the vietnam war dr. kevin b. witherspoon lander university
TRANSCRIPT
The Vietnam War
Dr. Kevin B. Witherspoon
Lander University
Vietnam* Chinese involvement French colony
ConditionsHo Chi Minh
World War II Japan
May 1941, VietminhThe August Revolution
Vietnam* The Elephant and the Tiger
Vietminh strategy:1. Defensive2. Equilibrium3. Offensive
French failureU.S. involvementDomino theoryDien Bien Phu
Vietnam* Geneva Accords
Cease-fireTemporary division1956 elections
N = Ho Chi Minh S = Ngo Dinh Diem 1960 National Liberation Front (Vietcong) Kennedy
“Flexible response”“Strategic Hamlet”Advisors from 900 to 16,000
Vietnam* Johnson
BombingsHo Chi Minh TrailGulf of Tonkin“Operation Rolling Thunder”
Break supply linesCut off troopsDestroy morale
Ground troops1965: 184,0001966: 389,0001967: 463,0001968: 495,0001969: 541,000
Vietnam* Search and destroy Problems
The enemyU.S. disciplineLocate the enemyTunnels ConditionsFrustrationMorale on the home frontHow aggressive?No political victoryFail to identify objectivePolitical objectivesMeasure success?
Vietnam* Three stages:InfrastructureSearch and destroyVietnamization
Mistakes Bombing in the South Operation Ranch Hand Morale
HydrationFoot problemsPurpose
N. Vietnam objective
Into the quagmireHome front, opposition“Credibility gap”Discouraging newsPOWsTechnowar:
Loud Helicopters Radio traffic Weapons for the enemy “free-fire” zones Pacification efforts
Vietnam* Body counts
Risky missionsScoreboardsCounting bodiesRules of combatDesensitizedFalsified reports
Open Arms program
Vietnam* Tet Offensive, 1968
Khe SanhLosing supportLBJ
NixonAfter Tet“Vietnamization”Phoenix programOperation Wandering SoulPropaganda
The Home FrontAnti-war movement
Tet VVAW - Vietnam Veterans
Against the War 1969 March on Washington My Lai 1970 Kent State massacre 1971 Pentagon Papers
Getting outPeace talks, and more war1972 Christmas bombings1973 Agreement1973 War Powers Resolution
Vietnam WarCosts of the war:
2 million Vietnamese dead 58,000 U.S. dead U.S. reputation
Why did U.S. fail? On their “home turf” Guerilla warfare Land war in Asia Not enough support from S Vietnam Protest on the home front
Legacies of the War