Congress to allow him to act- The resolution gave him power to send troops to Vietnam without declaring war

Escalation

Due to Communist success, more troops were sent to Vietnam under LBJ General Westmoreland asked for more troops in early 1965

- 25,000 troops in early 1965- 184,000 by late 1965

U.S. supported S. Vietnamese leaders:Nguyen Cao Ky and Nguyen Van Thieu - they

were not a corrupt as Diem, but still authoritarian

Ho Chi Minh TrailRoute used by the North to get supplies to their supporters (Vietcong) in the southTrail went through Laos and Cambodia

Tet Offensive

Tet is the Vietnamese New YearJanuary 30th, 1968 – Surprise attack by the North Vietnamese

Major cities and U.S air bases were attacked- Took almost a month for south to regain

control of citiesN.V. losses were great, but it was a morale boost and psychological victory for themMore in U.S. began to oppose the war

Brutality of War

At first soldiers were enthusiastic due to Cold War propaganda, but conditions were harsh and confusingBattlefield Conditions

- Jungle fighting - leeches, fever, jungle rot- Guerrilla fighting – ambush attacks, booby traps, tunnels and landmines

Vietcong – South Vietnamese who supported the North- Women and children had guns, grenades, etc.- Could not tell allies from enemies since many in

the south were U.S. enemies as well

Tunnel System

The North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong ( NVA special unit) developed an extensive system of tunnels that went approximately 155 miles. The NVA and Viet Cong would develop these tunnels directly under U.S. Forts and Camps so they could sneak into the U.S. areas and steal items.

The tunnels were so extensive that they had a complete hospital, kitchen, sleeping areas, access to water, and the V.C. would even take apart a U.S. tank, and re-assemble it under ground.Not only were they clever in their tunnel system, but they were also very resourceful in their weapons.

The NVA and VC would collect the unexploded bombs, and grenades from the U.S. and South Vietnamese Army, and together with our literal garbage of coke cans and bottles, they would create new bombs to use against the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

Saturation BombingBegan in April of 1966U.S. B-52 bombers dropped 1,000 of tons of bombs over large areas

Agent Orange and NapalmAgent Orange - herbicide (chemical defoliant) dropped by pilots to kill jungle vegetation- Poisoned water, killed animals, caused birth defects, and other

health issuesNapalm – jelly-like fire bomb

- Burned extensive areas of land and people

Effects on CiviliansWere often killed as collateral damage - Bombings hit large areas - Search and destroy missions killed thousandsRefugees fled to nearby countriesSickened by chemical weapons- Birth defects and badly burned bodies

My Lai Massacre

March 16th, 1968U.S. troops were looking for Vietcong- Village of only women, children and old menLt. William Calley ordered all prisoners to be killed

- 174-400 civilians were killedU.S. helicopter pilots stopped the attackMassacre was uncovered by NY Times in Nov. of 1969U.S. public was appalled

- More began to turn against the warCalley received 20 years in prison – served 3 years

Student Activism

Student ActivismCivil Rights movement was the model for the anti-war movement – Students already had a history of getting involvedNew Left -- saw problems with poverty and racism in the U.S. and called for radical change

- Saw war as a “poor man’s war”Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Free Speech Movement (FSM) were leaders in early protests

Resistance to the DraftSelective Service – drafted 18-26 year old menMany began to see the practice as unfair-College students obtained deferments

- Would not have to serve until they finished college

Minorities were drafted in much greater numbersDraft protests began by SDS- Protest marches (200,000 in Washington, D.C.)- Burned draft cards

- Vandalized draft offices

Draft Resistance continued…Many found ways of getting out of the draft

- Conscientious Objectors- Injured themselves, claimed mental illness, etc.- Moved to Canada - Went to jail instead

(6 months to 5 years)

Johnson’s Departure1968 – Election yearJohnson refused to withdraw troops - Largest anti-war protests in history took place this year

Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy would run against LBJ as fellow democratic candidates- Johnson saw that he had lost the support of the party- March 1968 LBJ decided not to run

for re-election as President- May of 1968 Paris Peace Talks began

Richard Nixon ElectedRobert Kennedy assassinated – June 1968 Protests at Democratic Convention in Chicago due to the warRepublican Richard Nixon won the election of 1968- Promised to end the

war; said he had a “secret plan”

VietnamizationNixon’s plan to withdraw U. S. troops and turn the war over to the South Vietnamese- 1968 – 543,000 troops in Vietnam- 1972 - 39,000 troops in VietnamBombing intensified as troops withdrew - much of this was unknown to the U.S. public

Bombing of Cambodia1969 - Nixon ordered secret bombing of Cambodia to block N. Vietnamese movementsApril 1970 ordered invasion of Cambodia- Laos was also impactedNew wave of anti-war protests swept across college campuses

Kent State and Jackson StateMay 4th National Guard were sent to Kent State, Ohio- Students had been protesting and burned the ROTC building

on campus- Students threw rocks and tear gas canisters at guardsmen- Guardsmen fired on students

- 4 are killed and 9 wounded10 days later similar events take place at Jackson State, Mississippi

- 2 killed and 12 wounded– Mostly African American school – did not get as much

press as Kent StateThe nation was divided on the issue of Vietnam and government policy – some think the students got what they deserved, others were appalled that this could happen in America

Paris Peace Talks - Success 1971 - 60% of Americans thought we should withdraw from VietnamHenry Kissinger was sent to preside over ongoing peace talksMassive bombing continuesJanuary 27, 1973 agreement made

- U.S. to withdraw over 60 day period- POWs would be released- Fighting would stop in Laos and Cambodia - 17th Parallel would separate N. and S. Vietnam

March 29th -- the last U.S. troops left Vietnam

Fall of South VietnamTwo years of civil war continued after the U.S. pulled outApril 29th, 1975, U.S. helped evacuate U.S. and Vietnamese personnel from Saigon – the capitolApril 30th -- North Vietnamese took over the entire country -- Fall of SaigonToday Vietnam is one united Communist nation

Legacy of the Vietnam Warfor the U.S.Longest and least successful war in U.S. history- U.S. losses: 58,000 dead and 365,000 wounded, 2,500 P.O.Ws & M.I.A.- Mental and physical illness seen in returning soldiers

- Some returned addicted to drugs- More vets committed suicide than were killed in the war

- Cost of $150 billion dollars- Caused debt and inflation

NO WELCOME HOME PARADE!Public distrust of elected officialsVietnam Wall built in 1982 to heal the nation

- there was controversy over the monument, but many find it a cathartic experience to visit the Wall and see the name of their lost loved one or buddy.

Legacy for Vietnam

The Vietnamese had millions killed and wounded- More bombs were dropped on Vietnam than in

Europe in all of WWIILand destroyedIllness due to Agent OrangeRefugees fled country –people scattered to

other parts of Southeast Asia, to France, and to the US